Lethal Temptation (by Michelle Ray) novel Chapter 48

< 48 (Lucian’s POV) Together

48 (Lucian’s POV) Together

Lucian

I woke to the soft rustle of pages.

+25 Points

Mara was sitting beside me, her legs tucked under her, reading like the world outside didn’t exist. She looked so calm, so completely at home.

I sat up slowly, blinking the sleep from my eyes. Then I saw it-the mark on her neck. My mark. It

wasn’t a dream.

A quiet smile pulled at my lips.

“Good afternoon, Lucian,” she said, her voice warm as she lowered the book and met my gaze.

I looked around. The light had shifted. I’d clearly slept longer than I meant to.

“You slept through the night… and into the afternoon,” she said gently. “Your father linked me a few times. I told him I’d let him know when you were awake.”

I frowned. “Did he say why?”

She shook her head.

I reached for her, pulling her close, pressing a kiss to her lips, then another to the fresh mark on her

neck.

“Mine,” I murmured.

She giggled and kissed the mark on my neck. “Mine too.”

I kissed her again, deeper this time. I didn’t want to leave her side-but I had to. My father was waiting, and I had questions of my own.

After a quick shower and getting dressed, I headed toward the right wing. On the way, I froze.

Lacy was in my wing.

Worse-she wasn’t dressed modestly. The sight of her alone made my skin crawl. She looked too much like Martha-same manipulative sweetness, same calculating eyes. Just younger, and maybe bolder.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my tone sharp.

She smiled like we were friends. “I offered Mary to brief you on the Winston’s Corp meetings this morning.”

I narrowed my eyes. Bold, but stupid.

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<48 (Lucian’s POV) Together

“Darling,” he said aloud, “please excuse us.”

+25 Points

She blinked at him. “Vander, I am Luna,” she said pointedly, reminding him of her title like it was a

key she could flash to every locked door.

“I need to speak to my son,” he said, this time with steel in his voice.

Her expression turned cold. “He is my son too,” she said, crossing her legs like she was settling in.

I didn’t flinch. I just stared at her, silent, letting the weight of my presence-and her irrelevance-

speak for me.

“He never was,” my father said quietly, but firmly. “And we both know that. Now, excuse us-or we’ll

excuse you.”

Martha didn’t move. Of course she didn’t. She wasn’t used to being told no. Not by him.

I stepped forward and faced her.

“Excuse us, Luna Martha,” I commanded, letting my authority wrap around every word like a blade.

Her eyes widened. She shook slightly, trying to fight it-but couldn’t. Not this time.

She stood, stiff and seething, and walked out without another word.

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