Page 134 of Lady Killer

If I had thought that catching him off guard might show me a softer side of Lucian, I was sorely disappointed.

In the soft morning light, he looked like an ancient god, fallen from Olympus. Larger than life, with hands that could crush a mere mortal to death. The stern expression he wore only underscored his authority.

This was the man who had promised to kill me.

Steeling myself, I knocked on the door. The two of us needed to come to an understanding.

“What can I do for you, Luz?” he said without looking up, revealing he was more aware of me than I initially thought.

What a man wants you to see tells you what he’s trying to hide, mija.

I walked into his office with my head held high. I hadn’t been cowed by him before, and I wouldn’t be now.

Choosing the seat nearest his desk, I sat down.

Chin up, shoulders back, spine straight, ankles crossed.

“I am going to my dorm tonight. We both know it’s the best way to lure the killer in.”

Lucian said nothing but inclined his head as he folded his hands together.

“I need you to keep Everest out of the way.”

“You’re coming to me behind his back?” His brow was raised, and his voice dropped.

Something pinched in my chest at Lucian’s disapproval, but I shrugged it off. “He already told me he won’t let me go. You can’t have a discussion with someone who won’t hear you.”

I was aware what a hypocrite Lucian must believe me to be. My frustrations with Everest’s secrets, only to ask him to keep my own. Still, I could bear his disapproval, and Everest’s disappointment, if it saved Autumn’s life.

“And what happens when the killer overpowers you and I have to explain to him that you are missing or worse . . .”

I scowled. “Probably the same thing as when you have to kill me because we haven’t caught the killer.”

Lucian bristled, opening his mouth to speak, but I was tired of playing by their rules. I didn’t need a Blackwell’s permission to do anything.

Last night was an excellent reminder that I had been killing long before they came along.

“You want me dead regardless. At least this way I have a fighting chance to catch the killer and save myself and my friend.”

Lucian leaned forward, his mouth a grim slash across his stony face. “Don’t presume to know what I want.”

Frustration flashed through me, and I started to argue but he cut me off.

“As I told you, killing you isn’t personal. The Blackwells are more than a family, we are an institution, an empire, a beast unto itself.” He stopped, taking a deep breath. “Do you know what our creed is?”

I took a guess. “Veritas au mort? Truth or death?”

Lucian looked at me like I was an idiot. The resemblance to Locke was actually striking. “That is the university’s motto.”

I shrugged.

“Blood and power.” His voice was flat, belying the authority with which he delivered the words.

“Blackwells are Blackwells by the blood that we spill and the blood that we hold in our veins. It is through blood that we came to power. And it is through blood that we will stay in power. Our reputation, our traditions, our family supersede the desires of any one Blackwell. Our rules supersede the desires of any one Blackwell.”

He leaned even farther over his desk, and once again, a pleasant prickling sensation ran down my spine. “If you die, it will be because you failed to deliver on your end of the very generous deal I offered, when you broke those rules.”

I suppressed a snort.

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