Destined-Drake Chronicles

Part 10

The Drake Chronicles is owned by Alyxandra Harvey

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"She's fine," she said. "She's fine!" She yelled at the top of her lungs. My brothers paused. The sudden silence was broken by a bell ringing from the basement. Quinn and Connor took off at a run. By the time we stepped into the hall toward the kitchen, they were already leading someone up the steps.

"Why don't you listen?"Nicholas asked, then turn to me,"Why do you go with her?"

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Lucy's pov

"London," I said in surprise. She was a distant cousin and we rarely saw her. She was slim and pale and looked just like her name, with black hair so sleek it always looked as if she'd been walking in the rain. There were silver studs in her ears, seventeen at last count, one in her nose, and another in her left eyebrow. She wore tight black clothing, as always. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I hate London," I comment

"Yes, we know," Solange says

"You've been summoned."

"Our parents aren't here," I said.

"I know," she replied. "It's not your parents who've been summoned, only you."

"By who?"

"Madame Veronique."

I stepped back. "I don't want to go."

"You can't exactly refuse."

"Why does she want to see me?" Veronique never saw any of us before the bloodchange.Ever.

"Why do you think?" London's fangs were out, not because she was angry— she was always angry— but because she refused to be anything but what she was. She sneered at Lucy. It was a constant source of irritation that Lucy was mostly immune to her pheromones. "That has to stay here." London didn't approve of Lucy, never had. She thought mortals were too fragile for friendship, for the strength required to carry our secret. And she hated that she'd been every bit as mortal as Lucy before she was turned three years ago.

"As if I want to hang around you for a single second longer than absolutely necessary," Lucy snapped. I knew she was lying; she'd been desperate to get a look at Veronique for years now. Under the bravado and temper she was disappointed.

Her pulse must have sped up, because London smirked. Nicholas licked his lips.

"Nicky." I say

"I'm sorry heartbeat. Vampire." Nicholas said. I sighed.

Marcus whistled between his teeth. "Bad luck, Sol. Veronique's terrifying." Lucy stomped on his foot. "You're not helping."

"Why'd she send you?" Quinn frowned at London. "You're still one of Lady Natasha's ladies-in-waiting, aren't you?"

She nodded stiffly. Her divided loyalties were a sore spot with everyone. "I serve Veronique first, like everyone else in our family."

"That doesn't explain why she sent you."

"Because Veronique isn't the only one who's summoned Solange. Lady Natasha has too. Once Veronique heard Solange was being called to the royal court, she wanted the first visit."

"Crap." My eyes widened. "Both of them? Tonight?"

"Solange can't go now," Nicholas said. "It isn't safe." London quirked an eyebrow. "You know as well as I do that it isn't a request. Just be grateful I was already in the area so Lady Nastasha didn't need to send one of her Araksaka boys." The Araksaka were feared. Every single one of them wore Lady Natasha's royal tattoo on their faces. They were her private army and answered only to her. Ever. And they were utterly ruthless about it; not only killing but torturing as well.