Queen Anne | Lucien Castle

Chapter Five

 After a quick lunch, Lucien said, "Anne, why don't you head back to the penthouse? I have something I need to attend to, and I'll be there shortly."

 "Really?" Anne put her hands on her hips. "What are you up to this time?"

 "Well, if you'd like to join me, you can. But I'll be bringing something back with me. You'll be surprised."

 She sighed. "All right. I'm going home. Whatever you're doing, I don't think I want to know."

 Anne returned to the penthouse alone. She actually wasn't sure she wanted to know what Lucien was doing now. She was his friend always, and she would pretend to be his secretary if necessary, but she wasn't stupid. Going up against the Mikaelsons was dangerous, and they all knew it.

~~~~~~

 Anne was sitting on the sofa with a drink and a magazine when Lucien returned with two unconscious bodies.

 "Do I want to know?" she asked, barely even looking up at him.

 "Probably not." He dropped one of the bodies on the sofa. "Watch her, will you? I'm taking this one to the kitchen."

 Anne closed her magazine and looked at the young woman now lying unconscious on their sofa. Her blond hair was strewn across her face, and Anne gently pushed it away. She had a sweet, gentle face, the kind you could look into and instantly feel calmer, more safe.

 The woman opened her eyes and sat up straight. "Who the hell are you?" she demanded.

 "I took the liberty of removing your handcuffs," Lucien said, coming back into the room. "Unless you're the type who likes to be tied up." He handed her a glass. "Please, take this. Consider it an apology for our rough start today. No reason we can't be friends."

 "I only drink with friends," the woman said, glaring at him, "And unless this isn't abundantly clear, I don't like you."

 Lucien sighed. "Oh, very well. I hope you'll remember this could have gone so much easier. Come in, Detective! Oh, and by the way, this is my secretary, Anna Bullen. Anna, Ms. Camille O'Connell, our newest acquaintance."

 Anne recognized the man who came into the room with the tray of vegetables as Detective Kinney, the policeman who had come looking for Lucien.

 "What the hell is going on?" he asked in a frustrated tone.

 "You compelled him?" Cami cried.

 "Why don't you focus on your cutting?" Lucien said to Kinney. "We don't want you losing any fingers, now, do we? Did you know that Will's mother's side if full of chefs? He's going to make us his grandmother's grillades and grits! And I texted your nosy friend Vincent on your behalf. After your ordeal at the police station, he thinks you have a date with The Real Housewives in your PJs."

 "What the hell kind of point are you trying to make?" Camille asked angrily.

 Lucien looked up at Kinney. "Detective, do me a favor-throw your blade at her pretty face."

 Anne watched in silence as Kinney threw his knife straight at Camille-and as Lucien caught just before it hit her.

 "Now that I have your attention," he said, "My point is simple. I'm looking for a particular dark object-a small bronze medallion with Runic markings. Since you're on vervain, I'm going to ask you nicely to help me find it. If you don't, these parlor tricks will become increasingly less fun."  He handed the knife back to Kinney. "Carry on, both of you."

 As the compelled policeman continued with his work and Camille reluctantly began to shift through the boxes Lucien had brought in, Anne said to him, "Lucien, Tristan asked about something. The-"