Lucian and Arabella

Arabella sat quietly in the darkened bedroom. She listened to her home as it settled down for the night. The creaks and groans, old beloved friends. Here she was born so long ago. Here where her parents died. She could almost hear her mother calling to her to come to dinner or bath time before bed. A light touch on her cheek reminded her that her parents were not far away. Here was her solace, her peace and her magic.She closed her eyes and breathed in deep the crisp mountain air that flowed through her window. Pine mixed with sage tickled her senses. Her ears picked up Thorn as he went out the dog door for his nightly hunting and greeting of the pack. He was the Alpha male even though he did not spend all of his time with them. He had elders to feed, youngsters to teach, his mate to hunt with him. Crickets became silent as the big wolf passed by then picked up their night time song. The rustle of the breeze through the trees, a relaxing sound, seemed to sway with the full moon. In th

Chapter 4Arabella shook her head hard. What had just happened? One moment she was staring at Lucian, the next, she was in the past.She looked down at Lucian confused. Lucian was looking back.“Why did you make me see that? What the hell are you doing to me?” Lucian reached out to grab her arm. Shocked, Arabella turned to leave.“Wait. Stop. Please don’t go yet. If you are going to keep visiting me like this, I should at least know your name. Somehow I know you and yet I don’t.”Arabella stood still then turned to look at Lucian who was up on his elbows in the bed. The pleading in his voice was hard to refuse. The misery on his face was plain to see. Her confusion deepened. By the Gods, how was this possible?“How can you not know me Lucian. Did I mean so little to you?” She could see by his eyes that he had no idea what she was talking about. It broke her heart over and over again. She wanted to be angry. She wanted to be furious, but she could not. She realized that she really had

Chapter 6Fireworks burst over the highest towers of the Colorado University of Boulder, Lucian watched Arabella’s eyes more than the lights above them. It fascinated him how her eyes seemed to glow with a light of their own. Her eyes glittered with magic and awe.This was the first time she watched a fireworks display. They reminded her too much of the fire that claimed her parents. Now, with Lucian, it seemed wonderful. He was changing how she viewed the world.“I think I am the luckiest man in the world my Bella.”Arabella glanced over at the man at her side, laughter spilling from her lips.“Lucian, you know that can’t be true.”“My love, they are the truest words I have ever spoken.”Arabella gazed at the man seated by her side, his arms protective around her, shielding her from the cold. He did not know how much she had longed for true love. She yearned for a love like her parents had, a love that knew now bound. Her soul told her Lucian was the one. Shivering happily, Arabella

Chapter 8Arabella lay quietly on her side where she could see the mountains. Looking at them gave her a sense of peace even though they were not her precious Rocky Mountain. She did not hear the geese as they flew across the deep blue sky. Even the little robin on the branch could not penetrate the thick glass with his chirping. All she heard were the monitors beeping to different rhythm behind her.The robins nest full of her babies was close to the window in the vee of a branch. The mother flew away, leaving hungry little chicks crying for their breakfast. She smiled slightly than looked beyond the tree’ sadness filled her heart.The door to the hallway slid quietly open. Arabella still heard the soft footsteps as they approached her bed. She did not need to look over her shoulder to see who it was; there was only one person it could be. She put a false smile on her face as he rounded the end of the bed.“How are you feeling today sweetie? Do you think you would like to go out side

Chapter 10Lucian listened to the echo of his footsteps on the granite entryway floor. The chandler glowed to life as he hit the switch on his way to Adrian’s den. It wasn’t the first time Lucian felt the cold emptiness of the house. It had never been a real home. The warm homily feeling of Arabella’s cabin, Lucian finally knew what was missing in his life. He never had the companionship that most kids had with their parents. Adrian was a cold hard man that drove Lucian without mercy.Lucian stepped into Adrian’s study and shook his head. Even here, with the supposedly brown hues and leather furniture, was a feeling of cold ambition. He stood in the middle of the room and looked around himself, not sure where to start. Tier upon tier of books lined the study walls. Paintings done by the Masters hung perfectly as though someone had just straightened them. On the desk, everything was cleared off except for a picture of Lucian, in cap and gown with a far off look on his face. He wondered