Louisa's POV
There was a knock on the door and a soldier's head popped in.
"The blood is here, Sir."
"Let them in," Lucian said.
The soldier disappeared.
Then, some waiters carried three big jars of blood to our table.
"Where do you want me to put them, Sir?" One of them, who looked like the head waiter, asked.
"On the table, please," Lucian replied.
"Yes, Sir. Do you need an altar to go with it?" the waiter asked.
I burst into chuckles instantly.
Lucian looked at the waiter and asked, "What kind of business are you running, Gillian? An altar? Seriously? Do you have the license for holding a ceremony?"
"I'm sorry, Sir," the waiter answered awkwardly. "It's just that there are a growing number of customers who need altar service prior to their meals these days. We have to be prepared to meet their needs."
"Oh, really? What do they pray for?" Lucian asked.
The waiter mumbled, "Some crayfish, maybe? I really don't know, Sir. They're traveling druids. If I knew what they wanted, I would be placed on their altar, Sir."
I had to cover my face so that I didn't laugh out loud.
"Does my friend here look like a druid to you?" Lucian pointed at me and asked.
"No pointy ears, so I guess no, Sir." The waiter looked at me very carefully and said.
"So no altar for her today, I guess?"
"No, Sir. Very good, Sir. I'll let myself disappear right now and I'll show up only when you're ready to place your order."
"We'll let you know," Lucian knotted on the table and said.
After the waiter was gone, I couldn't hold it anymore and started to laugh out loud.
"I don't know you have a wicked sense of humor, Lucian," I said.
A handsome face, a smoking-hot body, a gentle disposition, and a sense of humor.
Man, this man is killing me. I thought to myself.
Lucian looked at me and said with his poker face, "I'm glad that I can make you laugh."
Will is struggling in my hands. I knew he was thirsty for blood.
I placed him carefully on the table and said, "Please hold the edge fast, so you don't fall into the jar. Do you need me to pour it into a smaller glass?"
"Nah. But you can help me to tilt it a bit," Will said.
I held the jar with both of my hands.
Will started to sit on the edge of the jar and gobble down the blood.
"Slower, little mouse. Take your time. No one is going to take it away from you." I stroked the back of his head gently.
"Ahh! Don't do that when I'm drinking! It's really itchy!" Will protested.
I immediately withdrew my hand and said, "Sorry."
He flapped his wings slightly and said, "You can touch my wings instead if you like."
"But they aren't furry," I frowned and said.
"OK. But you can only pet me this one time," Will kept smacking his mouth while drinking. His ears became flat as I patted him.
"Why do you come back as a little bat? Can't you shift into a human form?" I asked.
"I thought you might be angry at me if you saw my human face. But people don't usually get angry with bats, so, you know..."
"You're so cute and kind, Will. I can't possibly get mad at you," I said.
"I know. But when I'm a bat, I can do some investigation." He guzzled the remaining blood in the jar and said. "I don't trust Lucian. I want to keep an eye on him. I saw him put an unconscious redheaded lady into a carriage and send her off from the back door of the contour shop. He must be doing something unspeakable."
Redheaded lady? Was he talking about Akela?
I took a glance at Lucian nervously.
He didn't seem to notice and kept going through the menu in his signature nonchalant manner.
"How do you like your crayfish? They've got all kinds of ways to prepare them," he said.
"Did you kill Akela?" I asked him directly.
Lucian lifted his eyes to look at me, then sighed and closed the menu.
"I was expecting you to say something like 'stir-fried' or 'grilled', but fine. This room is secured, so let's talk about Akela." He stared at me and said. "Do you want her dead?"
"What kind of question is that?! I don't want anybody dead!" I didn't like the way he talked about killing someone as if he was talking about throwing away a piece of furniture or something.
"I guess your little friend is your eyes and ears. What did he tell you?" Lucian pointed to Will and asked.
Will stopped drinking and snarled at Lucian.
I petted him and said, "Don't act like this, Will. I'm just trying to have a conversation with Lucian. Keep drinking before it turns cold. You need to restore some energy."
Even though he transformed into a bat, I could still sense that he was very weak and hungry. There was some sort of invisible connection between us.
Will gave Lucian a dark look and started drinking again.
Lucian frowned and said, "That was the first time I got warned by a little bat. It's kind of cute."
I could tell that he was very fond of Will.
I guessed it was because Will reminded him of his younger brother Leo when he was little.
"Lucian..." I said.
"I didn't kill Lady Akela. She showed up in the wrong place at the wrong time, so I had to deal with the situation," Lucian said.
"What do you mean by dealing with it?" I asked.
"I've sent her home, back to her brother, Alpha Dire," Lucian said.
"Alpha Dire from the Defiant Pack? The man who destroyed my father's pack?" I asked.
"Yes," Lucian answered.
"Why would Lucas want to marry Alpha Dire's sister? He hated that man!" I asked.
Lucian narrowed his eyes and said, "You're quite resourceful, aren't you? What have you heard, Miss Louisa?"