Forbidden

The Worst

Luca

Luca stared at his phone. He was an idiot. Why did he add the part about the date? She'd made it very clear it wasn't a date, but waking up with his arms wrapped around her warm, soft curves had made him forget that little detail.

Ten minutes passed, and she didn't respond. His ego suggested she might be sick again, but that bothered him more than the thought of her ghosting him. He should've known something was wrong when he watched her sneak into her house that morning, still swaying while she walked. But he figured she'd be fine once she got a few hours of sleep.

A grimace pulled at his mouth. He hadn't been as attentive for a few reasons. His father had called several times over the course of the night, and then he resorted to text messages. Luca's father hated text messages- would spend hours describing how texting was ruining their society- but he wasn't above using it if it meant he could get his point across to his son.

"Luca?" His door swung open after a tentative knock. Livy stuck her head through the crack.

"What, Livs?"

She came into the room and shut the door. Red pillow lines marred her tan cheeks and mascara was smudged beneath her lashes. But when her hands went to her hips and her thick brows drew down, all signs of sleepiness fled and were replaced by rage.

"What Livs? What Livs!" Her chest heaved. "You left me last night."

Luca lifted his hands to keep her at bay. Her pupils had nearly swallowed her irises. The sight made the hairs on his arms stand up, and the beast within shifted in warning. "Livy, calm down. You knew we weren't staying. I asked if you were cool with me dropping you off."

"I was cool with you dropping me off because it implied you'd be picking me up. But that's not the only reason I'm pissed."

"Oh, well, that's good," he growled. He couldn't stop himself, and Livy responded to the sound with a hiss of her own.

"When I get home late last night, I discovered that not only had you not come home yet, but Bane and his jerk wad friends were talking about a fight they got in with you. And then, no one can get in touch with you! Do you know how out of our minds with worry we were?"

"I was fine. I won the fight."

"There shouldn't have been a fight."

"Livy, they jumped me. I didn't instigate it."

"I understand that, but they have chosen you to lead our people. You can't do that if you're dead."

Luca surged to his feet, his hands gripping his hair. He prowled around the room, Livy watching him without speaking. When he finally spoke, his words clipped. "What would you have me do? Stay in this room until Falcon steps down or dies?"

"If it would keep you safe, yes. Do you not understand the position our family is in because of this? People are angry. Never has the position of leader not passed from father to son. Bane will kill you to take what he thinks is yours."

He studied his cousin. Gone was the girl who'd urged him to chase his desires, to go after Van. Gone was the girl overcome by her wild, wanton side. Before him stood a girl on a precipice: one who trembled with childlike terror but only because her eyes saw the world as a woman. She knew the dangers ahead of them.

"Why did you push me after Van if you were so concerned about my safety? Her father is Abraham Van Helsing- slayer of the supernatural."

"We're safe from the Slayers because of the contract."

Luca snorted. "I don't think any man who goes after Abe's little girl is safe. If that man is also a member of our community, well you might as well tie my hands behind my back and let Bane at me."