Page 134 of Coveted

“I didn’t realize—” I take a deep breath. “I didn’t know I was worrying you that much. I guess I have been careless at times. But that doesn’t give you the right to do this.”

He kneads his hands together. “After failing my cousins, you don’t understand what losing you would do to me. I have to protect you. Everything else comes second. I’m sorry you’re hurt, I am. But I’m not sorry to know your heart’s still beating.”

My feelings speed around inside my body, confusion and anger zinging to the surface.

But my heart aches too. Really aches, like it cares for Lucan and is struggling to process this unwelcome discovery.

One computer screen shows my social media account. That wouldn’t be so bad, except it’s being viewed via an advertiser’s account.

“What the hell?” I ask, clicking around to figure out what he’s been doing.

“The scholarship ad,” he says.

His voice is calm. Husky too, like it always is after sex.

“What about it?” Examining the screen, I realize. “That was you? Did you direct the Darkbloom scholarship ad to me?”

“Yes.”

My shoulders locking up, I turn to him. “How is that possible?”

He shrugs. “It’s easy to target ads at only a particular account, with a couple of adjustments.”

“But why would you do that?”

His eyes narrow, like the answer is glaringly obvious. “You needed to go to college. I provided.”

“You’re paying the scholarship funds? My tuition?”

“Sure. It’s no big⁠—”

“It’s a big deal to me,” I say, pressing my palm to my chest.

Lucan gives me a quizzical look. “Do you wish I hadn’t?”

“Uh—”

My gaze drops from his face as I consider my answer.

Can I honestly say yes? Attending Darkbloom was a new beginning I sorely needed. That scholarship gave me hope.

I sigh. “I wish I had achieved it on my own. I thought I did. But I was wrong.”

“You deserve to study at Darkbloom,” he says.

“So do a lot of people,” I say. “Why should I get the opportunity?”

“Because I want you.”

“In your world, I guess that’s reason enough.”

He gives a wry half-smile. “It can be your world too, if you want it.”

“At the moment, I don’t know what I want.” I point at the screens. “But I think you intended for me to see this. You’re the least careless person I know.”

Lucan walks toward me slowly, stopping in front of me. “Maybe I did. Maybe I wanted to make sure you won’t run screaming from me.”

As I glare up at him, he leans down so his mouth hovers inches from mine. His eyes rake intensely over my face, the same as the night he made me sit on a glass table.