Made in Malice (Corrupt Credence Book 1)

NOX

I launch myself off the bed when I hear the beep triggered by the opening gate. Lucian’s home. Skidding to a halt, I peel back the curtain to look down at the unfamiliar car parked near the garage. Both doors open, proving she’s at least walking in of her own free will… I hope so, anyway.

I dash to the game room to hide myself behind one of the hidden entrances. I’ve been thinking about what he would do with her if he actually succeeded in getting her back here tonight.

The fact that he’s bringing her to the main house speaks volumes. No one comes here. When we used to have parties, it was always at the beach house or on the islet off the coast if things were going to get really crazy. I had a feeling he would want her here, but on the off chance he didn’t, I knew I could get to the beach house through the tunnels.

Minutes pass in silence, and I start to question if I was wrong about where he’d take her in the house. Maybe they are downstairs. I can’t fathom him taking her to his room, at least not yet.

Finally, my brother’s voice hums through the wall, and I lean my head closer so I can try to make out his words. I don’t feel guilty for eavesdropping, because he probably knows exactly where I am.

“You can sit down, you know,” Lucian drawls. I wish we had cameras in the room. I bet he’s already sprawled out on the sofa, taking up as much room as possible so she’s forced to decide where to sit and how close she’s willing to get to him.

Let’s see where this goes.

LUCIAN

She’s slinking around the room, pretending to examine everything, and I have no doubt she is, but she’s also biding her time and trying to keep her distance from me.

“I’m here. Talk.”

I let out a soft chuckle, and she snaps her head around to look over at me with suspicion.

“What’s so funny?” she demands.

I rearrange myself on the center of the huge, black couch, and she watches every move as if she’s entranced, or maybe she’s scared of what I might do next. Either way, I like the way she’s looking at me. “Do you know how many people have been in this house or seen this room?”

“A lot?” She shrugs off my question and resumes her stroll around my sanctuary.

I watch her get dangerously close to the place where Nox is lurking, but she has no idea he’s there. The only reason I do is because I know him so well, and because of our bond. There’s just some part of me that’s always aware of him, like a phantom limb, and it’s the same for him. Well, it was before our parents died. Since then, he’s cut himself off from everyone, even me.

“Other than family and staff, no one,” I tell her truthfully. “And here you are. Why do you think that is, lamb?”

I watch her throat move when she swallows and averts her eyes from mine. “Probably because you’re going to kill me,” she mumbles, but I have no problem hearing her.

“I’m not going to kill you. I want to use you.”

“For what?” She’s glaring again. Damn, why do I like her like this, frightened one second and defiant the next?

I chuckle again. She’s not ready for the truth about all the ways I want to use her, even if fucking seems to be the first thing on her mind if her reaction is any indication. “What use could a man like me have for a girl like you?” I allow my heated stare to roam over her figure, feeding into her annoyance.

I like the fit of her shirt, since it shows off her tits, but I hate that she has someone else’s name across her chest, even if it’s just a bar. She finally ditched the baggy pants too. Tonight, she’s wearing skintight black leggings that stop just below her knees, and I didn’t notice a panty line the many times I was checking out her ass.

Her chin lowers a fraction, but it’s those sea blue eyes that get me when they pierce right through me as if I’m not even worthy of speaking to her. “That’s what I’ve been trying to find out from you, pretty boy.”

If anyone else on the planet called me that, or any other name that was meant to be an insult, I would end them, but when she says it, filled with disdain as if my looks are something bad, I take joy in the fact that she’s admitting I’m handsome because I know it pisses her off.

“We can start with you helping me take down your family.”

“Oh, just that?” she mocks airily.

“Sit down. I know your feet hurt.” My tone is harsh, making my words seem like a dig instead of an offer like I intended. Oh well, I’ve never been accused of being nice.

She sniffs haughtily. “You don’t know anything.”

“Then why do you keep shifting all your weight to one foot?” I can see her toes moving around through the canvas of her shitty shoes.

“I’m not.” Her brows furrow as she looks down, unaware that she has been telegraphing her pain.

“Sit down on your own, or I will help you.” I lean forward to let her know I’m dead serious. I have no problem planting her ass on the couch, and it will be in a much different spot than she would choose for herself.

She moves so fast, she nearly backs into the sofa, picking the farthest spot from me like I knew she would. “Happy?”

“Not in the least,” I deadpan, but it’s a lie. I like making her bend to my will. It feels like a victory every time.

“Let’s get this over with so I can get out of here.” She tries to sound assertive, but we both know I’m the only one with the power here.

“In a hurry to get away from me, lamb? I quite like having you here, at my mercy.”

“Knock it off, you’re all bark.” She actually rolls her eyes at me, and I’m on her before she can blink those pretty blues closed. Her gasp is involuntary, as is the flare of her pupils when I lean into her face.

“You want to feel my bite, lamb?” I lower my head, almost placing my lips on the side of her neck, but I don’t trust myself not to bite her, and that would only be the beginning of what I want to do. She should pay for how badly I want her.

“No.” She shakes her head in denial. I watch her pulse flutter on her throat, daring me to do something about it. I have to grip the back of the couch on either side of her head to keep myself from grabbing her, then I shove myself away just as abruptly as I arrived.

My intent was to knock her off-kilter to show her I’m more than words, but being that close to her and smelling her warm skin and not some shitty expensive perfume most women wear hits me just as hard.

“Don’t test me, lamb,” I warn softly, looking over my shoulder as I walk away. “I don’t have to like you to want to fuck you.”

She swallows roughly, but her full lips curl up in a vicious little sneer. The fear of the last few moments is already gone, and she’s ready to go toe to toe with me again, even if she knows she’ll lose.

Damn, why do I want her when I could have anyone else? Not only is it forbidden for the families to get involved in any way that would make those founding families more powerful than the others, but she’s the only thing holding the Umbras together. Without her as their heir, they would have had to forfeit their bid to hold the power seat in the future. As it is now, Rory already took Clara’s—Nova’s mother—place in line for that position, and that can only happen once, and Astrid has already served as president, which means death to their line.

I would have seen their fall in my lifetime and watched them die, useless and power hungry, while I took over everything, not for a few years, but forever.

Now the only way for that to happen is to get rid of my lamb, and I’m not sure I’m willing to do that anymore. Fuck.

NOVA

If I murder him, it would be justified.

Lucian lowers himself back onto the sofa in a relaxed sprawl. I, on the other hand, am so twitchy, I could climb the wall. Movement out of the corner of my eye snares my attention, and I see his mirror image skulking into the room.

I hope he’s here to rein in his unhinged brother and not act as his coconspirator.

“We have company,” he says in the same voice as Lucian’s, but his tone is so different than his brother’s.

Nox—I’m assuming that’s his name, since Lucian admitted he’s the only other person who lives here with him—splits the difference between his brother and me, dropping down on the couch way closer than I’m comfortable with. This was dumb. I glance between them, questioning how I let this happen.

I managed to stay out of trouble my whole life, even growing up in a crappy neighborhood that was nicknamed Shacktown because everyone who lived there was either dirt poor or looking for drugs—usually both—yet I couldn’t make it a week on this island without making enemies.

“So what are we doing?” The brother looks between me and Lucian as if we’re here for a movie and game night, though I do have to admit it would be the perfect place for that. The room is black, from the furniture to the walls, just like the majority of the house I saw on our quick jaunt up the stairs. Small touches of deep green, which comes mostly from plant life, can be found all over, along with soft shades of cream and gold to highlight the darkness, not to lighten it. Even the pool table across the room is done in varying hues and finishes of ebony. The uncovered windows are decorated lead glass, which fit seamlessly with the gothic aesthetic. I hate to admit it, but his house, mansion, whatever they would call it, is more awe-inspiring than the Umbras’ estate. It really is like something out of a dream, or maybe a nightmare, considering the owners. I really need to get out of here.

“He was just about to tell me what he wants so I can leave.” There’s power in positive thinking, right?

“But you just got here,” Nox replies almost as if he’s worried I’ll try to leave too soon.

“She’s eager to get away from us, Nox. Can you believe that?”

“If you’re being a dick, I can.” His brother doesn’t pull any punches. “Is he being a dick, Nova?”

“Um…” Hearing him say my name and not call me some demeaning moniker is a little odd, so it takes me a second to recover. I don’t want to come right out and say yes, that his brother is a dick, either, because this could be a trap. I really don’t need to give Lucian any more fuel to not like me, even though he’s not worried about me liking him.

“You are.” Nox reads between the lines, or maybe he just knows his brother well enough to assume he’s always a dick.

“I really just want to go home. I’ve had a long day, and I need to get up in the morning.”

“For school.” Nox waves a hand dismissively. “I never go, you’ll be fine.”

“I highly doubt that,” I disagree.

“You’ll take care of it, right, Lucian? Show her you can be…considerate,” Nox urges his brother.

“She could do it herself if she spoke to everyone else the way she speaks to me.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I tuck my hair behind my ear, only to pull it right back out when I feel too exposed to their gazes.

“I’ve watched you pretend to ignore the sheep and act like you’re meek, but you’re not with me.” His words come out accusatory. I can’t tell if he’s mad because I ignore everyone else talking crap about me at school, or if he’s upset because I don’t let him get away with treating me like I’m the trash he accused me of being.

“I can’t argue with an entire school,” I grit out through my teeth, “and I wouldn’t need to if it weren’t for you. They follow your lead.”

“Show them who you are the way you showed me,” Lucian snaps.

I can’t make sense of why he would even care, so I don’t respond directly to his prompting. Besides, I haven’t backed down to any single person. It’s groups I can’t win against, so I don’t even try. I bring our conversation back to the reason I’m here. “Tell me what you want, please?” I offer the placation, but my tone is off, proving I don’t really mean it.

Lucian lifts his brows as if I surprised him, then finally answers, “I want to ruin your family, and I want your help doing it.”

“Why would I do that?” He alluded to why he would want me to do it outside, but I need to know more. Still, I can’t bring myself to directly ask why he thinks the Umbras are responsible for his parents’ deaths.

“Because I told you to.”

“Lucian,” Nox chastises softly, but it’s belied by the smile tipping his lips.

“That’s not a motivator for me.”

“I could make you.” Lucian lowers his chin, and his gaze darkens.

“You could try,” I counter, which results in Nox planting his hand on his brother’s chest when Lucian tries to get up as if he’s prepared to physically make me comply right this very instant.

“My brother blames your family for the death of our parents.”

“Why does he blame them? It doesn’t sound like you do.” I cling to the chance that Lucian is just delusional, and Rory and Astrid had nothing to do with their parents’ deaths.

“He blames them too,” Lucian mutters, sending a quick rebuke in his brother’s direction in the form of a glare.

“Tell me why you think they are responsible,” I urge, not certain we will ever get to the bottom of this with all the bickering.

“Our parents died of carbon monoxide poisoning,” Nox says softly while watching his brother for a reaction.

“It should have been the Umbras. Our parents never would have been at that cabin if it wasn’t for Rory canceling his attendance to the event at the last minute and pushing the duty off on them. It’s proof the Umbras don’t deserve to be in the seat of power, and if they hadn’t pulled your ass out of the gutter, they never would have had it again.”

“What?” They died of carbon monoxide, and Lucian blames Rory and Astrid?

“Your grandfather is the president, and that comes with obligations, but he pulled out, which meant my parents went in the Umbras’ place. They didn’t even have time to get their own accommodations, so they stayed at the shitty cabin your family picked, and there was a carbon monoxide leak,” Lucian spits out, but I can tell each word cost him.

“I know what it’s like to lose your family, so I won’t insult you with useless, ‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ garbage. It never helps. But that…that sounds like an accident,” I admit, knowing he’s not going to want to hear it.

Even though I don’t like Lucian, I know he must have cared deeply for his parents. It’s evident even now in the expression on his face. It makes me wonder if losing them is what made him into the bitter man he is today. Who was Lucian Morningstar before his life was forever altered?

“Who says it was an accident,” Lucian retorts, his eyes growing more feverish by the second.

“Do you have any proof it wasn’t?” I question softly, hating myself a little for doing it. I know how I felt after the crash, when the police were asking about my mom and if she had been drinking. I despised them for making me see the truth. The accident was her fault for getting behind the wheel drunk, and we were lucky it didn’t happen a hundred other times. They made me see who was to blame for me being left completely alone in the world when I was barely seventeen, and it wasn’t just my mom. My dad and I let her get behind the wheel, knowing she’d been drinking. It was probably because neither of us had the energy to argue with her again about how she wasn’t fine, but I don’t see how the Umbras are at fault here. It wasn’t intentional or even due to neglect on their part. It was an accident.

“I don’t have proof yet,” Lucian grits out through his teeth.

“Is that what you want from me? To help you prove their deaths weren’t accidental?” I’m incredulous, and I can’t keep it from my tone.

“You’re not asking the right questions, lamb.”

“And what questions do you think I should be asking, pretty boy?”

“Oh, I see why you want her.” Nox grins, and it makes me a little nervous. Lucian doesn’t smile much, and when he does, it always seems to be at my expense. I can’t help but think his brother will be the same.

“Why haven’t they told you anything? Why did they keep you a secret from everyone else?” He tilts his head to the side, examining me. I wish I could tell if he’s messing with my head or if he really knows more like he’s insinuating.

“If they were trying to keep me a secret from everyone, why would they have me enrolled at Cadieux?” I fire back.

“They didn’t whisper a peep about you until the day I found you at the college,” he replies.

“I had just agreed to come a day or two before that, I didn’t even know they existed, so why would they tell people about me?” I argue.

“But they knew about you,” he counters, very sure of himself, and it’s the truth. The lawyer said they’d been looking for and trying to reach me for a while.

“They didn’t know I would agree to come here.”

He snorts. “It’s actually funny that you think you would have had a choice. They need you.”

“What does that mean?”

“See? You’re in the dark about everything.” There’s a definite air of challenge in his tone to go with his smug sense of superiority.

“Then tell me if you think you know everything.” I’m hoping the goad will work to get him talking.

“I think I like seeing you stumble along, lamb. It gives me pleasure. Besides…” Lucian leans back and looks at me from under lowered lids. “Someday soon, you’ll come to me, begging, and I can’t fucking wait.”

“Then why the heck am I even here if you’re not going to tell me anything?” I toss my hands up in the air, exasperated with the entire situation.

“Because I wanted you here, and I always get what I want.” Lucian blinks lazily, unfazed and unhurried. He really is unhinged.