he could so easily stop it.

jaxon blinked and put a hand to her throat. what had she been thinking about? something had distracted her when she was so determined to find out what was going on in their home. lucian must have seriously wanted to keep the truth from her. she reached for her jewelry box. "why did those men want to kill me, lucian? and this time give me a straight answer."

"i did not ask them straight out." he took the jewelry box out of her hands. it contained her mother's jewels, beautiful gems. he had seen them. rebecca montgomery had come from money. she had diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and star sapphires set in necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. jaxon never wore them, only looked at them.

"you didn't need to ask them straight out," jaxon observed. "all you had to do was look into their minds." her dark brown eyes were challenging him.

lucian shook his head. "in all the centuries of my existence, i have never had anyone question me as you do. when i determine something needs to be done, i simply do it. no one questions me."

"you are not god. you can't always be right." her eyes flashed at him with a warning hint of her temper.

"i would not presume to be god, but i am fully aware of the tremendous responsibilities i have been given and the gifts bestowed upon me in order to accomplish the tasks set to me. i am able to weigh problems without personal anger or any other emotion clouding my judgment."

"that is setting yourself up as judge, jury, and executioner, lucian. no one has such a right."