Chapter Seven

~Elias~

Lucien held my wrist tightly as he led me across the hallway. His cold silence louder than any words. My heart pounded in my chest but I refused to let him intimidate me. He’d been acting like I was Invisible for three days, now he suddenly wanted to hear me out. I didn’t mean to but anger rose to my throat as lumps filled. I knew that I was nothing to him and I was a sacrificial lamb but couldn’t he have a bit of conscience.

The grand doors to his chamber shut behind us with a deafening thud. He finally let go of my wrist, but instead of walking away, he turned to face me, his crimson eyes burning into mine. I bit my lips nervously, I hated that I was feeling something else for him.

“Speak,” he ordered, his voice was deep and commanding.

I clenched my fists, I was not the dramatic person but I wasn’t a coward either. I refused to allow him ride over me whenever he pleased.

“Speak?” I let out a bitter chuckle.

“You ignored me for days, refused to even look at me at breakfast. You left me alone in this huge palace when you are the one who trapped me in here and you want me to speak?”

Lucien’s jaw tensed. His eyes darkened as he took a slow step forward. For the first time, I wasn’t intimidated.

“You think I ignored you for no reason?” His voice was calm, but the sharp edge beneath it sent shivers down my spine.

I lifted my chin, refusing to be played. “I don’t know, Lucien. Maybe because you’re a self-absorbed vampire king who thinks people should grovel for his attention?”

His eyes flashed, and before I could react, he was in front of me. His fingers gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him. His touch sent a jolt of heat through my body, but I refused to back down.

“You’ve got a sharp tongue, Elias.” His voice dropped lower, more dangerous. “But you seem to have forgotten who you’re talking to.”

I narrowed my eyes. “And you seem to have forgotten that I’m not one of your little vampires who’ll bow to you.”

His grip tightened for a moment before he suddenly smirked. It was sharp and deadly, but there was something else beneath it. Something raw.

“Do you even know why I’ve been avoiding you?”

I swallowed hard. “I don’t care.”

His smirk vanished. In a blur, I was pushed against the nearest wall, his body caging me in. My breath hitched as his scent wrapped around me—dark and intoxicating and unmistakably Lucien.

“Don’t lie to me, Elias.” His lips were close to mine, his breath warm against my skin.

“You do care. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have looked at me like a kicked puppy every time I walked away from you.”

I gritted my teeth, refusing to let the heat rising in my body show on my face.

“Then tell me, your Majesty, what’s your problem?”

Lucien exhaled sharply, his forehead pressing against mine. For the first time since that night, I saw something unguarded in his gaze.

“You let another man touch you.” His voice was low, dangerous. “You’ve got on your knees for someone else.”

My breath caught. So that’s what this was about.

“Lucien—“

“Do you know how much I wanted to rip that man apart for taking what’s mine?” His fingers dug into my hips, pulling me against him. His body was warm, solid, possessive.

“How much it had driven me insane knowing you had your lips wrapped around someone else?”

My heart pounded in my ears. I had never seen him like this—so raw, so desperate, yet still trying to maintain his usual arrogance.

“Lucien, I didn’t even know you then.”

“That’s the issue. I don’t know why it keeps bothering me.” He responded his voice tight.

I exhaled loudly, I knew I had been trapped forever with no escape.

“It was just once,” I admitted. “And—it meant nothing.”

He let out a low growl. “That doesn’t make it any better.”

I nodded, my hands moving to his chest. “Then what do you want me to do?”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, in one swift movement, he grabbed me and pulled me onto his lap as he sat down on the velvet couch behind him.

I gasped, my legs straddling him. His strong arms locked around my waist, keeping me there.

“I want you to remember who owns you.” His voice was dangerously soft as his fingers traced the bare skin of inside my underwear.

Heat coiled low in my stomach. “Lucien—what are you doing?”

He raised his eyebrows. “Huh? You don’t want to say it?”

I closed my eyes and took a sharp breath. “I mean, who am I to you?”

His throat bubbled up and down. His fingers still massaging my waistline.

“Elias, I don’t know what you want to hear but the blood in you is driving me crazy..”

My throat burned, felt like that wasn’t what I was expecting to hear from him.

Maybe I was expecting too much.

“Not me—?”

Before I could finish, his lips were on mine.

The kiss was nothing like before. It was desperate and consuming like he was trying to mark me from the inside out. His tongue thrust deep into my mouth with a bold move that demanded submission.

My lips parted and my tongue met his own in a wet erotic dance. His grip on my jaw tightened as his fingers dug softly into my flesh.

I moaned loudly into his mouth, melting in his arms. “Mhmmm….”

His fangs grazed my bottom lip, teasing, but not biting. His tongue continued to explore my mouth, tasting, taking—claiming. I wrapped my hands around his neck and pulled his head deeper as I sucked on his upper lip. I sucked it gently, tracing the shape…..

“Fuck…”

He turned me around and I fell under him. His broad shoulders covered me completely.

The kiss turned rough as grinded against my thighs and I held his hair tightly at the pleasure. My cock throbbing hard from being turned on.

A soft whimper escaped me, and Lucien groaned, his hands sliding up my back, pressing me even closer.

“Say my name,” he demanded against my lips.

“Lucien….” My voice was breathless, my body melting against his.

His lips moved to my jaw, then lower, till he traced it down my neck, leaving a trail of heat down my neck.

“Tell me you are mine.”

I bit my lip, trying to hold back, but his hand moved between my thighs, pressing just enough to make me gasp.

“I’m yours,” I whispered, my chest rising and falling.

Lucien exhaled heavily, pressing his forehead against my collarbone. His grip on me loosened slightly, but his arms still held me close.

“Good?” He murmured. “Because I don’t intend to let you go.”

For a while, we just stayed like that—our breaths mingling, our bodies tangled together. His finger traced lazy circles against any back, his possessive anger slowly melting into something softer.

“Lucien,” I whispered after a moment.

“Hmmm?”

I hesitated. “I want to see my brother.”

His body tensed immediately.

“No.”

I sighed, lifting my head to meet his gaze. “Please.”

His crimson eyes searched mine, his jaw clenching.

“You just got on my good side, Elias,” he muttered. “And now you’re pushing your luck.”

I held my breath, waiting.

Lucien exhaled through his nose, his grip tightening around me before he finally sighed. “Fine. But on one condition.”

I swallowed. “What is it?”

His fingers brushed my lips, his smirk returning and I knew he was up to no good.

“You let me have my way with you when you return.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks and I nodded.

He rubbed my hair affectionately for some minutes before he suddenly stood up.

“Elias, leave now.”

I stood up immediately too, shock registered on my face.

“Why? Did I do something—“

He smiled awkwardly and held my shoulders, “No. Go and see your brother later tonight, I will have my guards escort you. Don’t wait to see me before you go to bed.”

He started again.

I shook my head stubbornly. “No, Lucien. Can I stay here with you?”

He ran his hands through his hair. “Go now!”

He used his aura on me.

I forcefully bowed my head.

Before I knew what was happening, I was outside his chamber.