The situation was tense. Lucian felt the weight of the intense look of his husband, who, a few minutes ago, was sitting in the armchair, legs crossed, drinking a sip of whiskey. The silence was suffocating, almost palpable, and made him feel like a mischievous child who had made a mistake and now awaited an imminent sermon.
Wriggling under the heavy blankets that covered his lap, Lucian broke the silence.
"Please say something" he asked, the voice soft but restless.
Magnus kept his gaze fixed on Lucian, placing the glass of whiskey on the round table next to him.
"What do you want to hear from me?" he asked, the enigmatic tone.
"Now that, anything!" exclaimed Lucian, feeling the frustration grow. "You have been silent since you arrived, and I know that you are already aware of what happened."
A sneaky smile formed on Magnus' lips as he slowly rose from the chair. His steps were soft, almost silent, as he walked towards the bed where Lucian rested, stopping only when his knees touched the padded.
Lucian raised his head, his eyes clear and bright as diamonds fixed on the husband. Tried to read his expression, demystify his mood to act correctly and avoid inflaming his anger. Lucia just wanted to please Magnus, appease any sign of frustration.
"Yes, you're right. I was informed about your vision" said Magnus, leaning a little closer. "I imagine it was painful for you."
A shiver ran through Lucian's spine.
"Haa... I just wonder if I'm doing all this in vain" muttered Lucian, squeezing the blankets and lowering his head. "Skyler once said that no one is able to change the destiny that the Goddess has sealed."
"What nonsense" grumbled Magnus, angry. "Do you intend to believe that damn dove?"
"I saw my own death, Magnus... I felt the sword through my chest..."
Magnus raised Lucian's chin firmly, forcing him to face his crimson eyes, which shone like dangerous flames. It was mesmerizing, as if looking directly at those embers could burn.
"You are a Grimwood now", said Magnus, with firm voice. "And if there's one thing a Grimwood does is never believe in imaginary beings that say weave destinies. We make our own destiny. That is our responsibility as mortals."
Lucian bit his lip, hesitating for a moment. He knew that Magnus was right, but...
"I understand, but you know that strange things have been happening to me. Like in our wedding, when that statue shone and cried..."
"Why should I care about a thing made of stone crying? What interests me is the alpha sitting in front of me."
Lucian's heart sped up, bringing a slight blush to his cheeks. Why did he have to speak in this vile manner? It was irresistible.
"I get it... But don't blame me for worrying about my safety."
"As long as it prevents you from running directly into danger" said Magnus, smiling satisfied. He sat next to Lucian, watching him with that piercing look that almost left the prince breathless. "Now listen to me carefully. The Emperor ordered your going to the Temple for that "dove" to help you with these visions. I have been able to at least ensure that you take your escort, and I will visit you constantly."
The news fell like a bomb on Lucian.
He had already rejected the idea of becoming a Saint, since he did not fit into the role of someone well behaved. Well, Lucian drugged Magnus so they'd get engaged! Was that something a Saint would do? Obviously not.
But the characters of that story were stubborn.
"Now is not a good time for me to walk away" protested Lucian. "We still can not approach the Baroness of Jewels, much less find out something about the third name..."
"That's not something you should worry about" Magnus replied coldly. "You've already done your part in getting the names. The rest I can handle myself."
"Now am I becoming useless to the point of being discarded?" replied Lucian, bitter.
Magnus frowned in disgust at the words of his husband. He held Lucian's face with some firmness, looking at him seriously.
"Understand Lucian, I do not want to put you in danger. I could not protect you during the festival and it torments me. Do you think I could bear to leave this whole world if I fail for the second time?"
Lucian widened his eyes, surprised. He never imagined that Magnus would be with his pride hurt because of what happened at the festival. In fact, it was the prince himself who felt frustrated that his plan had almost failed and yet hurt Magnus once again.
Embarrassed, Lucian lowered his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Magnus smoothed his expression and slid his fingers across Lucian's jaw, holding him tenderly. He approached, whispering against his lips.
"Don't think you'll get rid of me so easily, Lucian. I can let you go now, but you'll never be free of me. Not after I have bound myself to you."
"So, should I just accept and go without complaining?"
"Take advantage of it, like a Grimwood would" Magnus whispered, raising his eyes to him with a keen gleam. "If you want to teach him about your visions, learn everything you can. Use this knowledge for something useful for us. You were always a strategist, even worse than me. Why would you be cowardly now?"
Magnus was right, and Lucian knew it.
He had lied to everyone about his "gift". Everyone believed that charade, when in fact Lucian was just a reader. Someone who held information from the end of
Still, he had used what he remembered strategically. That's how he managed to marry Magnus and even get his hands on the list of names.
Lucian had come too far by pretending to be a good boy, a lonely and renegade prince, only to move under the eyes full of pity.
That made him a true Grimwood.
Magnus noticed the change in Lucian's expression. Rubbing his thumb gently on his jaw, he opened an arrogant smile, full of pride.
"Ah, there you are. Finally back to your real game, Lucian."
"That doesn't solve our biggest problem, Magnus."
Intrigued, the Grand Duke tilted his head slightly, and the smell of whiskey in his breath struck Lucian's nose, causing him a slight shiver.
"What problem do you refer to?"
Lucian's arms wrapped around Magnus' waist firmly, surprising him. The unexpected touch made the omega overjoyed, and Lucian opened a satisfied smile, adoring his husband's reaction.
"I mean the fact that you'll be away from me for too long" said Lucian, in a low and seductive tone, provoking more shivers in Magnus, who stared at him in silence. "How can I be calm knowing that you will be wandering around, away from me?"
"Wandering?" Magnus laughed incredulously. "For know that I have many worms to hunt."
"Still, your heat must be near... I worry that you'll end up going through this away from me" Lucian added, his eyes shining with a mixture of concern and desire.
"Is that what you're worried about?" Magnus arched an eyebrow, but a cheeky smile appeared on his lips. "Do you think I will go to the temple only to meet you and spend the heat together? I admit it would be interesting."
The idea of spending Magnus' heat in the temple sounded dangerously exciting to Lucian. He shuddered just thinking about it, but knew that he could not give in to these fantasies. Not there, not at that moment.
Pulling Magnus to his lap, Lucian drew his face close to his husband's neck, inhaling the light scent of wine that emanated from his skin. The tip of his tongue slid slowly over the sensitive gland behind the omega ear, causing an involuntary groaning.
"Hnhg..."
"Oh, that's a lovely sound" Lucian whispered in Magnus' ear, teasing him even more. "Be a good husband and let me say goodbye properly."
"Hah... a farewell?" Magnus looked at him with malice. "This looks more like an alpha desperate to mark his territory."
Lucian had a funny laugh. He wasn't wrong. He wanted to mark it, possess it completely, so that Magnus wouldn't forget who it belonged to. Knew that even being in the temple, Magnus would certainly find a way to invade it to see him, whether for personal or "political" reasons. But the desire to leave his mark was too strong to be ignored.
Although still feeling the dizziness of the sudden evil and the injuries that Magnus carried from the festival, nothing seemed able to prevent the desire of both that night. They were screwed, but that would not stop them.
Lucian kissed and bit the exposed skin of Magnus, each piece being claimed with pleasure. The sound of the omega's muffled groans and the way he squirmed only made Lucian want more, prolonging each moment.
When night fell on the Empire and the guest room of the Palace of the Sun plunged into darkness, Lucian still moved between his husband's legs, possessively hugging him and licking his neck. The air was dense, saturated by the mixed pheromones, creating a sweet and intoxicating aroma.
"You're... licking me too much, Lucian" complained Magnus, between panting breaths.
"I want to bite you, but I know you wouldn't let me" Lucian muttered hoarse, his voice full of desire as he squeezed more tightly the waist of the omega and moved slowly. "Haa... it drives me crazy."
Magnus arched his back, his nails lightly scratching Lucian's bare back, pulling him even more against himself.
"Why should you... be the only one to mark me?" Growled Magnus, even though his pheromones would betray the growing ecstasy.
Lucian laughed low, charmed by the stubbornness of Magnus, always trying to keep control, even when he was visibly lost in pleasure. It excited him even more.
Leaning on his arms to better observe his husband, Lucian let his golden hair fall on the shoulders of Magnus, tickling his skin.
"So, would you like to mark me?" asked Lucian, his eyes shining with malice.
Magnus widened his eyes, surprised by the question.
"Want me to bite you?"
"I wouldn't mind" replied Lucian, letting his fingers slide down Magnus' bare arm to his hand, kissing the golden ring on his finger. "I would appreciate your mark, reminding me every day of that moment. How you made me yours."
"Ha... not a bad idea" Magnus entwined his fingers with those of Lucian, pulling him so he would lose balance and fall on himself. "It would be a beautiful collar for this sneaky rat."
Lucian tried to counter, but Magnus wouldn't let him speak. His warm lips slid down Lucian's neck, kissing and nibbling the skin, preparing him. Each touch caused sighs and groans of the alpha, until finally the bite came.
Magnus' sharp teeth pierced Lucian's skin, and he felt a wave of pain and intense excitement run through his body. He clung to the omega, pressing his head against Magnus' shoulder as the blood trickled slowly down the Grand Duke's lips.
Ah... so that's the feeling of being marked? thought Lucian, lost at the moment.
He expected something more "magical", perhaps... but one thing was certain. Upon being bitten, Lucian felt his feelings for Magnus — the devotion, the obsession — deepen further.
Magnus pulled out his teeth, licking the blood while Lucian, panting, watched him.
"Now you're mine" whispered Magnus, with a dangerous smile on his lips.
Lucian smiled back, heart racing, knowing that they had sealed something much deeper than just a physical pact. They belonged to each other in an unbreakable way.