The War Lord's Prize

Chapter Thirty Three

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LUCIEN
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Joy. If I had ever thought I'd caught glimpses of it in my miserable existence, I had been so wrong. There was nothing compared to how I felt the moment Phaedra said those words to me. I didn't know what I'd done to deserve her, or what kind of game the creator was playing with me, but I was willing to take it.

Of course, my sister had interrupted my blissful moment with her annoying summoning. I wanted nothing more than to ignore her, but she insisted it was important. So, I teleported Phaedra and myself back to the palace. First, I took her to my chambers, had her screaming my name in ecstasy with my mouth, and then fed from her-which I tried not to do as much, so I wouldn't hurt her. Afterward, I teleported to the meeting room.

My smile couldn't even be erased by the long faces of the other originals or the tension-thick atmosphere. I sat at the head of the table, and they all took their seats, exchanging looks at each other; even my sister couldn't look at me. That was when my good mood simmered.

PHAEDRA

An hour after King Lucien left, I sat on the bed, turning another page of the book I'd gotten from the library-King Lucien's mother's favorite book. It was a love story of a mortal and immortal, a mere human and a goddess.

I couldn't help but smile as I imagined a woman with dark hair and beautiful eyes like Lucien. Flipping through the pages of the book now in my hands. The story was set before the vampire curse. The human, a farmer, lost his children and farmlands in war. He was struggling, saddened by the loss of his family, but kept worshipping the goddess.

His prayers and rituals intrigued and confused the goddess. She would watch him, expecting him to blame her, the other gods, or the world, but he never did. This went on for months, and she developed a soft spot for the human. She blessed him with land and protected him from the chaos around him.

His rituals and prayers were endless, and he dedicated a portion of his land to her. He would plant flowers and consistently paint the faces of how he thought she looked. Each painting was different every day, bringing the goddess great joy.

One day, he didn't. He'd been struck with a terrible sickness, bedridden for days, until the next week. He was dying, and the goddess panicked. Breaking an immortal rule, she came to earth and healed him. She had fallen in love with a mortal. He reciprocated her love, and they bore a child after the vampire curse. Calamity struck.

I flipped the page, realizing there was nothing left to read. I frowned, flipping page after page-each blank. My eyes widened. King Lucien's mother wasn't reading a story; she was writing one, and she never got to finish it.

I felt a pang of sadness.

Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door and looked up to see Lucien entering the room. His eyes were dark and intense, and I sensed a shift in his demeanor.

I closed the book, set it aside, and focused on him. I'd tell him about it when he was in a better mood.

"Welcome," I greeted.

He didn't respond, instead walking over to me and pulling me into his arms, kissing me fiercely. I melted into his embrace, feeling his passion and desire for me. I knew something was bothering him, but at that moment, all I wanted was to be with him and comfort him.

~~~

We lay entwined, our bodies sated, our hearts still racing. Lucien's eyes, once burning with passion, now clouded with concern.

"War is coming," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "The alpha king is dead. It's all my fault. If I had just listened to my sister, we wouldn't..."

I traced his jawline. "You're not to blame."

Lucien's gaze met mine, his expression grim. "Who is?"

I knew the weight of his responsibilities, the burden of leadership, but right now, he was blaming himself.

"Many will die," he continued, his voice laced with sadness. I had never heard him sound so despairing.

"The duel was as fair as it could be. You followed the rules; it isn't your fault," I reassured him.

He sighed, shutting his eyes. I let him have a moment.

"Tell me about the book," he said suddenly, shifting onto his side.

"What book?" I asked, curious.

"The one you were reading earlier. My mother's favorite."

I smiled, recalling the story. "It's a love story between a mortal and an immortal. A human and a goddess."

His interest was piqued, his tension easing. "Go on," he encouraged.

As I recounted the story, Lucien's eyes sparkled, and his thoughts momentarily diverted from the impending war. He listened intently, his expression softening.

When I finished, he remained silent, lost in thought.

"Your mother never finished writing it," I said gently.

Lucien's gaze returned to mine, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I know," he whispered. "This was her favorite because, on one of her birthday celebrations, a storyteller told it to her and said it had truly happened."

A faint smile appeared on his face as he recollected the memory.

I put my hand through his hair and drew closer, hoping to comfort him.

"She was holding my hand that day," he said, his voice cracking. "Rushing out to welcome the man who destroyed us all. He ripped her head off her body, and I watched as he drained her."

I pulled him close, my eyes clouding with tears. "I'm so sorry," I muttered.

"She's doing fine, I'm sure," he whispered, his voice laced with pain.

He wrapped his hands around me, pulling my naked body against his. We stayed that way, enjoying the proximity.

"Perhaps," I ventured, "we can finish it together."

Lucien's face was inches from mine, his lips curved into a tender smile. "Perhaps," he echoed.

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