BOUND BY ROYALTY

CHAPTER 7

The dawn had barely broken when I woke, the sky outside still a deep shade of indigo. The stars were fading slowly, the first light of the day peeking hesitantly over the horizon, but the world remained cloaked in the quiet stillness of night. It should have been peaceful, an early morning where I could breathe, think, and prepare for the day ahead.

But then the scent hit me. Lucian.

I inhaled deeply, my body reacting instinctively to the intoxicating fragrance that filled the air. His scent was warm and sweet, something that had embedded itself into my very bones, and yet every time I caught it, it sent a surge of desire through me. My heart pounded in my chest as I turned over, my gaze falling upon him, curled up beside me, his body tucked close against mine.

For the first time since our marriage, I held him.
Really held him. His body fit against me perfectly, the soft curve of his back pressing into my chest, the steady rise and fall of his breath slow and deep as he slept. It was a moment of quiet, of stillness, something I hadn't realized I had needed until now.
I could feel his warmth against my skin, the way his body molded to mine, and it ignited something deep within me, something primal, fierce, and protective.

My hand rested on his waist, and I could feel the softness of his skin beneath my fingers, the way his body seemed to respond to my touch even in sleep. I didn't dare move, didn't want to disturb the fragile peace of the moment. But the scent...
Gods, his scent was overwhelming. It filled the room, heavy and sweet, wrapping around me like a fog, making it difficult to think of anything else.

I knew what it meant. Another wave of his heat was coming, and soon.

I clenched my jaw, fighting to maintain control. It had been a long night. Lucian's heat had hit him hard, harder than I had anticipated. His body had trembled, his skin flushed and burning as he fought against the overwhelming need coursing through him. He had whimpered, clung to me, desperate for relief, and it had taken everything in me not to give in, not to let myself fall into the same haze of desire that consumed him.

I'd spent hours calming him down, whispering reassurances, holding him through the worst of it.
His pheromones had done nothing to help. If anything, they had made it harder, harder to resist, harder to think clearly. Every instinct in me screamed to take him, to give him what he needed, but I couldn't. Not like this. Not when he was so vulnerable, so raw. He deserved better than that.

But it had nearly broken me.

And now, lying here, with his scent thick in the air, his soft body curled against mine, I could feel my restraint slipping again. Another wave of his heat was on its way, and this time... this time, I didn't trust myself to hold back.

I shifted carefully, trying not to wake him as I disentangled myself from his warm embrace. My body screamed at the loss of contact, my skin burning where it had touched his, but I forced myself to move, to pull away. I had to leave before the next wave hit. If I didn't, I knew I wouldn't be able to control myself.

Sliding out of bed, I glanced back at Lucian, still sleeping soundly, his face peaceful in the dim light. He looked so vulnerable, so beautiful, and the thought of leaving him even for a few moments, tugged at something deep within me.
But I couldn't stay. Not when I was teetering on the edge of losing control.

I called for Ben, my voice low to avoid waking Lucian, and within minutes, he appeared, his face calm but knowing. Ben had been with me long enough to understand the situation without needing any further explanation. He had already prepared another chamber for me, far enough away that Lucian's scent wouldn't reach me, where I could gather myself and find some measure of peace.

"Keep an eye on him," I told Ben quietly as I pulled on a robe, my gaze lingering on Lucian's sleeping form. "Make sure he's comfortable. I'll return once... once things have settled."