The Dragomir Heir (Watty Award)

Vladonov's Grave

Lucius was silent throughout dinner and cold towards her. The first in Valentina’s experience because he usually would have a smart comment or a smirk for her to frown on. He even refused to hold her hand; Lucius, her fiancé who goes out of his way to do intimate things that made her blush.  She thought that it must be Rog’s confession that had affected him.

But it couldn’t be the case when the Dragomirs, Lucius, Vera and Dante went to visit the assassinated Dragomirs in the graves. To get him to talk or do anything besides being unresponsive, she decided to pay respects to Valeriu and his wife and asked Lucius to stay with her while the others returned.

Her cousin and Vera gave her a curious look before joining the others. Lucius stood stoic after he poured the blood while Valentina arranged the red roses. They were silent and prayed to Valeriu and Rebekah for success in their war. After a while, Lucius suggested that they leave and return to the palace as soon as possible so that he could return to his castle. As they were walking towards their horses, with Lucius in front of her, Valentina made a grab for Lucius’ sleeve. She needed to get his attention; she hated this version of Lucius.

“Wait Lucius…” He only stopped and turned his head slightly. “Please look at me”. Slowly, Lucius turned to her but she wished he didn’t because his eyes were cold and neutral. There was no more mischief or arrogance in them. Ignoring them, Valentina moved closer to him, “If anything happens tomorrow…” She reached up to kiss his lips lightly and then looked sadly into his eyes before heading towards her horse but Lucius stopped her.

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard and desperately. Valentina responded and somehow she ended up pressed against the Vladonovs’ tomb house. His lips were hard and manly and she loved them. As he left kisses on her neck, Valentina said playfully, “We are friends, are we not?” At that question, Lucius stopped and released her. His steely grey eyes turned hard and angry.

“Really Valentina, after all these intimate moments, you just want to be ONLY friends?” Lucius demanded. “I don’t want to. I want to be more to you. I want to court you and be truly engaged to you but I feel you don’t share the same desire”. He began to stalk to his horse but then rounded back and demanded again, “Be honest with me…are you still with Alek? Do you have feelings for him? Do you love him so much that you have started using me as your rebound or plaything? Am I to be your toy everytime you and Alek fight?” When she didn’t answer, too shocked by his outburst, Lucius saddened and weakly said, “I see. I guess my love is not as great as Alek’s temper or Darim’s greatness.” He then started walking towards the horses when…

“No, I never did truly felt anything deep for him”, Valentina replied softly but it was enough to make Lucius stop and turn around.

“What did you say?”

“I don’t have feelings for Alek… it started to deteriorate 6 months ago, which goes to show that it wasn’t truly love. I…I fell hard for another”, Valentina confessed. “I desire another”.

“Let me guess…it’s Darim? Zacharias’ eldest brother? Yes, I’ve heard about him…I hypothesize that you are disappointed that you are not betrothed to him instead. Am I right, honestly?”

“No” At that respond, Lucius stopped and slowly returned back to Valentina, “Then what is it? You have no true affections for me. And I am a fool to have them, not regrettably, for you.

“Strangely and very unlike me, I have accepted that I will happily and wholeheartedly marry you while your affections are absent. It will be an eternity of pain but … but I am stupidly in love”. Lucius turned and kicked a tomb stone, which cracked. He stomped all the way to his horse.