Stealing Hearts.

Eighteen.

Text Nineteen.

Once again, Lucien found himself in the dark, he was under dressed with only black dress pants as he had flown here the moment Veronica gave him a name and he had tucked Zara in his bed.

A dark tattoo ran up down his torso marking him forever as hers, Zara's. He liked the ring of that; being hers and she being his.

But now, he must know the motive, why she did it despite the bond she shared with him.

The lights flickered on and she gasped when she saw him.

"Lucien… what are you doing here?"

"Why did you do it?"

She smiled, feigning shock. "What are taking about?"

He stood to his full height. "Why did you do it?" The temperature dropped.

"Luci...dad, I don't…"

"Lonera, don't lie to me, I know it was you who poisoned Zara. So just tell me why you did it?" He was fuming now.

Lonera eyes trail down to his torso taking in the markings.

"You bonded with her, how?"

"Where there is will, there is way."

"She can't survive the poisoning, she just can't. And why did you bond with her? All my efforts to make you see that she is not meant for you are all wasted now that you've bonded, but…"

"Stop!!!" He boomed. "Why?"

"Why?" She laughed. "Why, you ask? I did it because I deserved to be queen, your queen not her nor anybody else. You can't see that but I do but now you bonded with her we'll just have to wait for her to die."

"She will survive, that I promise you but, you betrayed what we shared, I took you in as my daughter, loved you, gave you everything you ever wanted and so much more only for you to betray me in the worst way possible, only for what? Power."

"No!" She yelled. "I wanted to be yours. I wanted to save you from making a mistake that was just a moment induced decision."

"No, it wasn't and you won't understand because what you feel is pure want; lust. I love her and not you and marrying her is not just some spur of the moment decision; it's what I wanted to do the moment I discovered she is 'it' for me and by harming her, you not only hurt and angered me, you disappointed me because I trusted you."

"Lucien, no I didn't... I love and care for you, can't you see we are meant to be. She just a friend."

"Wrong and I am fed up with your nonsense. This little act of yours can't be forgiven, you harmed her and I don't forgive easily. I'll make you pay."

"What are you going to do, kill me?"

"Lonera, there are worse things than death."

"We can be together." She said hopefully.

"You're eighteen." He said candidly.

"Is that the problem?"

"The problem is that you're crazy. Enough of your games, this ends today."

†*****†******†******†******†
The only thing Rico heard was the cry of anguish behind the closed doors that Lucien exited shortly out off.

He took in his appearance. Sprinkles of blood coated his face lightly and his eyes hardened. Besides that, he was flawless, which made Rico wonder what happened behind those closed doors.

"Did you kill her?"

Lucien's laser eyes snapped to his. "No." He replied and started walking away.

"Where are you going now?" Rico asked following him to see that their destination was the topmost floor.

Lucien remained silent only walking in the direction he knew will invariably lead him to Zara.

"Lucien!!!"

Lucien was already outside, the wind hitting him full force because of the height. He climbed higher to the edge of the building.

He wanted to fly.

"Your highness?" He had Lucien attention. "Lucien, where are you going?"

"Home." He said in a hoarse voice. "I am going to Zara."

Rico smiled softly. "Take care of her and tell her that Rico says he loves her very much."

Lucien nodded and then threw himself off the building. Per usual, he never touched rock bottom before soaring through the night skies.

†******†*****†*****†*****†

Lucien landed on his balcony. He retracted his wings and walked into his room. He threw on a shirt and strutted towards his bed.

He gazed at her as she slept peacefully, a smile brightening his face after the rough day yesterday had been.

He crept into bed and held her and she snuggled into him and then he knew they would be okay.