Chapter 12

As soon as she fell asleep he left the room. Finally, his body could relax and he could breathe. He needed some kind of release, he was on the edge of losing his mind.
While walking through the dark halls he felt someone follow him. Looking back he saw nothing and continued walking. He still felt as if someone was following him. He stopped and looked behind him.
"Whoever you are, show yourself," Lucian said. He heard a chuckle before the figure of a man appeared from the shadows. He was wearing all black making his long silver hair stand out even more. His eyes were as dark as his gaze and his skin so pale he wondered if this man ever walked in the sun. He looked frightening yet...beautiful.
"We meet again." The man said and Lucian instantly recognized his voice. It was the man from his dream.



"Who are you?" Lucian asked. The man walked closer.
"You should ask what I am instead." He said. The man was tall slightly taller than him and Lucian could feel the power coming from him.
"Are you like me?" Lucian asked remembering the man's claws.
"And what are you?" The man said. That was a good question. Lucian didn't really know what he was. All he knew was that he was different.
"I don't know."
The man narrowed his dark eyes, They were frightening.
"I am not like you." The man said. "But I am not here to tell you what I am. If you want to win this war you need to stop being softhearted. You need to do whatever you need to do"
"Why would you care about me winning this war?" Lucian asked.
"I really don't care, I just don't like your brothers." He said.
"Do you know my brothers?"
"Yes." He said with a sigh as if he was tired of all the questions, still, Lucian couldn't stop himself from asking.
"How do you know them? How did you enter the castle?"
"If I can enter your dreams it's not that difficult to enter a castle." He said then looked me up and down and shook his head.
"Tsk, tsk. Don't fight your demon too much, accept it instead." He smiled then just like that he disappeared into thin air.
"Wait!" How did he know about his demon?
"My Lady?" I opened my eyes slowly and looked directly into Irene's. "It's late you should wake up."
I sat up on the bed and yawned while rubbing my eyes. Irene smiled at my action.
"You are like a little cat." She said.
"I like cats." I smiled. " I wish I had one."
I looked to my left. Lucian was gone.
"His Highness was probably tired last night." She said trying to comfort me.
"I don't think he wants me." I said. Even though he had told me he wanted me but every time we kissed he almost got sick and distanced himself from me. Maybe I was just bad at it.
"Of course he wants you. A man would be blind not to."
"You are just being kind." I said climbing down from the bed and heading to the bathroom.
"You know I am very honest My Lady." Yes she was but she was kind too.
"I just don't know what to do to...to..."
"To seduce a man?" She finished.
"To make him want me." I corrected but that made her laugh.
"It's the same thing My Lady." Yes, Of course.
I took my nightgown off and walked into the hot water.
"Don't worry. I will teach you everything you need, My lady."
I sat on the bed, watched Irene and listened while she gave me advice on what do to all while showing me.
"First, pretend like you are not even trying to seduce him. So when he comes back sit in front of the mirror and pretend like you are preparing to go to sleep." She sat in front of the mirror and picked up a brush and began to brush her hair.
"Start brushing your hair and putting oils onto your skin. When putting oils on your arms, neck and shoulders do it slowly and make sure he sees you." She removed the hair from her neck and caressed her neck slowly moving down to her shoulder and further down her arm with fluid movements.
"You should even try to lift your dress and put some oil on your legs. Try to talk to him while you do all these things to grab his attention." She said. She put her leg on the footstool the she lift her dress slowly and began to massage her leg. "Like this," She said running her hands up and down her leg. I couldn't help but giggle. Was I really going to do that?
"Smile while you talk to him and speak in a low voice." She said lowering her voice " and blink with your eyes a few times while you speak."
She looked like a seductress who wasnät even trying to seduce someone. If I did what she was doing I would look clumsy and foolish.
"What should I talk to him about?" I asked.
"Anything pleasant, something that will lighten his mood." I nodded and she went on telling me a few other things I could do if the first things didn't work out.
"If you want to seduce him then you need to seduce his senses, what he sees, hears and smells. If he likes what he sees, hears and smells then he is all yours."
"Irene?"
"Yes, My Lady."
"The person you love, are you together," I asked.
"Yes, My Lady." She smiled.
"Can I meet him sometime?" I was really curious to know the kind of man she fell in love with. Whoever he was, he was lucky to have a beautiful and smart woman like her.
"Of course My Lady. If that's what you want." Then she suddenly looked at the door.
"His Highness is on his way I'll leave you alone." She said and left. I really wanted to know how she knew these kinds of things.
After a while, Lucian opened the door and entered while I was still sitting on the bed. I could feel my heart speeding up a little as he ran his fingers through his hair and smiled at me.
"Good morning wife." He seemed to be in a better mood but I was still a bit hurt by his actions last night.
"Good morning."
"Did you have breakfast?" He asked, slowly walking closer. It was actually in the middle of the day, time to eat lunch but I woke up late.
"Yes." I replied. He walked even closer until he stood a bit from where I was sitting. I looked up to meet his gaze as he looked down at me. Would I really be able to seduce this man? I wasn't as seductive or nearly as beautiful as Irene. What if I made a fool of myself?
He put his hand below my ear and caressed my cheek with his thumb.
"Hazel." He said his voice soft and warm like the summer breeze.
"Yes." His thumb traveled to my lips.
"Don't ever think I don't want you," He said his voice low. "I do but I am afraid to hurt you."
Something dark flickered through his eyes as he continued "You know I can."
Why was he trying to frighten me?
"But you wouldn't." I said.
He lowered himself until his face was close to mine.
"Yes, I would if was in the mood to do so." He said his breath fanning my face. "So don't ever try and seduce me again because these days I am in the mood to hurt someone."
Now, I wasn't listening to what he was saying because his face was so close, his lips so close that if a leaned in just a bit they would touch mine.
"Are you listening Hazel?"
"No," I whispered surprised by the need I heard in my own voice.
He pulled away and stood straight again. Then he looked at me with a serious expression.
"Yes, I listened. But you won't hurt me. I know." I said. I don't why he believed he would hurt me.
He looked at me for a while in silence before he spoke.
"I killed Adam. I killed my brother Adam."



I stiffened. I don't know why. I knew he would kill his brothers sooner or later so why was I surprised? Now I understood why he was in such a bad mood last night. He must have been feeling terrible.
"Are you alright?" I asked standing up which brought us even closer to each other.
"Yes, Hazel. I am perfectly fine. I don't even regret it, it is a part of me to kill. Do you know how many people these hands have killed with ease?" He asked holding up his hands.
" I don't even need weapons to kill. I have killed far more people with my bare hands then a sword."
Why was he doing this? Why was he trying to intimidate me?
"Why are you trying to scare me?"
"I am not." He said grabbing my arms and pulling me closer gently. "I don't want you to be scared. I just want you to be careful."
"Of what?"
His eyes bored into mine.
"Of me. If you ever feel that I am acting different or aggressive then just go far away from me."
Far away? No, I wouldn't. In fact, I wouldn't listen to anything he just said and I would still seduce him tonight.
Lucian could see a mischievousness in Hazel's eyes. She wasn't taking him seriously and yes, in a normal case he would love to be seduced by her but now, his demon was hungrier and angrier than ever.
First, he needed to figure out a safe way to be with Hazel.
"Your Highness, Princess Klara is here to meet you." A guard called from the outside.
Lucian exchanges a few looks with Hazel and then let her decide. She looked at him for a moment before she told the guard to let Klara in.
Klara walked in, her face shining with happiness.
"Princess Hazel, Prince Lucian, I hope I am not disturbing you." She said.
Lucian looked at Hazel, "No you are not, please come in." Hazel smiled but he knew it wasn't genuine.
Klara took a few steps forward and her gaze landed on Hazel questioningly.
"I came here to remind you of what we spoke about last time," Klara said carefully.
Lucian got a bad feeling about this and he gave Hazel a questioning look. She looked back at him with pleading eyes and he instantly knew what this was about. She wanted him to marry Klara. He had already been in a very bad mood these days, now he was fuming with anger. He really felt like spilling someone's blood.
Klara sensed the tension between them so she made a move first.
"I have got your weapons." She said and a guard came in with Lucian's weapons. "All your men have got their weapons back too. Is there anything else you would like me to do?" She was already showing her authority.
Hazel looked at him and he gave her a warning look. He wanted her to be the person to say no but she looked stubbornly at him.
"If you don't mind, I would like to speak to my wife alone." He told Klara.
"Sure," she smiled and left.
He turned to Hazel "What are you doing?"
"Can't you see? You got your weapons back and you can get anything else that you want." She looked down and lowered her voice. " She can give you things I can't."
Seeing her like that turned his anger into something else he couldn't quite describe and he drew her into his arm. He wished he could tell her there was another way out but there wasn't and he could put her life in danger.
"I am alright with you marrying her, " she said looking up at him "as long as you don't give your heart to her."
That wouldn't be a problem. He had already given his heart to Hazel and he wanted to give the rest of him to her and only to her.
He couldn't imagine himself marrying Klara, even his demon hated that thought.
"Will you say yes?"
"I'll think about it," he said but Hazel knew he was basically saying no.
"Lucian!" She said pulling herself away from his embrace. "There is nothing to think about. You marry her or die and leave me alone here with her brother who god knows what he will do to me."
Lucian stopped breathing for a moment as an image of Rasmus having his hands all over Hazel appeared in his head. Anger boiled inside of him, his demon growled at the thought and he could slowly feel the color of his eyes changing and the sharp pain of when his nails elongated cutting through his flesh. He stormed out of the room before Hazel could see the terrifying him.
"Lucian where are you going?" He could hear her call behind him.
"My Lady, what are you thinking so deeply about?"
"I don't understand. Shouldn't he be happy that I want him to marry Klara?" I asked confused. I had been thinking a lot about it after he left the room looking like he was about to kill someone.
"You should stop thinking My Lady and go to sleep. It is very late."
"I will wait for him."
"He won't come tonight," Irene said.
"How do you know?"
"I just know My Lady." She never quite answered every time I asked her how she knew things. She always said the same thing I just know', and she was right, he never came.
The next day I sat with Irene at the garden drinking her delicious tea. Since I started drinking it I felt much calmer and much more fresh and beautiful.
"Do you put something in the tea?" I asked.
"Yes, lots of herbs that are good for the skin, hair and just health in general."
"So you don't put some kind of magic?" I asked lowering my voice. She laughed.
"No, My Lady. I could do that but that wouldn't be a good thing to do. Magic is not a thing to use easily. There are always consequences."
"Ah..." was all I said then my thoughts wondered to Lucian. Where was he right now?
Lucian inhaled sharply and clenched his fists. He hated what he was about to do.
"Alright. I will marry you if you promise that no harm will come to Hazel."
She looked at him surprised at first but then hurt.
"I would never do anything that would harm you. I know you care about your wife, I will protect her the way you do."
He knew she was being honest but he wondered why she would go so far for him that she would even protect his wife.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked her carefully again.
"Yes," she said without hesitation.
"I will never give my heart to you."
"Life is full of surprises, you never know." She smiled but he could see she was hurt. He could only hope she would wake up before ruining her life.
"Now that you said yes I have a gift for you." She motioned with her hands and two guards came behind him holding a lifeless body, which they let fall to the ground.
It was the body of his brother Tristan.
"Now you only have Pierre and Mason to worry about."



"I don't know if I can do this." I said looking myself in the mirror.
"Yes you can My Lady. If you don't do this then princess Klara will."
Irene had made me wear a beautiful white gown with nothing underneath.
"But isn't this too much?"
Irene smiled.
"You are not n.a.k.e.d, My Lady. You are still wearing a dress, just showing a little more than usual to make him want to see the rest." She winked.
I didn't even know if this was a good idea. He had only yesterday warned me to not seduce him, but I wasn't seducing him really. I was just going to brush my hair and put oils on my skin, just as I do every night before I go to sleep. The only difference would be that I would be doing it in front of him now, which Irene thought would make him want me.
I was doubtful but Irene was convinced. Well, she knew more about men then I did so I decided to take her advice.
"You don't have to do this if you don't want to." She said putting her hand on my shoulder.
"I do want him. I am just not sure if he wants me." And that made me scared of wanting him.
"He does want you and if he doesn't, then make him."
Yes, I had to make him want me otherwise Klara would.
"Is he even coming tonight?" I asked.
"Yes, he is." She said with a frown. "I'll leave you now." On her way, she blew a few more candles off and gave me a reassuring smile before closing the door behind her.
As soon as Lucian walked into the room a wonderful smell penetrated his nostrils. It smelled of roses and fresh air and... Hazel. He looked around. The room was mostly dark, the only light coming from a few lit candles and the full moon that shone outside the window.
His eyes searched the room until they found Hazel who was sitting in front of the mirror brushing her hair. She stopped for a while and looked at him.
"You came." She smiled.
That smile, that weakness of his, tugged at his heart in strange ways.
"Yes," was the only thing he managed to say and she went on brushing her hair.
She looked more beautiful than ever in the dim light and smelled of honey and coconut. He inhaled deeply, he wanted more, more of her scent, more of her. He wanted to run his hands through her hair, hold her tight, kiss every inch of that honey scented skin. His body urged him forward while his brain screamed at him to turn around and leave before he lost control.
Hazel stopped brushing her hair and looked at him questioningly.
"Lucian?" her voice so sweet, called to him, woke his deepest desires. "Will you just stand there?" She asked.
No, he wanted to turn back and leave but found himself taking a step forward. Cursing quietly he walked past her and to the bed. He began to take his armor off deciding that he would go to sleep as fast as he could.
"How was your day?" She asked using that same sweet tone.
His gaze traveled back to her. She had her leg up on the footstool and had lifted her dress up above her knee.
Swallowing Lucian quickly turned his gaze away.
"Good." Was all he said. He should have asked about her day but he was fighting a battle inside his head, a battle between his body and brain. He could feel how his demon was slowly clawing his way out.
"I have made a new friend." She continued. He could hear the joy in her voice but he got worried. Who could this friend be?
"Who?" He asked turning to her but regretted it immediately. She was now rubbing something into her skin, slowly running her hands up and down her bare leg.
He had warned her. He had warned her not to seduce him, why could she never listen?
"Her name is Irene?" she smiled swinging her legs down and standing up straight.
His eyes scanned the length of her body, taking in every detail. She was wearing a form-fitting white dress that enhanced the curves of her body. The fabric was thin but not revealing, still, he knew she was wearing nothing underneath.
While enjoying the sight he could feel her body warming up under his gaze and her heart began to beat rapidly. She seemed to contemplate whether to approach him or not. God help her and him if she did because now he was losing all sense. The only thing he could focus on was the deep and raw hunger that rose within him.
I felt my cheeks flush as his gaze moved over me, the intensity in his eyes clearly telling me that he liked what he saw.
Slowly he lifted his gaze to mine and our eyes locked. Heat blazed from the depths of them, warming me from the inside, drawing me to him like gravity and I found myself taking a few steps forward but stopped, afraid he would draw back. But he didn't.
Instead, he stalked toward me, slowly, his eyes never leaving mine and it took all my strength to stand still and not run away or fall on my knees. I don't know what it was about him, about the way he moved or the way he looked at me that made me both frightened and excited at the same time.
I forget to breathe as he neared and stood right before me, so close I could feel the warmth of his body, wrapping itself around me like a blanket, making me yearn to be in his arms.
As if he knew what I wanted he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close.
"I have waited too long." He said his voice rough with suppressed need. "I can't hold back anymore."
"Then don't" I whispered.
His hold around my waist tightened pressing our bodies together while his free hand grabbed my hair roughly and brought my face dangerously close to his. I closed my eyes waiting for him to kiss me as roughly as he grabbed me, but I felt the softest brush of his lips on mine sending shivers down my spine. Then another soft brush and my breath hitched.
He was making me wait, but I didn't want to wait. I wanted him, I needed him. I wrapped my arms around his neck but before I could press my lips to his he pulled my hair and tilted my head back.
"Patience wife, I want to savor this moment." He said his tone like a hot wave against my throat.
I clung on to him, unable to stand on my own as his lips skillfully moved over my throat kissing and nibbing. His hands moved down my back, grabbed onto my h.i.p.s and pushed me even harder into his body as if I wasn't close enough. His scent wrapped itself around my mind making me unable to think.
I was lost, drowning in an ocean of pleasure. I felt myself float on air, my feet no longer touching the ground and suddenly I lay on the bed with Lucian on top of me, pinning my hands above my head. Desire and hunger blazed through his eyes and he crashed his lips on mine. His kiss was raw, intense sending a wave of heat through my body. His hands slipped under my dress and caressed me to heights that were both frightening and arousing.
Lucians kisses turned from sweetly intense to painfully intense almost bruising my lips. Before I could protest I heard the tearing sound of fabric.
"Lucian..." I began breathlessly as I pushed him away.
"What did you..." the words died in my throat as I looked into his red eyes before he shut them.
"Hazel, leave quickly before I hurt you."
His voice sent chills down my spent and I considered running for a moment but something in me refused to run. Something that heard the pain in his voice.
He opened his eyes and his gaze burned into mine.
"I said run." He growled.
"No, I don't want to."
"I can't control myself anymore Hazel." He said with clenched teeth as his body shook violently. "You don't want to see me like this."
I had already seen him like this and he hadn't hurt me. He had saved me. I refused to be scared of him, I had no reason to.
Lucian was trying everything in his power to make his body move, take himself as far away from Hazel as possible, but his demon was too strong, too hungry. It had tasted Hazel and it wanted more. He was no longer in control and he feared for Hazel but she wasn't listening to him.
He shut his eyes and fought his demon once more but to no avail.
"Lucian, open your eyes." He felt Hazel's hand on his cheek.
No! He didn't want her to see him like this but he found himself opening his eyes.
"Look at me." She whispered.
Raising his gaze slowly, he looked into her eyes. It was as if his body listened to her instead of him.
There was no fear in her eyes as he gazed into them, only curiosity and... tenderness. He wasn't used to this. He was used to seeing fear and disgust in people's eyes. To see Hazel look at him the way she did warmed his heart and without thinking, he leaned down and kissed her again. She parted her lips invitingly and wrapped her arms around him.
A familiar feeling he knew as love filled his heart. It warmed him, calmed him and slowly he felt the color of his eyes returning to normal and his nails retracting.
He had no time to think of what was happening as he was consumed by the desire that pulsated through him.
Slowly he drew back and took his shirt off while studying her face. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes hooded with desire. He could hear the fierce pounding of her heart as her gaze traveled down his bare upper body.
Knowing that she wanted to touch him he took her hand and placed it on his chest. She hesitates for a moment but then her hands slowly began to explore his body.
She ran her hands down his chest, stomach, up his arms and shoulders her eyes showing nothing but admiration as she touched him. Then her fingers traveled down his spine and he groaned with pleasure that burned so deep it was nearly painful.
Although he was in a sweet agony he waited patiently, letting her satisfy her curiosity and getting acquainted with his body.
When she was done it was his turn.
He pressed his body intimately into hers, holding her down with his h.i.p.s while his lips claimed hers in a kiss. His tongue swept across her lower lip and she writhed beneath him creating a sweet friction that made him groan deep in his throat. Knowing the effect it had on her he repeated the deed and she m.o.a.ned in response.
Taking her dress off smoothly he began to explore her body using his hands, lips, and tongue. He savored the feel and taste of her skin, relished the sound of her m.o.a.ns.
"Lucian!" She gasped as he grazed his finger down her inner thighs coaxing shivers out of her. He did the same thing again but this time with his tongue making her quiver uncontrollably. He couldn't help but smile at her reaction as he continued teasing her with his lips and tongue.
"Lucian please..." She said breathless as her hands fisted in his hair bringing his face to hers.
He gave her the kiss she wanted and she kissed him back with a hunger that both surprised him and aroused to an excruciating level. His hand slid between her thighs and she cried out in pleasure as his he touched sensitive, aching flesh.
She was his now and he was going to show her that no other man could pleasure her the way he was going to.
I was mindless, nearly breathless as Lucians hand stroke me slowly, rhythmically making the pressure in the pit of my stomach increase with every stroke. I dig my finger into his hair as the feeling became overwhelming, making my muscles tighten and then a spasm went through my body and my head fell back with a cry.
I just lay there, my body limp, astonished by what just happened. Whatever it was I didn't want it to end.
"This is just the beginning, wife" Lucian whispered in my ear.
And then the kissing and stroking began and my body was on fire once again.
Lucian grabbed my h.i.p.s and I felt a sharp pain, but it was only brief. Next came the incredible feeling, our skin moving together, the friction igniting a fire that burned to my core.
Yes, I was on fire. A fire that no amount of water could quench.