Table For Two

-Thirteen Years Ago-

"Your beautiful hair... gone... in one snip! I can't stand that boy!" Sarai fumed, her anger fueling each decisive cut of Visenya's remaining strands, desperately trying to make it more presentable.

"It's just hair, mother. It will grow back," Visenya replied, her voice weighed down with a tinge of sadness.

"That's not the point!" Sarai objected, the extent of her frustration evident as she forcefully slammed the scissors down on the vanity. "He always targets you, and what's worse is that he gets away with it!"

"Emperor Caden punished him this time," Visenya said, her tone carrying a glimmer of hope.

Sarai scoffed, her disbelief evident. "Three days without food? If only a dragon could starve to death."

"That's not a nice thing to say, mother," Visenya gently chided, her voice laced with compassion.

Sarai rubbed her temples and made a conscious effort to bite her tongue. Visenya possessed a kind and forgiving heart that Sarai found both admirable and frustrating. It infuriated her to witness how Visenya always turned the other cheek in the face of Lucian's horrid behavior.

She gazed at her daughter, whose thirteenth birthday ball had just been utterly ruined by a complacent jerk, noting a profound sadness in Visenya's eyes, rather than anger.

With tenderness, Sarai positioned herself in front of Visenya, gently cupping her face in her hands. "I am deeply sorry that your party was sabotaged by that selfish boy. We will host another celebration once the dragons have departed."

Visenya's response came as a surprise. "I do not want another party, mother," she confided softly.

Puzzled, Sarai inquired, “Then why do you look so sad?”

Visenya merely shrugged, her weariness evident. "I suppose it’s just been a long day, and I'm tired."

Sarai sighed, her love for her daughter radiating from her smile. Tenderly, she pressed a soft kiss upon Visenya's forehead. "In that case, why don't you retire to your chambers and get some much-needed rest?"

Visenya ascended the stairs that led to her bedchamber, her heart heavy with sorrow. Her mother had correctly sensed her anguish, yet she couldn't bring herself to admit how deeply she was hurt every time the Dragon Prince tyrannized her. Despite her constant kindness towards him, he relished in tormenting her.

Amidst her party, she found solace in the company of noble boys from her kingdom, paying no mind to Lucian's spiteful glares. They eagerly lined up for a chance to dance with their beloved princess, regardless of their lycan or human heritage. Meanwhile, Lucian and Cheyenne sat in their seats, exchanging jokes and laughing at her expense.

Unaware of Lucian's stealthy approach, Visenya felt a gentle tug on her head, followed by the sound of a swift snip. She turned around, horror etched across her face, as Lucian waved a chunk of her hair in the air and bellowed, "Who wants to dance with Prince Vincent now?!"

Her hands shot up to her head as the shocking realization hit her: her hair had been completely chopped off and was now in Lucian's hand. Paralyzed with shock, she couldn't believe what had just happened.

"I didn't think you'd actually do it!" Cheyenne burst into hysterical laughter, inexplicably encouraging Lucian's unacceptable behavior.

"What the hell, Lucian?!" Caspian's voice thundered with fury. "You've crossed the line this time!"

With a disdainful toss, Lucian let Visenya's hair fall to the floor. He squared up with Caspian, both of them puffing out their chests in a confrontational stance.

"What are you going to do about it, pretty boy?" Lucian taunted, his eyes blazing with a seething fire.

Lucian had mastered his dragon-shifting abilities at the age of ten, and since then, he had only grown in strength, size, and arrogance. Caspian, on the other hand, wouldn't meet his wolf for another two years, yet he refused to back down from anyone, especially not the pompous Dragon Prince.

With a single push from Caspian, fists started flying between the two young boys. Despite Visenya's attempts to break up the fight, Lucian had the upper hand, as always, and relentlessly laid into Caspian. It took mere seconds for the adults to rush over and intervene, putting an end to the brawl.

"You are acting like an animal!" Emperor Caden's voice thundered.

"That's because he is one," Lucian retorted, his arrogance evident.

"I was talking to you!" The Emperor clarified, forcefully poking his finger into Lucian's chest. "Have you no dignity? You do as you please, bringing shame upon your kind. If I could, I would strip that marking from your chest without hesitation! This kind of infantile behavior does not befit someone who is destined to be King of Kings one day! You dishonor me, boy! Go to your quarters and remain there until I decide what to do with you!"

The ballroom fell into an eerie silence, every gaze fixated on Lucian as he finally faced the reprimanding he so deserved. A whirlwind of emotions danced in Lucian's eyes, revealing his profound astonishment, mirroring the disbelief of everyone present.

Never before had his father scolded him in such a manner, leaving Lucian speechless and at a loss for words. With one last venomous glare directed at Caspian, Lucian stormed off to his designated room, his fury palpable in the air.

With utmost care, Visenya extended a helping hand to the bloodied Caspian. "You don't always have to fight for me, you know?"

Caspian responded defiantly as he wiped his nose with the back of his hand. "If I don't, then who else will stand up to that insufferable bastard?"

Caspian's words struck a chord. While others cowered in fear when faced with Lucian's presence, he had always been the unwavering shield of defense for Visenya, even if it meant enduring countless beatings.
———

-Present Day-

Visenya gingerly placed a handful of emberberries in her mouth, braving the bitter taste as she hastily swallowed them down. In the midst of her hunts, she diligently collected more berries and stored them in a wicker basket. Concealing the basket in her lavatory, she carefully positioned it atop the mirrored cabinet that hung above the sink. She untangled her long, wet hair and began deftly weaving it into a braid.

"Delilah?" She called out to her wolf, but all that greeted her was a deafening silence that echoed in her mind and heart.

This feeling of isolation weighed heavily on Visenya, leaving her with a sense of desolation and abandonment. "Please, Delilah... don't leave me. I need you."

Finally, Delilah emerged from the shadows, bringing with her a wave of tranquility and security that washed over Visenya's weary soul. The connection to her beloved wolf was restored, and in that moment, she knew that she never wanted to feel that separation again.

"I would never leave you, Visenya," Delilah assured her with enduring devotion.

It warmed Visenya's heart to hear Delilah say that because she couldn't imagine surviving without her by her side.

"Can we talk about what happened?" Visenya asked tentatively.

"There's not much to say. It's my innate nature to want to mate with him," Delilah replied with a hint of discontent. "An instinct that I have no control over."

"I understand, but I do not claim him as our mate," Visenya asserted. "I know that I technically cannot break the mate bond, but I've already rejected Lucian in my heart. I don't want either of us to be bound to him in any other way."

"I know, Visenya. I just wish things were different," Delilah sighed, her voice filled with longing. "I wish we had been given a better mate."

"Me too... but at least we'll always have each other," Visenya said, her voice brimming with endearment.

Delilah let out a sentimental whimper, an unspoken affirmation of their unbreakable bond.
———

Visenya gracefully carried Lucian's lunch to his bedchamber, ensuring that two servings were brought in separate bowls, just as he had requested. She figured he must be extra hungry today and secretly hoped there would be enough stew left over for her to enjoy. The aroma of the delicious meal made her mouth water in anticipation.

As she entered the room, she found Lucian seated at his desk, engrossed in writing on a small scroll. She silently wished that he was penning a letter to Lazarus, inquiring about the well-being of his slaves. She set up his lunch on the table and patiently awaited his acknowledgment.

After what felt like an eternity, Lucian finally rose from his desk and approached the table. Visenya instinctively pulled out a chair for him, but to her surprise, he grasped her arm and guided her into the seat instead. Taking the seat beside her, he slid one of the bowls of stew closer to his side and began to savor the meal. Visenya sat there, completely taken aback by this unexpected seating arrangement. Lucian then pushed the remaining bowl of stew nearer to her.

"Eat," he instructed, his voice firm yet commanding.

She looked at him, completely puzzled. Did she hear him say what she thought he said, or was she having another one of those vivid dreams again? He looked up at her, his expression filled with agitation. In an effort not to anger him, she quickly picked up the spoon, knowing how much he despised repeating himself. As she took a spoonful of the warm stew into her mouth, a moan escaped her lips, uncontrollable and involuntary.

Her eyes shot open, realizing that her inappropriate noises had caught Lucian's attention. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she hastily lowered her head, trying to hide her awkwardness as she continued to eat her stew. The serving was generous, enough to satisfy even the appetite of a ravenous dragon. After a few more large bites, Visenya found herself already full. She pushed the bowl away from her and delicately wiped her mouth with a cloth napkin.

"Thank you, Master," she said gratefully, her voice filled with sincere appreciation.

As he glanced at her barely touched bowl, a flicker of dissatisfaction crossed his face. Without hesitation, he swiftly picked it up and placed it back in front of her. "Finish it," he said, his tone authoritative.

She opened her mouth, intending to explain that she was no longer hungry, but one look at his annoyed expression silenced her. Knowing all too well the futility of arguing with Lucian, she obediently lifted the spoon once more and began to eat, despite the growing discomfort in her stomach.

Each bite became a struggle as she fought to consume every last morsel. The sensation of fullness became almost unbearable, as if she were on the verge of bursting at any moment. His watchful gaze never wavered, reminding her of her childhood days when her parents would insist she finish her vegetables before leaving the table.

She had endured months of starvation, leaving her stomach a fraction of its former size when Lucian had enslaved her. How could he not realize that he was coercing her to overeat? Setting the spoon aside, she mustered the courage to express her inability to consume any more. But to her dismay, the worst possible scenario unfolded—projectile vomit erupted from her mouth, drenching his chest and lap.

Visenya was overcome with horror, her heart pounding in her chest. Without a moment's hesitation, she sprang from her seat, her movements swift and determined. Grabbing a nearby tablecloth, she diligently wiped away the vomit that had stained him. "I am deeply sorry, Master," she pleaded, her voice trembling with remorse. "Please, forgive me.”

He snatched the cloth from her trembling hands and swiftly wiped the little bit of vomit that had sprayed his face. "Get out," he stated firmly, his voice laced with anger, "and get someone to come and clean up this mess."

"Please, Master," Visenya pleaded, her voice quavering, "I am the one who made this mess. Allow me to clean it up."

Desperate to ease his ire, she reached out with another cloth to gently wipe his face, but he forcefully grabbed hold of her delicate wrist and fixed her with a piercing glare.

"I said get out!" He bellowed, his voice echoing through the room, before callously throwing her hand away from him.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and her bottom lip trembled. She desperately tried to hold back, but the overwhelming emotions took over, and she couldn't help but burst into uncontrollable sobs as she hastily fled from his chambers. Witnessing her in that state only fueled his anger, for nothing pierced his icy heart more than seeing her cry.