Unspoken Affection

It took nearly twice as long to travel from the opposite direction to reach Lucian's castle, but Caspian couldn't risk being in his line of sight. He concealed himself in the orchards, patiently waiting for the flying lizard to appear in the sky before approaching the dragon's domain.

Lucian didn't depart until nightfall, likely to ensure his lackey remained on lookout in his absence. Before Caspian even reached the palace doors, Cylis abruptly emerged.

"Didn't expect me, did you? And here I thought you could smell me from miles away," taunted Cylis.

"This entire land reeks of vermin, your scent blends right in," Caspian retorted.

Cylis sneered. "Says the coward who hides in the orchards until the big scary dragon leaves. I can't wait to see what he does to you when he learns of your trespassing... again."

"What happened to your hand there?" Caspian pointed at Cylis' nub. "Jerked off the dragon one too many times?"

Cylis shot Caspian a mischievous smirk. "I'm afraid your queen has already been appointed that position."

Caspian's eyes darkened, his wolf emerging. "You shut your damn mouth."

Cylis couldn't help but laugh, thoroughly amused by Caspian's reaction. "What did you expect, you mongrel? That she could just flaunt that body of hers around here and him not want to fill her up with his cock?"

Caspian's hands clenched into tight fists, his anger simmering. "I swear to Goddess, if he laid a hand on her..."

Cylis's grin turned devilish. "Don't you worry... she never fails to vocalize how much she loves being fucked by her master."

"You're a fucking liar!" Caspian exclaimed, his voice dripping with disbelief. He forcefully pushed past Cylis, his shoulder colliding with his, determined to make his way to the palace entrance. "Visenya!" He called out, his voice laced with anguish.

"She's not here!" Cylis revealed, halting Caspian in his tracks. "Did you honestly think he would leave his favorite fuck toy behind?"

Caspian stalked back towards Cylis, his expression twisted into a menacing scowl. His wolf, Steele, radiated a bloodthirsty aura, eager to sever Cylis' head from his worthless body. Despite Caspian's grip tightening around Cylis' throat, his claws extended and digging into flesh, Cylis fearlessly snickered in his face, openly mocking him.

"Go ahead," Cylis goaded, his voice dripping with contempt. "Kill me... but deep down, you know I'm speaking the truth. She's completely ruined for you now, and you'll never measure up to the Dragon Lord, if you know what I mean."

It was an intense internal battle for Caspian and his wolf to resist the urge to eliminate this revolting creature. Every fiber of their being yearned to silence the vile words spoken about their beloved Visenya. With a furious growl, Caspian forcefully threw Cylis to the ground, a warning in itself.

In an instant, Caspian transformed into his wolf and bolted into the night. His legs propelled him forward with an unmatched speed, leaving behind the echoes of Cylis' maniacal laughter, fading into the distance.
———

Visenya sat on her heels, holding a fresh plate of food that remained untouched. Lucian observed her bowed head, not in a submissive manner, but with a solemnity that had overtaken her. Since the woman started screaming those absurd things, Visenya's entire mood had shifted. The notion of calling a lycan the daughter of the Sun God was enough for Lucian to realize that the woman was clearly delusional.

It troubled Lucian to witness Visenya being affected by the woman's madness, but he couldn't understand why she cared so deeply for these insignificant humans. Perhaps, it would be more beneficial for her to focus on more pressing matters, like why the hell she hasn’t conceived for him yet. He’s pumped his seed into her countless times and here she is, looking as thin as ever. With his luck, she’ll bear him a hundred lycans.

"My Emperor," a woman's voice interrupted his wandering thoughts.

Before him stood a tall, sultry redhead, ogling him with a pair of "fuck me" eyes.

"I'm not sure if you remember me, but I'm Sebastian's sister, Lydia," she said, extending her hand expectantly, as if waiting for him to kiss it.

Lucian vividly recalled this soul snatcher. She had relentlessly pursued him, desperately attempting to seduce him, only to fail miserably. There was always something unsettling about her, perhaps due to the fact that she was over a hundred years old, attempting to bed a mere teenager. He wouldn't be surprised if she had a pair of sharp fangs between her legs.

Feeling a sense of embarrassment, she finally withdrew her hand, realizing he had left it hanging. "I must say... you look even more handsome than I remember. You've grown into one delicious-looking man."

Visenya's eyes roamed upward, stealing a quick and curious peek at the shameless woman. Lydia possessed a certain attractiveness, though in a rather cheap and superficial manner. Visenya couldn't help but wonder if Lucian had ever bedded her, and the mere thought of it sent her heart racing. Determined to remain composed, she closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. Tonight, she vowed not to let anything get under her skin.

Leaning over, Lydia's breasts threatened to spill out of her dress as she provocatively whispered, "Why don't we have a little fun later? I'll let you put it wherever you want."

A deep, threatening growl escaped Visenya's chest, exposing her possessive inclination. Her hand instinctively shot up to cover her mouth, but it was too late. All eyes were now fixed upon her mortified expression. If only the floor could open up and swallow her whole, she would gladly welcome it.

Unable to muster the courage to meet Lucian's gaze, Visenya kept her eyes lowered, dreading the displeasure she might see in his eyes. Little did she know, had she looked up, she would have witnessed him reveling in her jealousy, a smug and egotistical smirk adorning his handsome face.

The surge of Visenya's jealousy excited Lucian, so much that he got rock hard from it right there in that ballroom. He yearned to take her on that very table, to feel her tight grip around him as she climaxed repeatedly. Suppressing his desires for the time being, he shifted in his seat, keeping his aching loins at bay... for now. He'll just have to play with his seductive little pet later.

Lydia glared at Visenya contemptuously, her eyes filled with disdain. "You should really put a muzzle on that bitch," she sneered.

Lucian rubbed his temples, the throbbing pain growing more intense with the sound of her shrieking voice. "Do me a favor, Lydia," he muttered.

Lydia's face lit up with enthusiasm. "Anything, Your Worship," she eagerly responded.

"Fuck off," he replied brusquely, his voice laced with irritation.

Lydia was taken aback by Lucian's blatant snub, her cheeks flushing with humiliation. In a fit of outrage, she stormed off.

"Apologies for her behavior, Your Grace," Lazarus interjected, attempting to smooth over the situation. "I can arrange some other entertainment if you prefer."

"I didn’t come here for that," Lucian snapped curtly. "I've come to assess the welfare of your slaves, and so far, it's not looking that good for you."

"Are you referring to the old woman?" Lazarus questioned, "because she has clearly gone mad."

"And what drove her there?" Lucian countered, "Too many blows to the head?"

"Certainly not, My Lord!" Lazarus claimed.

"Emperor Lucian..." Victoria interjected, "I assure you, our slaves are treated with utmost mercy and compassion. If you wish, we can bring out a few slaves for you to see for yourself."

"Why just a few?" Lucian challenged, his voice commanding. "Bring them all out."

Victoria was surprised by Lucian's command, but she didn't feel like they had anything to hide. Without hesitation, she swiftly ordered the night-watch to bring in all of the slaves, determined to prove their treatment was just and fair.

Visenya was pleasantly surprised by Lucian's initiative, a wave of gratitude washing over her. She couldn’t help but gaze up at him, feeling a faint prickle of warmth in the place where her heart had been cold towards him for so long. Sensing her stare, he met her gaze, and in that moment, she did something completely unexpected.

A smile graced Visenya's lips, delicate yet powerful enough to reach the depths of her radiant, brown eyes. Lucian didn't know how to respond; he simply froze, captivated by her unparalleled beauty. Time seemed to stand still as they locked eyes, a connection so profound that he yearned for it to last forever because, for a fleeting moment, it felt as though her smile had almost revived his lifeless heart.

Eventually, it was Visenya who broke the eye contact, leaving Lucian longing for more. He wished he had reciprocated her gesture, but he wasn't sure he remembered how to smile anymore. However, he was willing to learn… for her.