Unexpected Unions

“Outside… now.” Caspian demanded.

Lucian didn't have the time or energy to bicker with Caspian at that moment; it wasn't what he had come there for. Nevertheless, he decided to indulge him and joined him outside.

Lucian took the lead, stepping outside with his back turned to Caspian. He was aware of the numerous wrongs he needed to make right, but there was one person he needed to reconcile with first – she held the utmost priority.

“Look, whatever you have to say to me can be said after we find Visenya.” Lucian addressed.

As Lucian turned around to face Caspian, an unexpected punch landed on his face. The impact of the unforeseen blow sent him tumbling down the steps and onto the concrete below. Fueled by his anger, Caspian loomed over Lucian, relentlessly pummeling him blow after blow.

Lucian didn't fight back, fully acknowledging that he deserved every ounce of Caspian's wrath. The rapid healing of Lucian's wounds only served to further infuriate Caspian, driving him to break Lucian's nose a few more times until he finally felt satisfied.

Caspian rolled off Lucian, his body sprawled on the ground next to him, as he fought to catch his breath. "I'd beat your face in day and night if I could. It's a shame you can't feel it."

"Who told you I can't feel it?" Lucian retorted. "Just because I heal quickly doesn't mean it doesn't hurt."

"Good!" Caspian exclaimed. "It thrills me to know you feel pain!"

"I fucked up, okay? I admit it!" Lucian confessed, his voice filled with remorse.

"You don't even know the half of it," Caspian fumed. "After the massacre of your people, Visenya grieved for weeks, maybe even months… and it wasn't for her father. No, she despises him for what he did. She mourned your people... she mourned you."

Lucian was rendered speechless, though not the least bit surprised. Visenya possessed a kind heart, and her intentions were consistently pure. She genuinely cared for others, perhaps even more than she cared for herself.

"You're a piece of shit," Caspian added.

Lucian nodded solemnly, his agreement apparent. "I am indeed a piece of shit."

"And you don't deserve Visenya," Caspian continued, his voice dripping with disdain.

"You're right," Lucian admitted, a tinge of regret in his tone. "I don't deserve her."

"She should have been mated to me," Caspian stated, his voice filled with conviction.

"Don't push it," Lucian retorted sharply.

"She should have been mated to me!" Caspian persisted, his stance unyielding. "I loved her from the very beginning! But it was you who always had her attention, and now it all makes sense. I finally understand why she was so infatuated with you, and you were too stupid to see it. And in your own fucked up way, you felt the same, didn't you? You were just too much of a fucking child to come to terms with it."

Caspian sat up, wiping his bloodied knuckles on his shirt, the fractured bones in his hand distracting him from the pain in his heart.

Lucian sat up beside him, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he contemplated his next words. “I know we have our differences, but I think we need to put them aside for now and focus on finding Visenya. She’s out there alone and could be in danger.”

“I’m not too worried about her,” Caspian rebutted. “She’s an alpha with one hell of a fierce wolf, and now she has whatever fire-wielding power you passed on to her. You'd have to have a death wish to mess with her."

"About that," Lucian gulped, "she... may have lost Delilah."

"What the hell do you mean she lost Delilah?!" Caspian blared. "A Lycan doesn't just lose their wolf!"

"It was when you brought her back, wasn't it?" Sarai stood over Lucian, her hard gaze piercing right through him. "Her wolf didn't return with her, but something else did."

“Brought her back?” Caspian’s eyes drifted between the two, searching for an explanation. “What are you talking about?”

In response, Sarai filled him in through the mind-link, not wanting Synora to hear the gruesome specifics of what had happened to her sister. Caspian's gaze bore into Lucian, his fury reignited as he instinctually connected his fist to Lucian’s face once again.

"Alright, that's enough!" Sarai scolded. "Go and find my daughter and bring her home."

"I've already searched every corner of the borders," Caspian informed. "How far could she have gotten on foot?"

"What if Lazarus has her?" Sarai panicked. "He hates her. He'll take any opportunity to harm her."

"It's still light out," Lucian reminded her.

"What about that daughter of his?" Sarai retorted. "The day walker?"

"Victoria? She's harmless," Lucian assured.

"None of them are harmless," Caspian refuted. "They're all blood-sucking, soul-snatching demons."

"I think it's highly unlikely that she's there. It seems like a complete waste of time," Lucian remarked.

“No stone should be left unturned.” Sarai urged.

Lucian stood up, wiping the blood from his face with his shirt. "We better get on with it then."

"I'll meet you there," Caspian said, springing to his feet. "I need to shift anyway... I broke my hand on your hard-ass head."

Determined not to waste any more time, Lucian shifted into his dragon form and gracefully took to the open sky. With each beat of his powerful wings, he soared higher and higher, ascending until he became a mere speck in the vast expanse above.

"Do you think he's really changed?" Sarai asked Caspian, gazing up into the sky as Lucian soared away.

"I guess it doesn't matter what we think," Caspian replied. "In the end, all that matters is that we're here for Visenya, no matter what she decides."
———

Caspian reached the top of the hill just as Lucian flew in. He swiftly shifted out of his wolf form and hastily dressed himself in the clothes he had carried in his mouth.

"I thought you'd be waiting for me," Caspian remarked as he approached Lucian.

"I had to check somewhere first," Lucian responded.

"Where?" Caspian inquired, but Lucian remained silent.

"Wow..." Caspian laughed derisively. "You went to see if she went back to you, didn't you?"

Lucian continued walking towards the palace gates, ignoring Caspian's comment.

"You arrogant asshole," Caspian spat. "I wish I could've seen the look on your stupid face when you realized that you were the last person she'd go running back to."

"Keep talking… it doesn't change the fact that I could kick your ass right now if I wanted to," Lucian shot back. "Fortunately for you, I'm trying to be a better person."

Caspian rolled his eyes. "Yeah, keep trying. You're still a prick and you always will be."

They both walked through the same gates that were once guarded by Visenya’s patrol.

"It would have been so easy to overthrow them again," Caspian remarked. "They have nobody standing watch during the day."

"Victoria is on guard during the day," Lucian enlightened.

"The hybrid leech? Pft," Caspian scoffed.

"Don't underestimate her," Lucian warned. "She's the progeny of a very ancient bloodline. She's strong and fast. I bet she could kick your ass too."

"Yeah right," Caspian laughed dismissively.

As they approached the grand palace doors, their eyes fell upon a few human slaves standing guard. The slaves gracefully bowed to Lucian, their faces radiating honor and respect.

"Emperor, what brings us the pleasure of being in your presence today?" One of the slaves spoke, her voice filled with deference.

"Oh brother..." Caspian couldn't help but let out an exasperated huff.

"I am here to speak with Lazarus," Lucian declared, his voice commanding immediate attention.

"Our esteemed King is still slumbering," the slave informed. "But please come in, and we will notify the heiress of your arrival."

They walked into the palace, eagerly awaiting Victoria's appearance. Caspian's breathing began to increase at an alarming rate, almost as if he were hyperventilating. His heart pounded wildly in his chest, and his demeanor grew progressively restless.

"What the hell is the matter with you?" Lucian probed.

"My wolf, he's going berserk," Caspian said, his voice strained. "Do you smell that?"

"Smell what?" Lucian asked, his brows furrowing in confusion.

"I don't know..." Caspian inhaled deeply, closing his eyes as he relished in the scent. "It smells like... heaven."

Just then, Victoria burst through the doors, her eyes locked onto Caspian's, and a jolt of recognition surged through their souls. It was as if an invisible thread had finally connected them, weaving their destinies together in a single glance.

As they stood there, their hearts beating in synchrony, a whisper escaped Caspian's lips, "Mate..."

Simultaneously, Victoria's voice echoed his sentiment, "My beloved..."