Storm On The Horizon

Visenya and Caspian rose from the table, with Caspian casting a taunting smirk back at Lucian as they walked away. His eyes gleamed with triumph, clearly relishing in the friction between him and Visenya.

"Well done, cousin," Cheyenne said, a celebratory tone in her voice.

"Well done? What are you talking about?" Frustration evident in his voice. "That was a complete disaster."

Cheyenne rolled her eyes at his obliviousness. "Are you kidding me? You have her right where you want her."

"Cheyenne, are you high right now?" Lucian retorted, his voice tinged with exasperation. "Anyone can see that she hates me."

"Hates you? She's totally digging you," Cheyenne replied confidently. "If she wasn't, she wouldn't have gotten so jealous and stormed off the way she did."

"She wasn't jealous, more like disgusted," Lucian muttered.

"Oh no, she was definitely jealous," Cheyenne insisted, her voice filled with conviction. "I think I know a thing or two about women, considering I am one."

"You think she's jealous?" Lucian questioned, a glimmer of hope in his voice.

"I don't think, I know," Cheyenne affirmed with a raised brow.

"Well, I don't want to make her jealous," Lucian confessed, his voice softening. "She shouldn't have any reason to be. She's the only one I want. It's her or nobody at all."

Lucian's words were filled with sincerity and longing, his emotions laid bare. "Cheyenne, go and make sure that every woman I've ever associated with stays away from me and my mate from now until the end of eternity," he requested. "And I don't want any of them gossiping about me either."

Cheyenne cracked her knuckles before jumping up from her seat, a determined expression on her face. "Consider it done, cousin," she declared, her voice filled with unwavering loyalty.

Lucian's gaze swept across the dining hall until it collided with Sarai, Visenya's mother. Unbeknownst to him, she had been observing his every move, analyzing his every action. In that moment, a rush of apprehension surged through him, as if a silent understanding passed between them - a recognition of unspoken thoughts.

Sarai quickly averted her gaze, masking her emotions behind a veneer of aloofness. However, Lucian was determined to dispel any misconceptions she might have about him. He silently vowed to seek her out for a private conversation, eager to clear the air.
———

After breakfast, Sarai wearily retreated to her chambers, yearning for some much-needed rest. Being heavily pregnant and nearing her due date, fatigue had become an unwelcome companion, weighing her down and making even short walks a struggle.

As she wearily made her way down the dimly lit hallway towards her room, she saw Lucian casually leaning up against the wall, his presence causing her to pause, her mind racing to decipher his intentions.

"I want you to know," Lucian began, his voice gentle yet determined, "that I didn't come here to intimidate or threaten you in any way." He raised his hands in a gesture of peace, his eyes filled with sincerity. "I have a feeling that you know the reason behind my visit."

"She's a kind-hearted girl." Sarai's heart fluttered, her voice trembling as she responded. "I'm confident that I can convince her to reject you, and you both can just move on from this unfortunate mishap."

Lucian's brows furrowed, his confusion evident. "Unfortunate mishap? I don’t want her to reject me. In fact, it wouldn't even be possible. We are bound to each other by dragon law."

Sarai's heart sank, her despair growing. "How could you possibly know that? She hasn't even had her first shift yet."

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. You’ll just have to trust me on that,” Lucian said, his eyes pleaded for understanding. “I love Visenya, and there's nothing in this world that means more to me than her happiness. I know my past behavior gives you every reason to doubt that, but I assure you, I'm telling the truth.”

Sarai's voice softened, curiosity tinged with concern. “Who else knows about this? Does Visenya know?”

Lucian's gaze dropped. “No, only my cousin and father know, and they have given me their word that they won’t tell anyone until after the full moon.”

Sarai's expression turned grave, a hint of worry in her eyes. “That’s when you plan on telling Visenya?”

“I won’t have to,” Lucian reminded her. “Her wolf will.”

"And what if she wants nothing to do with you?" The question flew through the air like a dagger, aiming right for his heart.

Lucian flinched, his eyes reflecting the pain of that possibility. “Then I’ll walk out of her life forever, and none of you will ever see me again.”

Sarai found herself deeply affected by the young man standing before her. The boy she had grown to despise turned out to have a heart after all. His layers were slowly unraveling, and she found herself unexpectedly moved by his vulnerability.

"Very well, then," she finally said, her voice carrying a hint of ease.

With a nod, he walked past her but suddenly halted, causing her to turn around, eager to hear what he had to say.

"I think Synora is a lovely name," he whispered softly.

Surprise flashed in her eyes, quickly giving way to wonder. Her voice trailed off in a mix of awe and confusion, "How did you...? That name just came to me this morning. I haven't even mentioned it to anyone yet."

He tilted his head, a knowing smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Like I said," his tone warm and enigmatic. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

With that, he left her there, her mind swirling with a whirlwind of unanswered questions. The encounter had left her intrigued, his mysterious magnetism lingering in the air.
———

Lost in contemplation, Emperor Caden took his customary morning stroll through the serene and enchanting garden. As he meandered among the exquisite orchids, once adored by his mate, troubling thoughts that had plagued him throughout the night and into the morning wrestled in his mind. Seeking solace in the beauty of nature, each vibrant petal and delicate fragrance served as a poignant reminder of the woman he had lost. It left him wondering if he would ever find happiness again.

Approaching him cautiously, his sister Natalie hesitated before speaking, not wanting to disrupt his usual morning routine. "Your silence speaks volumes, brother," she expressed, her voice filled with concern. "You must be more careful in concealing your troubled mind, or the Lycans may suspect something."

"Perhaps they should know," Caden mused. "Maybe they’ll convince their daughter to stay away from Lucian."

Natalie disagreed, her unease evident in her pleading tone. "But that would only break the poor boy's heart, and I know you wouldn't want that."

"Maybe we can persuade her to reject him," Caden suggested, his voice laced with desperation. "In doing so, they can both move on and find happiness with someone else—someone more societally acceptable."

"But what if their bond is governed by the laws of the dragon?" Natalie questioned. “What then?”

"In that case, we're all fucked," Caden admitted with a sigh, his voice heavy with resignation.

"Do you truly believe the elders will oppose their union?" Natalie inquired, her voice laced with uncertainty.

"There's no doubt about it," Caden affirmed. "If I, as an Emperor, wasn't allowed to accept my human mate, the council would never approve of Lucian accepting his, let alone procreate with her."

"Lucian won't stand for this. He'll fight them every step of the way," Natalie predicted. "He'll proceed with the ritual, regardless of their wishes."

Caden's concern deepened, the weight of the situation evident in his voice. "I know my son, Nat. That's why this issue weighs so heavily on me."

"So, what shall we do, Caden? The Council will be flying in for the Summer Solstice soon, and Lucian shows no intentions of seeking their approval to be with his mate," Natalie pressed, her voice tinged with urgency.

"I suppose… we prepare for war," Caden declared.

"War?" Natalie exclaimed, her disbelief apparent in her voice. "Against our own kind? Who knows how many dragons will side with the council? And even if we manage to gather everyone’s support, these are ancient, elite dragons we're talking about here. We won’t stand a chance. It would take the hand of the gods to win that war."

Caden let out a deep sigh, his heart heavy with a swirling mixture of fear and helplessness. "Then may the gods favor us," he whispered, clinging to a glimmer of hope amidst the turmoil.