Chapter 39 Smell of danger and jealousy.
Evyths’ feet landed her in the gardens, sobbing her life out. She didn't care who was looking or who was going to kill her.
What Valerio did to her had already killed her.
Broken. Hurt. Betrayed.
Was all that she felt in that moment.
She sat on a small hill, a flowing lake ahead of her, hugging herself tightly, her face soaked with tears.
Her hair draped over her face, a constant reminder that Valerio had hurt her all over again. Evyths was barely taking it.
“Evyths, I see that you've come to keep me company,” Lucian teased with a straight face.
Evyths didn't bother to answer, she wasn't in the mood for a playful or serious conversation.
All she wanted was to be eaten by a monster like Valerio.
Lucian sat beside her, dragging his knees to his chest. His gaze was pensive as always.
“He is never going to be yours,” he said.
His words sounded harsh but that was the truth—a painful, bitter truth.
Evyths sniffed yet the warm tears wet her cheeks evenly.
After some time, Evyths stopped sobbing. She managed to recuperate while Lucian offered her the space to do so even if he had been sitting next to her the whole time.
The weather was airy, frosty, and silent. Not even crickets hissed, there was only silence.
Just like Lucian had said to her earlier, the moon was brighter than Crystal, hanging high up in the sky. Altogether, it was the right season for the coronation, the vampires usually felt so much energy with heightened sharpened senses and agility.
“You should be inside with them, don't you think?” she asked, looking in his direction.
“Inside? With whom, actually? My half-brother who thinks I'm here to usurp his throne? Or the clan that thinks that I was born from a mistake made? Or the vampires who think I'm a lost cause and an outcast? Or you… who thinks I would certainly get bored or feral to suck you dry?” he stated as she took off her gaze stylishly.
“Which, Evyths?” he pressed, a half smile sat on his lips unconsciously.
“Well,” she scratched her neck. She usually did that whenever she was nervous or trapped in the middle of a conversation. “You are not one to win many hearts then,” she remarked offhandedly.
“I don't win hearts, I take them and eat them…” he glanced at her as Evyths’ eyes shut instantly. “Don't you worry, I won't bite out your heart when I get bored,” he snapped.
“What will you… do then?”
“Win your heart?!” he remarked casually like it meant nothing, Evyths rubbed the back of her neck not knowing what to say.
Was the vsmpire manipulating her? Was he being truthful or was he telling a lie to mess with her?
The first time that they met, he almost ate her and now he wanted to win her heart.
Evyths said nothing, spiraling in her own thoughts.
“That aside, what actually happened back there?” he asked thoughtfully, a faint streak of concern crossed his face.
“You said that the prince will never be mine, that actually answers it. I guess.” Her words escalated her mouth, get thoughts swirling back to what had happened. It was dreadful to watch, let alone witness it from start to finish.
“He doesn't love you anymore?”
“I really wonder if I should discuss this matter with you, Sir Lucian,” she blurted out. Instead of getting g pissed, he understood her and why she kept it a secret even if he knew more than she could imagine.
He had seen them. Followed them. Stalked them. There was nothing he didn't know. As an lone executioner who answered to no one, that he was, he knew just enough.
“You needn't have to, I am not blind and not deaf. I know that he promises to find you attractive whether or not you admit the truth, Evyths. Strangely, it hurt me to see you cry in the dark—alone,” he stated, his demeanor calmed as if he wasn't the scary vampire everyone knew.
With Evyths, he felt seen and understood. He expressed himself even if they weren't allowed to show emotion or any sign of weakness.
Evyths sighed, her sadness palpable. “Do you know why he's marrying Lady Blackwin?”
“For influence. You are a hound, Evyths, what value do you have to the king of vampires?” he asked. Not with the intention to mock her but to make her reason although he was being manipulative about it. “None,” he added.
“I see…” Evyths simply let out gently.
If the prince cared about herbot loved her as he claimed, he would have told her about his marriage, right?
After all, he was a prince, he could marry as many women as he wanted, it wasn't against the rules.
Evyths’ mind rattled like a whirling storm, the more it broke her, the more she managed to find the courage to stay strong and act normal.
“Enough of me, sir, what about you? Have you been sitting all alone since the start of the ceremony?” Evyths asked, digressing from the conversation.
He scoffed lightly, staring at her like a delicate picture on the wall. The corners of his eyes were sharp with a void.
“Yes,”
The word came out as if it were a summary of all that he wanted to say.
Evyths stared deeply, in need of more explanation but that was all that she got from the vampire.
Their gazes slightly glanced at each other as Evyths quickly averted her gaze looking straight into the expanse.
By now, he took off his gaze too, staring at what she had been staring at. It was only the gardens full of rare plants and flowers that she didn't know and she didn't care to ask because she wasn't very fond of plants or plants. Besides, the toxic type killed her mother.
“Would you like to breathe non-toxic air? Like you do in your pack's grounds?” Lucian asked out of the blue, his gaze narrowed sharply at her.
Evyths contemplated at first, rubbing her neck gently. She remembered that the prince had promised to take her instead but then where was the prince? She asked herself. He was getting married, she added.
Evyths nodded, plastering a smile on her face.
“All right!” Lucian smirked. “Off we go,” he snapped and before Evyths could stand, he carried her like a bride in his arms. She wrapped her hand around his before he continued.
“I guess you know that I'm up to something mischievous! Hold on tight, Evyths!” he promoted, calling her like he created the name—he soothingly called her.
Instantly, they sped away as the wind carried them while Evyths closed her eyes, feeling the breeze caress her skin.
Lucian was fast like the air, swift like lightning, and professional like a true ancient vampire. He was nothing like her—she was barely learning how to shift with no one to train her.
They moved from mountain to another, from forest to forest. Every cranny that could be explored in Ravencroft was seen by Evythd although her vision blurred because of the speed that Lucian possessed.
Soon after, Lucian and Evyths stood on a mountain top that was many miles from Ravencroft’s border.
There was stillness and nature’s gift. While Evyths closed her eyes breathing in and out, Lucian looked around, his senses caught distant noises from tons of miles away. They were not normal noises, they were a sign of danger. Their enemies were lurking, planning to evade Ravencroft and strike.
“Did you like the ride?” Lucian asked when he noticed that Evyths was starting to pay attention to his pensive gaze.
“Oh, yes sir. I loved everything. It has been ages since I felt this—”
“We have to go now!” he interjected with urgency in his tone. She found herself in his arms, grabbing him tightly as they disappeared into the wind.
However, when they returned to the palace, Valerio was standing in the garden that they left, and a crow sat on his shoulder comfortably.
“Rio, there is—”
“Leave us, Lucian, and when I am done talking to her, we have a lengthy discussion to finish,” Valerio interrupted Lucian with a stern voice that could cut through silk and steel. He was clearly pissed and furious, his gaze darting to Evyths, scrutinizing her body closely for the slightest detail and smell he could catch.