Chapter 26

Chapter 26
"You're special," Lucien said to me, gripping my chin. "I knew it as soon as I saw you, as soon as my brother brought you up to me."

There was a depth to his words, a profundity to them, that made it obvious he wasn't just talking about the sensual lovemaking session we had just finished. We were lying together on his bed, side by side, facing each other. There was an air of sensuousness and romance in the room, and for the first time, I felt a deep satisfaction. My relationship wirh Lucien had grown from being dictatorial to being friendly to now being romantic. We were now like lovers.

"What do you mean special?" I asked him, running my hand through his beard, a sly smile on my face.

"There's a fire inside of you," he said, sliding a finger between my breasts, sending shivers running through my spine. "Something ancient, something primordial. You and I, we have a connection, but I don't know what it is yet."

I sighed. The atmosphere had changed and become tense and charged.

"Is this about the birthmark?" I asked him.

"Well, there's that," he said, stealing a glance at my shoulder. "But it's not just the birthmark. It's also the aura that you give off, the energy I feel oozing out of you. And you know what, it makes you incredibly attractive and sexy!"

He dug his face in my chest, nuzzling it playfully, causing me to be tickled. I let out a spurt of giggles.

"Look, Amara," he said to me seriously, pulling away, "I want you to move in with me, right here. I'd make you officially known as my bride. You'll sit by my side during court meetings with the nobles. You'll be everything the bride, my queen. What do you say?"

He was asking me. Before, he would just demand. But now, he was giving me a choice, and it was a hard one. I couldn't help but think that he was only doing so because he wanted to watch me, to keep a keener eyes on me. I knew it, could feel it in my bones, and I didn't want it. Besides, I still wanted my privacy, still wanted to be alone. What would everyone say once they found out I was now staying with him. I had to disagree.

"Erm, I don't think that's such a good idea," I said.

"Why?" He said, raising himself up, propping his upper body on the elbow. "You don't want to be with me?"

"No, not that," I said, stroking his beard. "But all of this just seems too hurried. I want us to take it slowly, so we don't make any mistakes. Let's take it one step at a time."

"Nonsense!" He said, sitting up, looking away from me.

I had hurt his pride, but I knew the ball was still in my court, and all I had to do was play it safe. I moved ovet to him and wrapped myself across his sturdy shoulders — an expression of reliance, of submission. He stroked my hand gently, accepting the gesture.

"Come on, in due time I'll move in with you," I said, my voice a seductive drawl. "We'll wake up to each other's faces, and eat kisses for breakfast. We'll make love all day, and live in between the bedsheets. All I ask for is some time. Okay?"

I pecked him on the cheek and he smiled and nodded. He unwrapped my hands from his shoulders and stood up. He was naked in front of me, and the sight of him was glorious. I wanted, again, to make love to him, to own every inch of his skin, to have him enter me. But I controlled myself. I was so distracted by my lustful thought that I did not realise that he was looking past my eyes, at my shoulder.

"I'm going to find out about that birthmark," he said, more to himself than to me.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing," he said. "Get dressed."

I crawled out of the bed and got into my dress that lay crumpled on the floor. Lucien got dressed too, and together, we left the room. We went for a stroll along the palace grounds. We went to the garden. Again, it was replete with nobels, all of them engaged in some chit chat. But when we came near, they all rose and bowed, acknowledging our presence. Lucien answered their greetings, still holding my hand. This made me comfortable and I smiled, standing by his side. We only sat in the garden for a while before we returned — he to attend to some important matters, and me to my room. On the way to my room, I saw Bianca and Elias walking in the near distant. They were talking in hushed tones so I couldn't hear a word. Bianca stopped at my room and entered into it, while Elias continued walking.

I hurried and entered into my own room.

"Ohh, you're back?" Bianca said as I walked in.

"Yeah." I said. "What have you been doing all day?"

"Work. Chores," she said. "As usual. Nothing special. May I get you something to eat. Being with vampires all day means you might starve. They don't have the same dietary requirements as we do, you know."

"Yeah, you're right," I answered. "Get me some food, please."

And with that, she left the room.

Something fishy was happening. I could feel it. Bianca and Elias were planning something. They couldn't be hanging out together for nothing. Close relationships between vampires and humans, like the one Bianca and Elias seemed to be cultivating, were rare, especially if they were not transactional, like what I had with Lucien.

I fell back on the bed, tired. It had been a long day, and even though I was not exactly tired, I was a bit drowsy. When my back touched the bed, a wet, liquid pain went through my shoulders and I stood up sharply, a shrill noise escaping my mouth.