Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter Forty-Two

~Author’s Pov~ 

The sunlight spilled lazily through the curtains, catching on the corners of Elisa’s lashes as he stirred beneath the covers. His ankle still ached, but it was better than last night. He blinked once, twice—then froze he realized Lucien was still with him. 

Lucien was perched on the edge of the bed, fully dressed in a deep navy shirt that clung to his tall figure in all right ways. His buttons were loose, his silver cufflinks glinting faintly in the light. 

“You are watching me sleep again,” Elias murmured, voice thick with sleep. 

Lucien smiled faintly. “Can you blame me? You look…dangerously tempting like this. Your blonde hair is so pretty.”

Elias stretched under the sheets and rolled his eyes. 

“You are going to be late.”

“I already am.”

“Then go.”

Lucien leaned down, brushing his lips against Elias’s jaw. “Meet me later in my office. Wear something sinful.”

Elias’s cheeks flushed. “Lucien—“

“I’m serious. I want you distracted the entire time I’m in meetings. And when I’m done…. I will eat you alive.”

“You are ridiculous.”

“I think I’m obsessed,” Lucien corrected, kissing the side of his neck one last time. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

And then he was gone, his scent lingering, the door clicking shut behind him. 

———

Elsewhere in the palace, the air wasn’t nearly as light. 

Jae ran his fingers through his damp hair as he lay half-covered on the bed, the silk sheets tangled around his waist. Anastasia stood by the window, lazily slipping her robe over her naked frame, her skin still flushed from their last round. 

“You’ve got that stormy look again,” Jae drawled, pulling a cigarette from the nightstand. “That usually means you are thinking about him.”

Ana didn’t answer. 

Jae sat up, lighting the cigarette and exhaling slowly. “You really think he is going to follow his words?”

Ana turned to face him, her expression unreadable. 

“He’s doting on that human, Ana. Like….really doting. You saw it.”

“I see everything,” she said coldly. 

“Then what are we doing?” Jae asked, waving a lazy hand between them. “We agreed. Just sex. No feelings. No interference.”

“Then stop interfering,” she snapped. 

Jae raised a brow. “I’m not trying to be cruel. I’m just saying….maybe let it go. He is not looking at you anymore. Not like he ever did.”

Ana narrowed her eyes. “Do you want me to stop sleeping with you?@

“Don’t twist this into something else.”

“I don’t need your advice, Jae,” she hissed. “We are not friends. We are just two people using each other for relief. Don’t pretend to care about my heart.”

He leaned back, lips twitching. “Fair enough. But don’t get mad when I’m right.”

“I’m already mad,” she muttered, yanking the door open. 

“Ana—“

But she was already done. 



Lucien’s office was soaked in quiet. The heavy scent of coffee and paper filled the air as he scribbled notes on a report from the last council meeting. His head was pounding slightly. Everything felt… tight. Like the tension of a storm just waiting to explode. 

He hadn’t stopped thinking about Elias. 

About how soft he looked like that morning. About his injury. About the way he didn’t complain even though it was obvious he was in pain. 

Lucien sighed, reaching for another document. 

Then the door creaked open. 

He didn’t look up. “Elias—“

“It’s me.”

His jaw clenched at the sound of her voice. 

“Anastasia.”

She walked in slowly, her head clicking lightly against the polished floor. “You look tense.”

Lucien didn’t respond. 

Ana smiled and walked closer, her tone soft and almost apologetic. “I wanted to say I’m sorry…for how I have treated Elias.”

Lucien’s brows lifted slightly as he finally looked up. 

“Really?”

“Yes.” She placed a folder on his desk. “I was….out of line. I let my emotions cloud my judgement. But I’ve realized something.”

Lucien didn’t speak. 

Ana tilted her head, lips curving gently. “He is important to you. And if he matters to you…I want to respect that.”

Lucien leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. “What do you want, Ana?”

She gestured to the folder. “It’s the report from my punishment. There’s something I want to show you. I think there’s a discrepancy—look here.”

Lucien sighed and reached for the folder, glancing at the page she was pointing to. His mind was elsewhere. Still distracted. Still buzzing with thoughts of Elias and how he couldn’t wait to see him. 

He didn’t even realize how close she had gotten. 

Until her perfume invaded his senses. 

Until her hand was resting lightly on his shoulder. 

Until her head tilted in, just slightly—too slightly. 

The door slammed open.

Lucien’s eyes snapped up. 

Elias stood there, frozen. 

His mouth parted slightly, his brows furrowed. There was a sharp flicker of pain in his eyes—but he masked it quickly. 

“Elias—“ Lucien stood abruptly. 

But Elias had already turned on his heel. 

Lucien’s heart dropped. “Wait!”

He rushed around the desk and caught up just as Elias reached for the door. 

“Where are you going?” Lucien asked, grabbing his wrist. 

Elias yanked it back. “Why bother asking me?”

Lucien blinked, confused. Then he turned slightly—and saw just how close Anastasia had been, still followed him. 

Shit. 

Lucien pushed her hand off his shoulder roughly. “Back off.”

Ana stepped back innocently. “I was just showing you the report.”

“You were too close.”

Elias didn’t speak. His jaw clenched as he stared at the floor. 

Lucien turned back to him. “Talk to me. Don’t do the silent treatment again.”

Still, Elias said nothing. 

Lucien’s voice cracked slightly. “Elias.”

Anastasia hummed softly and stepped forward, draping her arm around Elias’s shoulder. “Oh, don’t be so grumpy. We’re friends now, remember?”

Lucien’s eyes narrowed. “Since when?”

Elias shrugged off her arm slowly—but not before murmuring, “Yes.”

Lucien’s chest tightened. “You’re friends with her?”

“I guess,” Elias muttered.

Anastasia beamed. “Perfect. Then I’ll be taking him out today.”

Lucien frowned. “What?”

“Just a little outing. I want to show him something. Get to know him better.”

Elias shifted. “I don’t want to—”

“He said yes,” Ana interrupted smoothly. “Don’t be too controlling, Lucien.”

Lucien hesitated.

He didn’t want to let him go. Not with her. Not when Elias was already upset.

But Elias wouldn’t even look at him.

His fists clenched at his sides. “Fine.”

Elias looked up finally, something unreadable in his eyes.

Lucien took a step forward. “Can we talk later? Just us?”

Elias hesitated.

“…Maybe.”

And then they were gone—Ana tugging Elias gently by the arm, like she hadn’t just lit the match and dropped it into a room full of fuel.

Lucien stood there alone, heart thudding.

He’d never felt this kind of frustration before. Not just because of Ana.

But because for the first time…

Elias had looked at him like he wasn’t enough.