Chapter Forty-Six

Chapter Forty-Six

~Author’s Pov~

The room was dim and quiet… too quiet.

Elias turned again.

And again.

He wasn’t used to this kind of silence. Not after the chaos of the day. The scratches on his arm throbbed like dull reminders, and even though his body was finally warm and safe under the covers, his mind was anything but.

He let out a sigh, staring at the ceiling like it had answers.

What the hell just happened today?

Everything still felt like a blur. Rogues. Blood. Lucien, like a beast let loose. He had never seen someone kill like that—like it meant nothing. Like it was as easy as blinking.

And then… he had held him.

Lucien had wrapped his arms around him like he’d fall apart without him.

Elias blinked away the thoughts, pulling the duvet up to his chin. His heart thumped louder in the quiet of the room. Every time he closed his eyes, flashes of Lucien’s face came back—not the soft one, but the blood-splattered one, the one that didn’t blink as he ripped flesh apart.

He groaned, rolling to his side.

He wasn’t going to sleep tonight. No way.

Then—knock knock.

Elias’s heart jumped.

Wait. Lucien? Knocked?

He sat up immediately, eyes narrowing at the door. Another knock came again, softer this time, almost hesitant.

“Lucien?” he called, already swinging his legs off the bed.

The door creaked open.

Lucien stepped in slowly, dressed in his usual all black, except his coat was off, sleeves rolled up. He looked… human. Tired. Eyes darker than usual, like he hadn’t slept either.

“You knocked,” Elias said, blinking in disbelief.

Lucien closed the door gently behind him. “Didn’t want to scare you.”

Elias raised a brow. “Since when do you knock?”

Lucien’s lips twitched. “Since now.”

“Miracles do happen.”

“I couldn’t sleep,” Elias said finally, voice small. “I kept… seeing things.”

Lucien exhaled through his nose, then reached up to rub the back of his neck. “So did I.”

They stood in silence again, the room quiet save for the soft rustle of the curtains.

Lucien broke it. “I’m sorry, Elias.”

Elias looked up.

“I’m sorry you had to see that side of me,” Lucien said. “I know it’s not something you’re used to.”

Elias wrapped the blanket tighter around himself. “You looked like someone else.”

Lucien gave a slow nod. “I was.”

The answer was too honest. It made Elias’s chest ache.

“Is that who you really are?” he asked. “The person who… kills like that?”

Lucien looked away, jaw tightening. “It’s a part of me. One I can’t always control.”

“And you didn’t even look at me,” Elias whispered. “You were just… gone.”

Lucien closed his eyes. “I couldn’t look at you. If I did… I don’t know if I would’ve stopped.”

Elias swallowed hard, trying to understand. His heart pounded in his chest.

“I’m not scared of you,” he said, almost stubbornly.

Lucien turned to him slowly, eyes haunted. “You should be.”

“I’m not,” Elias insisted. “I’m confused. I’m overwhelmed. But I’m not scared.”

Lucien took a step closer. “Even after seeing what I did?”

“You were protecting me.”

“I was enjoying it.”

That silenced Elias.

Lucien’s voice was low and bitter. “I lost control, Elias. And I don’t even know when it started. I just saw blood on you and… I snapped.”

Elias stepped forward. “But you stopped. You came back.”

Lucien looked down at him. “Barely.”

Elias reached out hesitantly and took Lucien’s trembling hand in his. “Then stay. Just for tonight. So I know you’re still here.”

Lucien’s throat worked as he tried to swallow emotion. “You sure?”

Elias nodded. “I won’t sleep otherwise.”

Lucien said nothing, only reached out and carefully pulled Elias into his arms. They stood like that for a long time, wrapped in each other, heartbeats out of rhythm but desperate to sync.

Later, they lay in bed, Elias’s head resting on Lucien’s chest. Neither of them spoke for a while.

A small smile tugged teasingly at Elias’s lips. “You’re such a softie when no one’s watching.”

Lucien rolled his eyes but didn’t deny it.

They slipped back under the covers, limbs tangled, the air between them lighter now, softer.

Lucien’s hand stroked Elias’s back slowly. “Tell me things.”

Elias blinked. “What?”

“Things you’ve seen, heard, felt,” Lucien said. “Since you got to the palace.”

Elias hesitated. “Why?”

Lucien buried his face in his neck. “Because I want to know. And because your voice keeps me sane.”

Elias snorted, then started talking. It was easy. Weirdly easy. Like pouring water into a jar that had been waiting.

He told Lucien about his first few nights. About how he thought Nyx was the weirdest person alive. About Jae being too perfect to be trusted. About how scary Ana looked when she smiled.

He told him about Isla and Celeste, and how they tried to get him to wear makeup once.

He told him about wanting to own an island someday. How he’d build a glass house with balconies that stretched over the sea. He’d own a beach. Maybe even five. Rent them out. Make money.

“I’m gonna be rich,” Elias declared proudly.

Lucien chuckled. “Is that so?”

“You’ll see,” Elias grinned. “I’ll buy you a small island. You can use it to sulk when you’re mad at everyone.”

Lucien was quiet. Too quiet.

Elias turned slightly, about to say something else when—

Lucien moved.

Fast.

He shifted until he was hovering above Elias, the duvet slipping down.

His eyes had darkened.

His fangs were just slightly visible.

“Lucien—?”

“Stop talking,” he muttered.

Elias blinked, stunned. “Wha—why—?”

“Your voice…” Lucien rasped, brushing a thumb against his lips. “You don’t know what you do to me when you talk like that.”

Elias swallowed.

Lucien leaned closer, his mouth brushing over Elias’s ear. “Can I bite you?”

The air stilled.

Elias’s heart flipped.

He didn’t move.

Lucien’s fingers trailed down his neck, warm and trembling. “Just a taste,” he whispered.

Elias could barely breathe.

Lucien was so close. So intense. His entire body was practically vibrating with hunger and restraint.

And yet… Elias nodded.

“Okay.”

Lucien kissed his neck before biting in.

Elias gasped, back arching into him, hand gripping the sheets.

He didn’t know what this was anymore. A dream? A nightmare? A blur?

But right now, wrapped in Lucien’s arms, with his blood rushing through both of them… it felt like he didn’t need to figure it out just yet.

He just needed to feel.

And Lucien made sure he felt everything.

“I will be gentle,” Lucien whispered, “I promise.”

Elias widened his eyes, pushing him off slightly, “That wasn’t the agreement! No sex tonight.”

“Please….”