Chapter 14 THIRTEEN
\[NYRA'S POV\]
“So…you and Lucien” Zoya asks, a smile brightening her face.
She was the one who barged in earlier today, and frankly if she hadn't I have no idea what would have happened between Lucien and me.
She immediately dragged me out and that's how I find myself in her bedroom, watching her try on clothes for the upcoming mating ritual.
“He doesn't want me," I say, sounding sadder than I intend to. For some reason it aches my heart each time he pushes me away. “I thought since we're mates, he's not going to be able to fight the bond between us. But that's the contrary."
“I understand you perfectly well, sweetheart." She drops the dress in her hands and sits next to me on the bed. “Trust me when I tell you, Lucien is trying his best to stay away from you. He's trying all his might to fight the mate bond.”
" But why?”
My heart breaks knowing that he's willing to do anything to fight this pull between us. I mean, we're mates, right?
“You don't like Kade. He's your mate too,” Lyric points out and I internally roll my eyes. Of course I don't like Kade.
He's so annoying and full of himself. He acts like without him in the picture I'm not but a dead weight. He's been training me for the past two days and I can tell that I have absolutely no interest in completing the mating bond. Not when he's taken an oath to make my life hell.
“It's not about you," Zoya says. She looks hesitant like she's trying to decide whether or not it's wise to tell me what she has in mind. “Look, Lucien has been celibate for over three decades. Ever since his mate died, he swore never to touch another woman…ever!”
Christ!
I haven't experienced it before but I heard losing one's mate hurts like hell. I can just imagine the pain he had to go through.
“He won't stop fighting it," Zoya says.
“I can tell," I murmur. I still recall how desperately he fought the attraction back in the library. But then he almost gave in, right? That means with just a little push at the right buttons, he's going to be putting his hands all over me.
“If you plan to seduce Lucien, you're going to have to be a bit more…risque,” Zoya says
I blink at her. “Risque?”
Zoya gives me a look that can only be described as pure, chaotic female mischief. “Yes. Risque. As in… stop acting like a saint, and more like a seductress on a mission.”
“I’m not acting like a saint,” I protest. “I’m just…”
“Nyra,” she cuts in, raising a brow. “When planning to seduce someone who has a diamond medal in self control, your dressing fucking matters. Always!!”
“Huh?”
She rolls her eyes.
“I see the way he looks at you when you aren’t looking. Like you are a forbidden dessert he’s dying to taste but refuses to order.”
My stomach flips. “Really?”
“Oh please,” she scoffs. “The man looks like he wants to drag you to some secluded corner and ruin your life.”
“Zoya!”
“What? I’m being honest.”
I feel my cheeks warm and instantly want to slap myself. Why was I blushing like an idiot?
Zoya pats my thigh like she’s lecturing a child. “Listen. Lucien is stubborn. He’s traumatized. He’s terrified of falling again, especially with the prophecy tying you all together.”
I nod, quietly.
I hate that. I hate that the reason he pushes me away isn’t because he doesn’t want me…but because he’s scared he might.
“So what do you suggest?” I ask. “I walk into the next lesson naked?”
Zoya chokes on her own air.
“Good God, Nyra. NO! He’ll have a cardiac arrest and Kade will kill you for corrupting his brother’s ‘pure scholarly mind.’”
I snort. “Kade can go fuck himself.”
“I see.” Her grin widens. “Anyways, so instead of going full naked goddess, you aim for subtleness.”
“Subtle…ness?”
“Yes. Seduce without seeming desperate. Temptation without touching.”
She leans forward, eyes sparkling like she’s the Moon Goddess of Chaos herself.
“You want Lucien to break, to lose control.”
Well…yeah…a little…a lot, actually.
Zoya smirks knowingly at my silence. “Thought so.”
“So what do I do?” I ask, voice lower than I intend. “How do I get him to stop resisting the bond?”
“Oh sweetheart…” Zoya gets up, walks to her vanity drawer, and pulls out a silky, dark red dress…bare shoulders, low dip, sinful softness.
She holds it up. “You wear something like this.”
I stare blankly. “That has zero fabric.”
“That’s the point. Lucien likes pretending he’s unaffected. I promise you…one glimpse of you in something like this and that man will forget every vow he ever made.”
I swallow.
My wolf purrs. Lyric hums like she’s already imagining him pinning us to the nearest wall.
“That’s not all,” Zoya says. “When he’s around you, get close. Close enough to feel his breath, close enough to make him question God.”
“Zoya…you're crazy.”
“I’m giving you a front row seat to my special masterclass.” She winks. “You’ll both suffer if the bond is not complete. Plus, you need all your bonds in tact to stabilize your magic. “
I sigh dramatically.
“You’re turning me into a menace.”
“Correction, I’m freeing the menace that already exists.”
I grin despite myself. She's not wrong.
Then her expression softens.
“Nyra… you deserve love. Even if he’s scared. Even if he’s broken. You both deserve love and his past doesn't get to be in the way.”
Zoya nudges me gently.
“So… look for a time and put your newly acquired skills into place. ”
I smirk.
“Oh, we’re starting tonight.’
She gasps.“NYRA!”
“What?” I stand up, stretching my arms. “If Lucien wants to act like he doesn't care about my presence, the least I can do is torture him back. Fair is fair.”
Her jaw drops in horror and admiration. “You’re actually insane.”
“I try my best.”
And as I walk to the door, Lyric purrs in agreement.
Tonight, my magic instructor is going to learn something new.