Chapter 22 TWENTY ONE
(NYRA'S POV)
I dozed off in Lucien’s arms, cocooned in warmth and the faint scent of night air and something distinctly him. When I wake, sunlight spills boldly through the tall windows, bathing the room in gold.
Lucien isn’t beside me.
I push myself up on my elbows, sheets slipping down my waist as I scan the room. The bed is empty, cold on his side.
Where did he go so early?
“I’m right here, princess.”
I turn my head toward the sound of his voice.
Lucien stands near the window, shirtless, dark trousers hanging low on his hips. One hand rests against the glass, the other wrapped around a steaming mug. The morning light outlines every hard line of him, shadows swirling around him like a dance pattern.
Lyric hums approvingly. Very approvingly.
I roll my eyes internally and clear my throat. “You know, for someone who prides himself on being mysterious, you’re terrible at disappearing quietly.”
His lips twitch as he glances over his shoulder at me. “You were sleeping. I didn’t want to wake you.”
That alone makes my chest tighten. I sit up fully now, pulling the sheet around myself. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure the wards around the castle are still intact,” he replies calmly. “And coffee. Figured you’d need it after last night.”
I arch a brow. “After the nightmare… or after seducing the emotionally constipated shadow prince?”
He turns fully then, amusement flickering in his pale eyes. He crosses the room in long strides and hands me the mug. Our fingers brush, and a spark jumps, subtle but undeniable.
“Careful,” he murmurs. “That mouth of yours is dangerous.”
I take a sip, savoring the warmth. “Funny. I was thinking the same about you.”
He sits on the edge of the bed, close enough that his knee brushes mine. Close enough that I feel his presence like a gravity pull.
“How are you feeling?” he asks, quieter now.
I consider it. The fear from the dream still lingers, but it’s dulled. Manageable. “Less like I’m drowning,” I admit. “More like… standing at the edge of something big.”
His jaw tightens slightly. “Xorus won’t stop trying to get inside your head.”
“I know.” I meet his gaze. “But neither will I let him.”
Something shifts in Lucien’s expression, pride, maybe. Or respect.
“There’s a council meeting in an hour,” he says. “Keiran’s back. He won’t be pleased we… spent the night together. He always thought he'll be the first one to fuck you.”
I smirk. “He’s rarely pleased.”
Lucien huffs a soft laugh. “True.”
I set the mug aside and lean closer, lowering my voice. “Do you regret it?”
He doesn’t hesitate. “No.”
Not, “I don’t know”. Not, “it was a mistake.”
Just no.
My heart does a stupid little flip.
“Good,” I say. “Because neither do I.”
He studies me for a moment, then gently presses his forehead to mine. “Whatever comes next,” he murmurs, “we face it awake. Together.”
I nod, closing my eyes briefly.
Outside, the day fully breaks—bright, relentless, inevitable.
And for the first time in a long while, I don’t dread it.
“Come on," he says, reaching out to me. “Let's get you a bath and head for the meeting.”
We made our way to the bathroom, and I instantly stepped into the warm bath. Lucien let his shadows do the stripping for him before joining me in the bathroom. I rise up to him and wrap my hands around his neck.
“You know," I purr. “It's quite funny how you of all people got to fall first and give into the urge to claim me." I murmur, running my hands along his chest and under the water to grab his hard rod.
He lets out a groan and shuts his eyes the moment my fingers close around him .
“Don't do that, or we'll be late for the meeting, princess." His voice comes out low and warning. But I don't stop, if anything I stroke his cock ever so slowly, all the while keeping eye contact.
“I'm sure we could spend a few extra minutes."
Lucien’s eyes open slowly, pupils blown, jaw tight like he’s holding himself together by sheer will alone. For a heartbeat, neither of us moves. The steam curls around us, heavy and intimate, the air charged with everything we’re not saying out loud.
“Nyra,” he says quietly—no bite this time, no warning growl—just my name, rough around the edges. “You play a dangerous game.”
I tilt my head, smiling sweetly. “And you seem to like it.”
His hand comes up, firm around my wrist, stopping me, not rough, not gentle either. Controlled, barely. He brings my knuckles to his lips, presses a kiss there that sends a shiver straight down my spine.
“You have no idea how badly I want to forget that meeting,” he murmurs. “Forget the war, forget Xorus, forget everything except you.”
Lyric purrs. “I like this version of him.”
“But,” he continues, voice dropping, “if we don’t show up, Keiran will tear the castle apart looking for us. And he’ll kill me for missing such an important event as he'll call it.”
I snort. “So that’s the real concern.”
His mouth twitches. “Among others.”
Reluctantly, I let my hand fall away. He exhales like he’s been holding his breath for days, then leans his forehead against mine again, grounding both of us.
“This isn’t over,” he says softly. Not a promise. A certainty.
I meet his gaze, heat still simmering under my skin. “Good. I’d hate to think that was all it took to break the great Lucien.”
A corner of his mouth lifts. “You haven’t broken me.”
He pauses, eyes darkening.
“You’ve claimed my attention.”
He gently takes me into his arms and his shadows begin the job of bathing us.
“What do you think he found out?" I ask softly.
“I don't know for sure. It could be anything."
I nod and lean into him, shutting my eyes as I rest my head against his chest. Then I feel it.
A familiar burst of energy hit me like a thousand tornadoes. Something I haven't felt in weeks.
“What's wrong?" He asks softly, voice laced with concern.
I contemplate telling him. But not till I'm perfectly sure about it. I'll have to talk to Maleva as soon as possible.
By the time we finish our bath and head to Keiran's office we are already thirty minutes late. All eyes are on us the moment we both step in.
“Jesus, dude!" Kade exclaims. “How come the biggest sexual and emotional hater gets to fuck her first?"
“When?" Keiran demands.
“Last night," is all Lucien replies before taking his usual spot on the window. Keiran nods slowly.
“That explains why you still reek of him," he says, then takes a sip of his wine. " Bring her in, Zoya.”
I turn towards the door as it opens and imagine my shock when I see Zoya step inside with my mother.
My fucking mother!