Chapter 195 Chapter 0195

Chapter 195 Chapter 0195
AERITH'S POV

"Who is there?" Lucien's voice changed instantly; the warmth and playfulness in Lucien's tone that had filled the room a moment ago disappeared, replaced by the commanding tone of a prince, a deadly one. He moved in front of me, shielding me from the door as though whoever stood outside could be a threat, and if it was, I knew Lucien would never let any harm come to me. My heart swelled with pride; I had never been protected like this. I remained behind him, watching his broad shoulders.

"I am sorry, Your Highness, for disturbing you." I could recognize the voice; it was one of the guards. “The king, your father, requested your presence. He said he wanted dinner with all his sons." I froze, waiting for Lucien's response.

"Fine," Lucien replied; his voice was calm again. "Tell the king I will be there by dinner."

"It will be delivered as you please, Your Highness." And just like that, the guard turned without even seeing Lucien's face, it didn't take long before we heard the guard's footsteps retreat, Lucien didn't move, he waited, one second, or maybe it was more than one, all I knew was that he remained completely still until the sound of the guard's footsteps disappeared down the corridor. Only then did he turn toward me.

"Dinner?" I asked, he nodded.

"It's a common tradition among the royal dragons. We usually have a private dinner before the actual party." I nodded slowly because, somehow, this felt creepy. I didn't know the reason I felt weird about this whole dinner, but I didn't want to show that I didn't want Lucien to go.

"So all your brothers will be there?" Lucien nodded again, my stomach tightened, I knew they were Lucien's family but still I couldn't trust them, especially Thalion and Merek, Merek had made advances at me more than once and Thalion knows I know his little secret and to think I had told Lucien about it and there is Drayen, the crown prince, who I had scratch his bride’s face, but then, there is still one good person among them, Drayce, my eyes went to Lucien. "Including Drayce?" Lucien sighed.

"I am not sure." He was being honest. I looked down. I understood. Drayce had been through too much during the past weeks; whatever had happened between Elora and him after the soul binding had changed him. The last time I had seen him was when he appeared at Lucien's chamber because Lucien asked him to be with me. After all, Queen Aria wanted Lucien to accompany her to the werewolves' territory, he hadn't looked like himself, he looked even worse than the day of the soul binding, his eyes had been different, his face had been pale, and there had been something dark behind his expression, something that made him look like a man being chased by demons only he could see. He had tried to remain calm, but I could feel the energy trapped inside him; it was like a storm bottled inside a glass container, and I was afraid that eventually the glass would break. But I didn't tell Lucien, and I smelled something different from his dragon's scent. The scent I had no name for. Lucien sighed suddenly.

"I hope he comes," Lucien said quietly, I looked at him.

"Why?" Lucien's eyes lowered

"It feels like I am in the midst of those who love me when he is around." My heart ached. I understood that feeling: the feeling of being surrounded by people and still feeling completely alone, the feeling of wanting someone to love you completely, without you begging for it. I stepped closer and reached for his hand

"Everything will be fine." Lucien looked at me.

"I hope so." I smiled, pulling him closer.

"Let's forget about our worries," he raised an eyebrow.

"What are you planning?" I grabbed his hand.

"Let me fix your clothes," he stared at me. "It's not every day a lonely Fae gets the opportunity to dress a prince." His lips twitched.

"A privilege?"

"A great privilege," I replied. He smiled, but then his expression suddenly changed.

"What if you are a queen?" I laughed.

"Aren't I already a queen?" His brows furrowed. Before he could respond, I rose onto my toes, grabbed his shoulders, and pulled him down slightly, then kissed him. It was brief, soft, and full of everything I couldn't say. When I pulled away, I whispered, "Your queen." Lucien laughed.

"You always had a way of making me happy."

"And I love that I could." I winked at him, and he laughed again. I grabbed his hand. "Now come on, let's get you cleaned up for dinner." He didn't struggle with me; he just allowed me to pull him toward the wardrobe area. For some reason, helping Lucien prepare for dinner felt strangely intimate; perhaps it was because I had never imagined myself doing something like this. I had spent so much of my life simply trying to survive. Now I was standing beside a prince not just any prince, but the one my heart beat for. Helping him prepare for dinner with his royal family gave me a sense of belonging. I searched through his clothes carefully. "This one," I announced, singling a particular one out. Lucien looked at the garment I held.

"That?"

"Yes,"

"You chose the most formal one,"

"Exactly."

"Why?"

"Because you are a prince." He smiled.

"So you like dressing me as one?" I nodded. "I thought you hated princes?" I nodded.

"But not this one standing in front of me," his expression softened, "and I like seeing you happy."  that answer seemed to mean more to him than I had intended, because the way he smile, show that he likes my words, after helping him chose his clothes, I lead him to the bathing area, Lucien sat quietly while I helped wash his hair, my fingers worked through his damp hair, then he suddenly chuckled. "What?"

"I just remembered Drayen?" My brows furrowed. Drayen or Drayce? I asked mentally but didn't complain, and Lucien continued, "I just remembered how the man was treated like a king at his union ceremony." His words sent me into more confusion.

"So?" I asked.

"Are you grooming me for my wedding, with my bride?" I laughed.

"Who would dare claim what is mine?” I leaned closer and pressed a kiss against his neck, where my mark rested, Lucien shivered. I smiled against his skin. "Mine," I mouthed, and he laughed.

"You really are possessive."

"You have no idea." After we finished bathing, I helped Lucien dress up, and for a moment, I simply stared. He looked completely different; his clothes had transformed him. The man who had been laughing and playing with magic with me disappeared, and it was as if someone else was standing there. His posture straightened, his shoulders squared, his expression became dignified; he looked powerful, untouchable, and royal, but I knew the man beneath all of it. He is the man who had laughed with me, protected me, promise to give the world to me, even burn it down for me, I reached for his hand, "one day," I whispered, "I will walk around with you freely, I didn't have to hide " the last part left a bitter taste in my lips, I wanted to go everywhere with him but I know it's not yet time, until them I will wait here, Lucien looked at me, his expression softened.

"When that day comes," he said, "I will be the proudest man on Earth." I smiled.

"Why?"

"Because no one's bride will be as beautiful as you, my queen." I laughed, shaking my head, then I touched my pointed Fae ear.

"Even with this?" Lucien looked at my ear, then at my eyes, and smiled.

"You are beautiful in every form." My heart fluttered. He leaned down and gave me a soft peck on my lips. "I have to go." He whispered turning toward the door and then my smile faded, because that feeling came crawling again, that feeling that something bad might happen today, but I shook my head, maybe, I was paranoid, it's just dinner, I kept saying in my head but that didn't stop the strange emptiness that had settled inside me. Maybe this whole feeling was because I was here, right under the roof of those who wanted me dead. Lucien reached for the doorknob, then he stopped; he looked back at me.  "Since I can't teleport into my room," he raised his eyebrows. "At the sound of three knocks, you should know I am with someone, so you should hide." I blinked.

"Three knocks?" He nodded.

"Three."

"Why three?"

"Because I don't want anyone else knowing that you are here, and it means I love you."  I blushed badly, then nodded.

"Alright." his eyes lingered on me for another moment, then he opened the door before stepping out. He looked back one more time, then whispered, "If ever anything goes wrong, make sure to flee to the riverbank." My eyes snapped to him. "The southern riverbank."