Chapter 12
1228 Words
THE NEXT DAY
The fire in the hearth cracked low but the room still felt cold
Lucien stood by the hearth, his sleeve rolled just above the bandaged wound
“ Guards” He called out
A moment later, two of his guards entered , they bowed immediately.
“ My lord” they both said in unison
Lucien stared at them for a long moment
“ Tell me about Elira ” he said
The guards exchanged a quick glance
“ Lady Elira. She was promised to Lord Thorne 8 seasons after the great war” one of the guards replied quickly
“ And?” Lucien asked, wanting more information
“ She took over her father herbal shop, people call her the kingdom's healer” the guards replied
“ And where is the shop?” Lucien asked
“ Behind the garden”
“ And her father?”
“ Lord Valea is still alive but old so she's the one people go to now”
Lucien stepped forward
“ How regular does Elias come to see her?”
The guards hesitated “ We have seen Lord Thorne visit the shop once or twice and nothing beyond that ”
“ Prepare a horse ” He said, turning back to stare at the hearth
“ Yes my lord” The guards replied together
Lucien nodded slowly “ Good. That's will be all”
The guards nodded again and left the room.
The shop was smaller than he expected. Herbs hung from the bean and the shop smells like earth and roots .
It was familiar and strange
Elira was behind the counter, her head bent over a mortar, she didn't look up when Lucien entered
“ Elira” Lucien called out
Her hands paused then slowly she raised her head and her eyes met with Lucien's
For a moment, neither of them spoke
She didn't flinch or try to shrink away like most people will do
Lucien studied her face , it was calm , not soft but also not afraid.
“ You are quiet" He said finally
She nodded not saying anything
“ I thought, you will be angry about the other night”
Still, she said nothing instead she went back to what she was doing like he wasn't standing there talking to her.
Lucien stepped closer to her slowly
“ You didn't push me away" he said
She looked up again but she said nothing
“ Why are you here, Lord Ardent ”
She said finally, her voice cold but steady
Lucien looked at her for a moment before replying
“ You came to my home to ask why I stabbed Elias. Isn't it fair I ask for something in return?”
She frowned “ So, why are you really here?” she asked
He pulled back his sleeves slowly and showed her the wound on his arm
It was red and swollen, the skin dark around the edge
“ I need you to help me treat it” ha said simply “ You are a healer aren't you?”
Elias stared at wound for a second then gave out a small sigh
“ Sit” She said, nodding to the wooden chair near the counter
Lucien walked over to the chair and sat down
He watched her as she moved around the shop, her hands quick and steady as she gathered herbs and a small bowl
“ You are still angry ” He said quietly
“ You stabbed him” She replied
“ He stabbed me too” Lucien defended himself
Elira glanced at him then looked away “ That's not what the others say”
Lucien smiled faintly “ The others weren't there”
She didn't answer, instead she took a clean cloth and walked over to him
She crouched down and dipped the clean cloth in something sharp smelling and reached for his arm
“ This will sting” she said flatly
Lucien didn't flinch as she cleaned the wound, the pain was nothing compared the what he had felt before
Elira cleaned the wound in silence, her touch was careful but distant
For a moment, there was only the sound of Elira dipping the cloth in the water
Then she spoke softly “ You shouldn't have come here”
“ Why?” he asked
“ Because I don't know what you want from me”
Lucien looked at her closely
“ Neither do I ” he said quickly
Elira paused, her eyes flickered up to Lucien's for a second then returned to the wound
After a while, she stood up and stepped back returning to the counter
Lucien pulled his sleeve down, a fresh bandage tight against his arm
He stood , letting the silence stretch
“ You are braver than most” he said finally, his voice low
Elira met his gaze behind the counter “ Or foolish, you don't scare me anymore like do the others”
“ That's unfortunate ” He said, giving her a faint smile
He turned towards the door, he paused glancing once more around the shop
“ Thank you” he said
Elira tilted her head “ I only stitched the wound”
Lucien offered a nod and opened the door, letting the cold spill in
“ And yet, it's the first kindness I have seen in a while"
Then he stepped out, leaving the door creaking shut behind him.
When Lucien reached his chambers, it was nearly midnight.
He barely touched the handle before he caught the faint, familiar scent roses.
His jaw clenched.
He stepped in, already knowing who waited inside.
Selene sat comfortably in his chair, her legs crossed, a half-smile on her lips.
A bottle of dark liquor and two glasses sat on the table before her, the light from the hearth casting a golden glow on the drink.
“You took your time” she said smoothly. “I was starting to think you'd forgotten me.”
Lucien shut the door behind him with quiet click “Why are you in my room?
Selene lifted the bottle and poured into both glasses. “I missed you, Lucien. Thought we could talk. Drink.”
He didn’t move. “How did you get in?”
She smiled, lazy and dangerous. “I know my way around your home Or have you forgotten how close we used to be?”
“Get out, Selene.” he said his voice sounding cold.
She laughed softly, taking a sip. “I will. After one drink. One drink, and I’m gone.”
Lucien stared at her for a long moment.
Then, without a word, he stepped forward and took the offered glass.
He sat across from her, eyes sharp.
She watched him drink.
“I heard you went to the healer today. Elira, isn’t it?” she said, tilting her head. “Funny, when you know I could’ve healed you myself.
Lucien said nothing.
Minutes passed. The warmth of the drink settled oddly in his stomach too quickly and too heavy
His eyes narrowed.
“What did you put in it?” he asked quietly.
Selene didn’t deny it. She stood slowly, walking toward him, fingers sliding down the straps of her dress.
“Something to remind you of what you really want. Of what you’ve missed.”
Realization flickered in his eyes not love. Control. Desire twisted into power.
- Writer
