The Vampire's werewolf mate

Chapter 7

The Hidden Truth

Lucien POV

Lyra and I remained alone in the room.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

Then my eyes fell on the torn fabric of her gown.

A wave of anger stirred inside me.

Without saying a word, I picked up a nearby blanket and gently draped it over her shoulders.

She looked up at me with tired eyes.

She was still weak from whatever Darius had given her.

"Thank you," she whispered softly.

I didn't reply.

Instead, I studied her face, making sure she was truly alright.

Slowly, almost without thinking, I reached out and brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.

My fingers lingered against her cheek for a brief moment.

She didn't pull away.

For just a second...

She wasn't a werewolf princess.

And I wasn't a vampire prince.

We weren't enemies.

We were simply two people trapped by a fate neither of us had chosen.

Her eyes slowly began to close as exhaustion overtook her.

I immediately pulled my hand away.

No.

I can't do this.

I stood up quickly.

Without another word, I turned and walked out of the room as quietly as I had entered.

---

As I returned to the grand hall, I immediately sensed that something had changed.

The room had fallen into an uneasy silence.

Werewolves and vampires alike whispered among themselves.

Then I saw him.

Darius.

He was sitting on the floor, bruised and disheveled.

Good.

The moment he noticed me, he pointed an accusing finger.

"There he is!"

"He attacked me!"

"He tried to harm Princess Lyra!"

I simply raised an eyebrow.

What a pathetic liar.

Before I could speak, King Alaric shot to his feet.

"How dare you lay your hands on my daughter!"

Whispers spread through the hall.

I remained silent.

Father slowly rose from his seat.

"And how dare you accuse my son of such a vile act?"

King Alaric glared at him.

"Your son has assaulted my daughter's future husband!"

Father's crimson eyes narrowed.

The atmosphere became unbearably tense.

It felt as though one wrong word would start another war.

Finally, Father looked at me.

"Come, Lucien."

"It seems our time here is over."

I nodded once.

Without arguing, I followed him toward the exit.

Just before leaving, I stopped.

The hall fell silent.

Without turning around completely, I spoke.

"You may want to keep a closer eye on Prince Darius."

My gaze shifted briefly toward him before returning to King Alaric.

"And perhaps..."

"You should ask Princess Lyra what truly happened."

Silence.

No one spoke.

For the first time since he started accusing me...

I saw fear in Darius's eyes.

Good.

Without another word, Father and I walked out of the hall.

We left the Nightfang Kingdom behind...

But we also left behind questions.

Questions that, sooner or later...

The truth would answer.

---

Lyra POV

"Prince Darius... please... no..."

I mumbled in my sleep, my body trembling.

Images flashed through my mind.

I saw Lucien fighting Darius.

I saw him standing between me and danger.

Then he turned and walked toward me.

For some reason...

With him there, I felt safer than I ever had before.

He gently brushed a strand of hair away from my face.

His cold crimson eyes didn't seem so cold anymore.

For the first time...

They looked warm.

And somehow...

They made me feel safe.

Suddenly, my eyes flew open.

I sat upright, breathing heavily.

I looked around the room.

No one.

"Lucien?"

Silence.

Then I gasped.

"The meeting!"

I quickly climbed out of bed.

Looking down, I realized someone had changed my clothes.

I was now wearing a royal blue gown.

I frowned.

"Who changed me?"

Pushing the thought aside, I rushed out of my room.

---

On my way to the hall, I nearly crashed into Marcus and Aria.

"LYRA!"

Aria wrapped her arms around me before I could react.

"What happened?"

"What did that monster do to you?"

Marcus stood beside her, worry written all over his face.

I pressed a hand against my forehead.

A dull headache still lingered.

"Darius... he..."

Before I could finish, Aria interrupted.

"Yeah, we know."

"Darius saved you from Lucien."

I froze.

"...What?"

She nodded.

"Lucien attacked him."

"He's lucky Father didn't punish him."

I stared at her in disbelief.

"What makes you think Lucien wanted to hurt me?"

"That's what Darius told everyone."

My blood boiled.

The drug still made me feel weak, but anger quickly replaced the exhaustion.

"Where's my father?"

Without waiting for an answer, I hurried away.

---

I pushed open Father's chamber doors.

"Father, I need to speak with you."

"Lyra."

Relief filled his face.

Then I noticed Darius sitting beside him.

The moment our eyes met, he smiled.

I felt sick.

"You."

I pointed directly at him.

"Father, this man laid his hands on me."

Father sighed.

"Lyra..."

"It's not what you think."

My eyes widened.

"You weren't there, Father."

"You didn't see what happened."

Before Father could answer, Darius stood.

His face was filled with fake concern.

"Princess, Prince Lucien hypnotized you."

"What?!"

"I left you in the hall. When I returned, you were gone."

"I found your wine glass on the floor and searched for you."

"I found Lucien in your room."

"I stopped him before he could do anything."

"He attacked me and escaped."

"I immediately informed your father."

"The vampires were sent out of the territory."

I stared at him.

Liar.

My thoughts drifted back to that room.

Lucien covering me with a blanket.

His gentle touch.

The way he looked at me.

No.

Those weren't the actions of someone trying to hurt me.

I stepped closer.

"Father..."

"I want you to cancel whatever plans you've made between Prince Darius and me."

Both men looked stunned.

"But, Princess—"

I cut Darius off.

"You are lying to the crown."

"And when I find proof..."

"I will personally see that you're banished."

"I promise you."

Without another word, I turned and walked out.

---

Later that evening, I wandered into the woods alone.

I kicked a rock into the pond.

"Stupid Darius."

Another rock.

"Stupid werewolves."

Another.

"They don't even believe their future Luna."

I scoffed.

"Hypnotized?"

"As if."

I knew what I saw.

I knew who saved me.

Eventually, I sat beside the water.

For the first time all day...

I let myself cry.

"I miss you, Mom."

"You would've believed me."

The wind answered with silence.

I wiped my eyes and stood.

"They think I'm insane."

"They all think I've lost my mind."

Suddenly...

Footsteps.

Behind me.

Instinct took over.

I drew the dagger from my waist and spun around.

Before I could strike, someone caught my wrist effortlessly.

I froze.

Those crimson eyes.

Lucien.

"Lucien?"

"What are you doing here?"

I narrowed my eyes.

"Are you stalking me?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Stalking?"

"You?"

Then, to my complete surprise...

He laughed.

Actually laughed.

I blinked.

"So... you do have emotions."

He smirked.

"Only when someone says something ridiculous."

I folded my arms.

"So why are you here?"

"You're supposed to be on your side of the border."

"I needed some space," he replied.

"So I let the others return home without me."

"I was about to leave when I heard a future Luna talking to herself in the middle of the woods."

I blinked.

"What?"

He looked at me.

"What?"

I couldn't help it.

I laughed.

"You know..."

"That's the most I've ever heard you speak."

He rolled his eyes.

Silence settled between us.

Neither of us looked away.

Then, without warning, he reached up and gently touched my cheek again.

My heart skipped a beat.

"Why are you so difficult to ignore?"

Heat rushed to my face.

"W-What do you mean?"

I took a step back.

He stepped forward.

I stepped back again...

And tripped.

Before I could hit the ground, his arms caught me.

For a moment...

Time stood still.

Then the familiar voice echoed through both our minds.

Mate.

We immediately pulled away.

I cleared my throat.

"I should go."

He nodded awkwardly.

"Yeah."

"...Yeah."

I turned and walked back toward the castle.

After a few seconds, I looked over my shoulder.

He was gone.

I smiled to myself.

For some reason...

The warmth of his hand still lingered on my cheek.

And no matter how hard I tried...

I couldn't make it disappear.