Chapter 4
1047 Words
Secrets and Ice Cream
Lucien POV
I had just returned to my room after training when a knock sounded at my door.
"Come in."
The door creaked open, and Serena peeked inside with a mischievous smile.
"Hey..."
I looked up from the book I was pretending to read.
"Hey, sis. What do you need?"
She walked into my room, clasping her hands behind her back.
"I need you to tell Mother about your mate."
I froze.
"...What?"
My eyes widened.
She knows?
The first name that came to mind made me groan.
"Oh, no..."
"I'm going to kill Damien."
Serena burst into laughter.
"It wasn't Damien."
I frowned.
"Then how do you know?"
She scratched the back of her neck sheepishly.
"I was walking past the training yard..."
"...and I kind of overheard your conversation."
"Sorry."
I let out a long sigh.
"Serena..."
She smiled innocently.
I pointed a finger at her.
"You can't tell Father."
Her playful expression disappeared.
"I know."
"I won't."
I nodded, relieved.
A second later, the excitement returned to her face.
"So..."
"What does she look like?"
I blinked.
"What?"
"Is she pretty?"
"Does she have long hair?"
"Do you like her?"
I stared at her.
"Serena."
"What?"
"Calm down."
"I'm not answering any of those questions."
She pouted dramatically.
"Aww..."
"You're no fun."
I pointed toward the door.
"You can leave now."
She rolled her eyes.
"Fine..."
She reached the door, then suddenly stopped.
"Oh!"
I sighed.
"...Now what?"
She turned around with a grin.
"You're going to see her again tomorrow."
I frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
"Father received a letter this morning."
"The werewolves have called for an alliance meeting."
I sat up straighter.
"...An alliance meeting?"
She nodded excitedly.
"Apparently, all the major werewolf and vampire clans have been invited."
My heartbeat quickened.
That means...
She's going to be there.
Serena watched me carefully before smirking.
"Interesting reaction."
I quickly looked away.
"You're imagining things."
"Mmm-hmm."
She giggled.
"Anyway, I'll leave you to your thoughts."
Before I could reply, she skipped out of the room and closed the door behind her.
Silence filled the room once again.
I leaned back in my chair and stared at the ceiling.
I'm going to see her again.
Without realizing it...
A small smile appeared on my face.
I sighed and rubbed my forehead.
"Get a hold of yourself, Lucien."
She's a werewolf.
Your enemy.
Nothing more.
...Right?
I wasn't so sure anymore.
---
Lyra POV
I hadn't stepped foot in the training yard for days.
That alone should've told everyone something was wrong.
Unfortunately...
Marcus noticed.
I should've known he would.
After searching for me for what felt like hours, he finally found me in the castle kitchen.
I was sitting on the floor with a giant bucket of ice cream in my lap.
"Uhhh... Lyra?"
I looked up, my mouth full of ice cream.
"Oh, Marcus..."
I pointed at the table.
"...the swinkles."
Marcus frowned.
"...The what?"
I swallowed my mouthful and sighed dramatically.
"The sprinkles, Marcus."
He shook his head with a chuckle before grabbing the jar and handing it to me.
"There."
I happily poured an unreasonable amount onto my ice cream.
Marcus folded his arms.
"Are you okay, Lyra?"
I blinked innocently.
"What?"
"Of course I'm okay."
"Why wouldn't I be?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"You haven't been to training since the battle."
"I spend hours looking for you..."
"...and I find you hiding in the kitchen with enough ice cream to feed an entire pack."
I almost dropped my spoon.
"W-What?"
"I'm not stress-eating."
Marcus gave me a look that screamed, I don't believe you.
"I know you, Lyra."
"Something's wrong."
My smile faded.
I stared down at my melting ice cream.
"...Everything changed after that battle."
Marcus's expression softened.
He sat beside me.
"What happened?"
I sighed.
"Promise me you won't tell anyone."
"I promise."
I took a deep breath.
Then everything came out at once.
"During the battle I found my mate and he's the Vampire Prince and we shared a dream and my wolf won't stop talking about him and Father is planning an alliance meeting and I'm going to see him again!"
Silence.
Marcus stared at me.
Blink.
Blink.
Blink.
Then—
"WHAT?!"
I nearly dropped my ice cream.
Marcus and I turned toward the kitchen entrance.
Aria stood there.
Completely frozen.
Her eyes were so wide I thought they might fall out.
"What did you just say?"
"A vampire prince?!"
She marched over and pointed at me dramatically.
"It has to be him!"
"Prince Lucien!"
"Lyra..."
"This is bad."
"This is REALLY bad!"
I groaned and stuffed another spoonful of ice cream into my mouth.
"I knooooow..."
Without saying another word, Aria grabbed a spoon.
Then she stole some of my ice cream.
"Hey!"
"What?"
"I'm stressed too now."
Marcus rubbed both hands over his face.
"I cannot believe you two."
The two of us looked at him.
"What?"
He sighed.
"Panicking isn't going to solve anything."
I pouted.
"So what do we do?"
Marcus thought quietly for a moment.
Then his eyes lit up.
"I've got it."
Aria and I leaned toward him at the exact same time.
"What?"
"We make everyone believe you're getting close to Prince Darius."
I immediately stood up.
"...What?"
"Darius?"
"No."
"No, no, absolutely not."
Marcus held up a hand.
"Would you let me finish?"
I folded my arms.
"...Fine."
"You don't have to actually like him."
"You just need to be seen with him."
"If Prince Lucien thinks you've already chosen someone else..."
"...he'll have no reason to pursue the mate bond."
I frowned.
As much as I hated admitting it...
It actually made sense.
"...That's..."
"...actually smart."
Marcus grinned proudly.
"I know."
"I'm a genius."
Aria nodded while eating another spoonful of my ice cream.
"Yup."
"Genius."
I looked at my bucket.
"...Are you seriously still eating my ice cream?"
She smiled innocently.
"You weren't finishing it."
I gasped dramatically.
"Traitor!"
The three of us burst into laughter.
For the first time in days...
I actually smiled without forcing it.
Tomorrow, the alliance meeting would begin.
Marcus's plan would be put into action.
Prince Darius would play his part.
Prince Lucien would surely keep his distance.
It was the perfect plan.
- Writer
