THE BLOOD PRINCE
2332 Words
Lucien Draven stared at Elara like no one had ever spoken to him that way.
Good.
She was in no mood to be impressed by titles, ancient bloodlines, or dangerously attractive vampires.
Especially dangerously attractive vampires.
Because unfortunately, that part was undeniable.
Lucien was beautiful in a way that felt unfair.
Sharp jaw.
Black hair pushed away from his face.
Broad shoulders beneath a long black coat.
His skin was pale, but not lifeless.
And those eyes—
They had returned to nearly black, yet something crimson still burned underneath.
Elara hated that her body noticed any of it.
She hated even more that strange pull in her chest.
The same invisible thread that had tightened the moment he entered the clearing.
Lucien finally spoke.
“That was not meant as an insult.”
Elara raised an eyebrow.
“You walked into a forest, looked at me, and said ‘mine.’”
His mouth twitched.
“When you repeat it like that, I admit it sounds poorly phrased.”
Seraphina laughed.
Kael did not.
He stood beside Elara, every muscle tense.
“What are you doing in my territory?”
Lucien slowly looked at him.
The temperature seemed to drop.
“I wasn't aware future Alphas inherited territory before their fathers died.”
Kael's eyes flashed black.
Darius stepped forward.
“Enough.”
Lucien's gaze shifted to him.
“Alpha Blackthorne.”
“Prince Draven.”
Neither sounded pleased.
Seraphina lifted a bloodied hand.
“Hello? Severely injured sister?”
Lucien's entire expression changed.
He was beside her before Elara saw him move.
One second he stood several yards away.
The next, his hands were on Seraphina's face.
“Who did this?”
His voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
Seraphina smiled weakly.
“Lovely to see you too.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
Lucien looked at the holes in her hands.
His eyes turned completely crimson.
Elara felt the change in him.
It wasn't just anger.
It was pressure.
Predatory.
Every wolf in the clearing reacted.
Kael stepped closer to Elara.
Lucien noticed.
His eyes narrowed.
Elara sighed.
“Oh my God.”
Both men looked at her.
“If the two of you are about to start some weird territorial fight, don't.”
Kael frowned.
“I wasn't—”
“You were growling.”
“So was he.”
“That doesn't make it better.”
Seraphina looked delighted.
“I definitely like her.”
Lucien ignored his sister.
His attention remained on Elara.
“What is your name?”
She stared.
“You came for me and don't know my name?”
“I know your name.”
“Then why ask?”
“I wanted to hear you say it.”
Kael growled again.
Elara looked at him.
“Seriously?”
His jaw tightened.
Lucien's mouth curved.
Elara pointed at him next.
“Don't encourage him.”
The smile disappeared.
Interesting.
Maybe princes could be trained.
“Elara Vale,” she finally said.
Lucien repeated it softly.
“Elara.”
The thread around her heart pulsed.
She flinched.
Lucien did too.
Kael noticed.
“What was that?”
“Nothing,” Elara said immediately.
Lucien said, “Not nothing.”
She glared.
He studied her.
“You feel it.”
Kael's entire body went rigid.
“Feel what?”
Elara crossed her arms.
“I don't know.”
Lucien moved one step closer.
Kael moved with him.
Lucien stopped.
His eyes went to Kael.
“You should move.”
Kael gave a humorless laugh.
“No.”
“Kael,” Darius warned.
Lucien's expression became dangerously calm.
“I am trying very hard to remember I am standing in another ruler's territory.”
Kael stepped closer.
“And I'm trying very hard to care.”
Elara moved between them.
Again.
“This is ridiculous.”
Lucien looked down at her.
Too close.
The pull intensified.
Her breath caught.
For one strange second, the clearing disappeared.
No wolves.
No blood.
No Kael.
Just Lucien.
And a feeling she couldn't name.
Recognition.
Not attraction.
Not exactly.
Something deeper.
Older.
His expression shifted.
He felt it too.
“Elara,” he whispered.
She stepped backward.
The connection loosened.
Kael's hand immediately went to the small of her back.
Pain flashed through the rejected mate bond.
Elara sucked in a breath.
Kael jerked his hand away.
Lucien's head snapped toward him.
“What did you do?”
Kael's face hardened.
“Nothing.”
Lucien looked at Elara.
“You're in pain.”
“I'm fine.”
“That was not fine.”
“I'm aware.”
His eyes lowered to her chest.
Then to Kael.
Something clicked.
“You.”
Kael stared.
Lucien inhaled.
Then his expression became almost murderous.
“You rejected her.”
Seraphina muttered, “Here we go.”
Elara frowned.
“How does everyone know this?”
Lucien ignored her.
“You rejected your mate?”
Kael stepped forward.
“This has nothing to do with you.”
Lucien laughed softly.
That sound was somehow worse than shouting.
“I believe it may have quite a lot to do with me.”
“No.”
“Kael,” Elara warned.
He looked at her.
“Don't.”
His eyes darkened.
“You feel something for him.”
“I met him thirty seconds ago.”
“That wasn't my question.”
She stared at him.
“You don't get to ask me questions like that.”
Pain flashed across his face.
Lucien watched everything.
Too carefully.
Then he said, “You have not accepted the rejection.”
Elara's head snapped toward him.
“How do you know?”
“I can smell the damaged bond.”
She made a face.
“That is disgusting.”
Seraphina laughed again.
Lucien looked almost offended.
“It was not meant literally.”
“Then choose better words.”
He stared at her.
Seraphina whispered to Lyra, “He really isn't used to this.”
Lyra whispered back, “Neither is Kael.”
Elara heard both of them.
She ignored them.
Mostly.
Maeve finally stepped forward.
“Prince Lucien.”
His attention shifted.
“Witch.”
“Charming.”
“You smell familiar.”
Maeve went still.
Elara noticed.
Lucien narrowed his eyes.
“Have we met?”
“No.”
“You answered quickly.”
“Because the answer is simple.”
Lucien continued studying her.
Maeve looked away.
Another secret.
Perfect.
Elara was going to start charging people every time they lied to her.
She'd be rich by dinner.
Darius interrupted.
“Why were you searching for Elara?”
Lucien's expression returned to controlled neutrality.
“Three nights ago, something woke me.”
Seraphina had already told them that.
Elara watched him closely.
“What?”
“I don't know.”
“That seems to be everyone's favorite answer today.”
Lucien looked at her.
“I felt a bond.”
Kael growled.
Lucien didn't even glance at him.
“It lasted perhaps ten seconds.”
“Then?”
“It vanished.”
“When did it happen?”
Lucien gave the exact time.
Maeve's face changed.
Elara noticed.
“What?”
Maeve shook her head.
“Nothing.”
Elara stared.
“Maeve.”
The witch sighed.
“That was approximately when the Blood Moon entered its first shadow phase.”
Elara's stomach tightened.
The eclipse.
Lucien continued.
“When the bond disappeared, I assumed it had been some form of magical attack.”
“Reasonable,” Maeve said.
“So I began investigating.”
Seraphina crossed her arms.
“You mean terrifying half the continent.”
Lucien ignored her.
“Yesterday, I felt it again.”
Elara's chest tightened.
“When?”
Lucien stared at her.
“The moment your seal broke.”
Silence.
Kael looked toward Maeve.
“You said the seal broke after the rejection.”
“Yes.”
Lucien's gaze went to Kael.
Something violent entered his expression.
Elara stepped closer to him before he could do something stupid.
“No.”
He looked down.
“You don't even know what I'm saying no to.”
“You're thinking about attacking him.”
“I am considering it.”
“Don't.”
“He hurt you.”
“And that's between me and him.”
Lucien stared.
Then slowly inclined his head.
“As you wish.”
Kael looked furious.
Elara ignored that too.
She had bigger problems.
“What exactly do you feel now?”
Lucien's expression became cautious.
“A connection.”
“What kind?”
“I don't know.”
“Mate bond?”
Kael's voice came out harsh.
Lucien finally looked at him.
“No.”
Elara exhaled.
Kael's shoulders loosened slightly.
Then Lucien added, “At least, not one I recognize.”
Kael's relief vanished.
Maeve went very still.
Darius muttered a curse.
Elara looked at them.
“What?”
Maeve's eyes remained on Lucien.
“Vampires don't have mates.”
Seraphina nodded.
“Not true ones.”
Lucien's jaw tightened.
Elara frowned.
“But you have relationships.”
“Of course,” Seraphina said.
“Bonded partners, blood companions, marriages, political unions. But not the same kind of fated bond wolves have.”
Elara looked at Lucien.
“So what is this?”
His gaze softened slightly.
“I was hoping you could tell me.”
“I'm apparently the last person anyone tells anything.”
Seraphina snorted.
Lucien looked at his sister's injuries again.
His expression changed instantly.
“We are leaving.”
Seraphina shook her head.
“No.”
“That was not a request.”
Elara almost laughed.
“Apparently controlling family members is universal.”
Lucien looked at her.
“You object?”
“Frequently.”
Seraphina smiled.
“See? She understands me.”
Lucien returned his attention to his sister.
“You were attacked.”
“Yes.”
“You need blood.”
“Yes.”
“You need a healer.”
Seraphina pointed at Elara.
“I have one.”
Lucien looked at Elara.
“No.”
She frowned.
“No?”
“You are not healing her.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don't know what touching vampire blood might do to you.”
Elara stared.
Then laughed once.
“You arrived less than five minutes ago and already think you can tell me what to do?”
Lucien seemed to realize his mistake.
“I am advising.”
“That sounded like ordering.”
“Then I will improve my tone.”
Seraphina's eyebrows rose.
“Who are you?”
Lucien glared at her.
Maeve stepped between them.
“I can stabilize Seraphina.”
Lucien nodded.
“Do it.”
Maeve crossed her arms.
“Ask.”
Lucien stared.
Maeve stared back.
Finally he said, “Would you please stabilize my sister?”
“Much better.”
Elara smiled despite herself.
Lucien saw it.
The strange thread tightened again.
His eyes darkened.
Elara's smile disappeared.
Maeve led Seraphina toward the cottage.
Before following, Seraphina stopped beside Elara.
“You should come.”
“Why?”
“Because there's something else you need to see.”
Lucien's posture changed.
“Seraphina.”
She ignored him.
“What?”
Elara asked.
Seraphina looked directly at Lucien.
“The painting.”
Lucien went completely still.
Darius noticed.
“So you know about it.”
Lucien said nothing.
Elara's stomach dropped.
“You've seen my mother's painting.”
His eyes met hers.
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Most of my life.”
Elara felt as though the ground shifted.
“Who is she?”
Lucien hesitated.
“Her name was Amara Vale.”
Was.
Elara heard it.
“Was?”
Lucien's expression changed.
“I was told she died.”
“Everyone keeps telling me that.”
“Elara—”
“Did you know her?”
His silence answered.
Her chest tightened.
“You did.”
Lucien looked away.
“How?”
“She lived in the Midnight Court for nearly two years.”
Elara stopped breathing.
Kael stared.
Darius swore.
Maeve came back out of the cottage doorway.
“What did you say?”
Lucien looked at her.
“Amara Vale lived with my family.”
Elara's eyes burned.
“When?”
Lucien's answer came quietly.
“Twenty years ago.”
Her knees nearly gave out.
The same time her mother had supposedly disappeared.
“You saw her.”
“Yes.”
“Was she a prisoner?”
Lucien's jaw tightened.
“No.”
Elara's heart pounded.
“Then what was she?”
Lucien looked toward Seraphina.
Seraphina suddenly looked uncomfortable.
That terrified Elara more than anything.
“Tell me.”
Lucien returned his gaze to her.
“She was under my father's protection.”
“Why?”
“I never knew.”
“That's a lie.”
His eyes narrowed.
“I do not lie.”
“Everyone lies.”
He stared at her for a long moment.
Then said quietly, “Fine.”
A cold wind passed through the clearing.
“I knew one thing.”
Elara waited.
Lucien's voice dropped.
“My father believed Amara Vale was carrying something powerful enough to destroy the Blood Moon Covenant.”
Elara's hand went instinctively to her stomach.
Lucien noticed.
“So did she.”
He nodded once.
Elara felt sick.
“Me.”
“Yes.”
The forest went silent.
Lucien took one slow step toward her.
“And before your mother disappeared from the Midnight Court…”
He stopped.
“She left something with me.”
Elara's heart slammed.
“What?”
For the first time since arriving, the Blood Prince looked afraid.
“A message.”
Elara swallowed.
“For who?”
His crimson eyes locked onto hers.
“For her daughter.”
Then he said the words that shattered what little remained of Elara's understanding of her past.
“She told me to give it to you when you found me.”
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD