CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
LUCIEN
The study was cold and dark now, mimicking my heart. I stood in the shadows of the room some time after Mia had retreated to her bedchamber.
”Serena,” I summoned, my voice rough with emotion at the thought of what I had to do now.
The shadows in the study stirred, slow and serpentine-like. She didn’t manifest with theatrics this time. Just a glimmer of air, the faint scent of lavender left too long on silk filled the room, and then she was there.
”Hello, Lucien,” she purred, slithering closer to me with a cold gleam in her blue eyes. “I suppose you’ve considered the little deal I offered?”
I held back a scoff. The “deal” she’d whispered into my ear just before vanishing from the ballroom wasn’t a deal at all. It had been a command… a threat .
”It’s done,” I replied, my tone flat. “I won’t return to her and she will be leaving. You can leave her alone now.”
A smile crept across Serena’s lips, but it didn’t reach her hollow eyes. “Good,” she said, her tone laced with venom as she stepped closer and ran her hand over my shoulder. I forced myself not to flinch away.
”You made the right choice. She doesn’t belong here and you… you have always belonged to me.” Her hand moved down my chest, lingering at my waistline. “Plus, I would have killed her.”
My fists clenched at my sides. “So you said.”
She circled me slowly, her hands caressing me in a way that made me want to tear off her fingers. “Let’s hope you meant it, Lucien. For her sake.”
She gripped the back of my head, tangling her fingers through my hair. Then she kissed me, hard, rough, and possessive. I stiffened, bile rose to the back of my throat, but I didn’t dare pull away. I kissed her back, allowing her tongue to slip over mine, fighting the impulse to shove her away.
When she finally pulled back, her smile was like poison. “There is just one other little thing you need to do to prove your loyalty to me.”
I groaned inwardly, but kept my expression neutral. “Of course there is.”
Her smile didn’t falter as she moved her hands down my chest, her icy fingers stopping to toy with the buttons.
”Destroy your body.” She said plainly, softly, as if it was a simple request. My whole body tensed and she felt it. Her cold blue eyes, narrowed and suspicious, shot to mine.
”Is that a problem?” She asked, her hands wrapping into the fabric of my shirt. “You have no need to break the curse if you plan to stay here with me.”
”What does my body have to do with breaking the curse?” I replied, furrowing my brows as if I didn’t already know and hoping she believed my confusion.
She released me, stepping away as she turned her attention to the letter I’d left open sprawled across the desk. The letter she’d written me.
She ran her fingers over the parchment. “Do not play with me, Lucien. I know that you have most of your memories back. I know that you are aware of how to break the curse.”
”Yes,” I said with a nonchalant shrug. “But, as I’m sure you saw, I made it clear to Mia that I had used her. I doubt even if she stayed, her kiss would awaken me. Even if she did love me, she doesn’t anymore.”
Serena slammed her fist down on the desk, eyes blazing as she glared at me with a pointed look. “Love, Lucien, doesn’t just vanish! No matter what the person says or does to you.”
I winced. Despite my hatred for Serena, despite what she had done to me, there was some small part of me that felt guilty for breaking her heart even if I hadn’t meant to.
“Destroy your body or I will see to it that your precious witch never leaves this castle.”
“I have no idea where my body is, Serena.” I said slowly, trying not to let the truth show.
She was silent for a long moment, her crimson lips pressed into a thin line as if she was considering this issue.
I wasn’t sure if she believed me or not, but it was hardly the truth.
I’d known where my body was from the moment I’d regained my memories and keeping it from Mia had been tortuous.
I needed Serena to believe I would stay though and more than that, I needed to buy time.
Serena smiled suddenly, the corners of her wide mouth spreading wickedly. “I will take you to it… as soon as your little paramour leaves the castle.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but she held up her hand. “That is the deal, Lucien. That is the only way she lives.”
She turned away, her form wavering as she began to fade away, but just before she completely disappeared, she turned back to me. “Oh yes, Lucien… you’ll need her dagger to destroy your body.”
With that, she vanished into a whisper of hazy fog.
My jaw clenched as I released my energy, traveling silently through the castle.
Mia didn’t stir as I appeared in the shadows of her room.
She was curled up, the thick blanket nestled and tucked beneath her chin as she slept.
For a moment I simply watched her sleep, her lips parted slightly and the slow rise and fall of her breaths.
My fingers itched to brush away a stray curl from her forehead, but I didn’t dare touch her for fear I’d never be able to let her go.
Instead, I forced my gaze away to the table next to the bed where she always kept her enchanted dagger.
Carefully, I slipped it from the table, twisting it between my fingers for a moment before silently leaving the room.
I clenched my fist around the dagger as I moved through the castle, holding it in clear view for Serena to see that I had taken it.
I hated this. I hated that I had to let Mia go… even if it was just for now. Hated that I’d once again lied to her.
I wouldn’t risk her safety.