Chapter 31 Lucian
Lucian
I carry her out of the Carnal Bazaar and through the gates that lead into the Bleeding Court.
I am holding her close, as if I could anchor her to me with sheer force of will.
The memory of how close I came to losing her—to the demons, to Kael—gnaws at me like acid.
If I had been one moment later, his lust magic would have consumed her.
My Queen, I might have lost you forever.
I try to push back the thought, but it won’t go.
Julia feels so soft in my arms. Curvy and warm, her silk gown brushing against my skin, the faint sweetness of her feminine need ripe from the orgasm I wrung from her body.
Her head lolls against my shoulder and her eyes are half closed, but her tongue is still sharp.
“So…” she murmurs, her voice hoarse but edged with sarcasm, “now I can add ‘public indecency with a vampire mafia boss’ to my bucket list.”
I huff a low laugh. Gods, even exhausted, she’s all sass and spark, my curvy queen.
“Careful, little one. You’re tempting me to make that list even longer,” I warn her.
She pokes weakly at my chest.
“If that back there is your idea of discreet, I’d hate to see what happens when you’re not holding back. There were people watching us!”
I bend my head, brushing my lips against the crown of her hair.
“You liked being watched—it made you hotter. I could tell by your scent.”
Her cheeks go pink, and she tries to look away, but I can still feel the truth of it humming through her body.
Lust is part of her magic, and her magic responds to me.
Soon, I will put her in my harness in the playroom…
tease her…edge her…force the Sanguis Vita in her veins to ripen until it is the richest wine.
Then I will drink from her for the first time.
But not tonight.
Tonight, I want nothing more than to hold her. To keep her safe and warm in my arms where no demon or rival syndicate can ever touch her again.
We emerge into the grand courtyard of the Crimson Spires. Rain-slick black stone gleams under crimson lanterns, and my guards rush forward to open the heavy iron doors. They bow and cower, knowing they failed me once before when they allowed her to escape. Fools. They will not have another chance.
I stride past them, ignoring their stammered apologies. Jules belongs in my arms, not in their line of sight. I carry her to the private elevator tucked deep inside the Spires. The doors close behind us with a soft hiss, and I press the button for the penthouse suite.
The lift begins to rise. She shifts, cuddling into me, and my cold heart clenches at the trust in that small gesture.
“Mmm,” she murmurs, “So sleepy…can’t keep my eyes open.”
I brush a strand of hair from her cheek.
“You’ve had a long day. Taken from the human realm…dragged into the Shadow Realm…escaping and then nearly getting trapped in the Carnal Bazaar. It would tire anyone out.”
Her eyes flash open, stubborn and defiant even through her exhaustion.
“I had to at least try to get away! I need to go home.”
I tighten my arms around her and kiss the top of her head.
“Your home is here with me now, little one. And you’re not getting away again.”
Her eyes flutter closed, but I can feel the storm of her emotions against my chest.
She may not accept it yet, but she is mine.
Forever.