CHAPTER 173: MARKED YOU, LEIA

Delia stared blankly at the damp, stone wall of the dungeon. Time had long since lost its meaning here. She had counted the days at first, clinging to them as markers of her suffering, but eventually even that small defiance had slipped from her grasp. She had hoped death might come as a release, yet even that mercy was denied her.

The sudden sound broke the silence, and she flinched. At first, she thought it was another meal shoved inside though she had choked down her last crust of bread not long ago.

The gate swung open, and two towering silhouettes entered.

Her cracked lips trembled as she swallowed hard. This time, she told herself, she would say whatever Lucien demanded. Anything, if it meant freedom.

’I can’t endure this prison any longer.’

She tried to rise, but the weight of the shackles clamped around her wrists dragged her back down, biting into her skin.

Lucien and Caleb halted before her. She forced her head up, her swollen eyes meeting theirs.

"Please," her voice was hoarse, a rasp of desperation. "Release me. I swear I will never trouble Leia again. I’ll vanish from your lives, disappear forever. Just... please, Lucien."

Lucien’s expression did not waver as if he wasn’t here to grant her any mercy.

"Why did you meet with the hunters in North Calimore?"

Delia stopped blinking as she thought, ’How did he find out?’

"You really thought you could keep the truth from me, Delia?" Lucien growled at her. "I have resources, and the very person you aided easily revealed everything. You helped him." His words were a half-truth, baiting her to confess fully.

Delia’s chest heaved. She knew there was no point in hiding it now; he already knew more than she had hoped. "Even hunters want her dead... her father is the reason. I just gave them the information about her," she blurted, the words tumbling out before she could stop them.

"I’ll tell you everything, Lucien," she continued, her voice trembling but resolute. "Just... promise me you’ll release me. Please. Leia isn’t at fault. She only suffers the consequences of the pain her father caused us." She joined her hands, pleading, desperate for mercy.

Lucien’s gaze hardened. "There’s no use releasing you. I already know the truth," he said coldly. "And I also know you’ll betray Leia again. You chose to betray your friend... your childhood friend, over some lies you believed. You knew Leia had no knowledge of her father, yet you still decided to hurt her. You even sold her information to the hunters. And now you expect me to release you?" He stepped closer. "This will never happen. You will die here, Delia."

Lucien had never trusted witches, but for the sake of Leia’s friendship with Delia, he had once considered giving her a chance. But her admission, her willing betrayal, her confession that she had endangered Leia, shattered any hope of leniency.

"Caleb, prepare to give her a death sentence," Lucien ordered before turning toward the door.

"No! Please!" Delia screamed, clutching at his leg. "I know what I did to Leia was wrong! Lucien, please... spare me! I swear on my life, I won’t return to her side once you release me. What I did was a foolish mistake."

Lucien’s expression darkened. He scoffed, stepping back and letting her desperation hang in the cold air. "I brought Leia here weeks ago," he said slowly, his eyes narrowing. "She wanted to give you a chance... and you, what you said to her. I won’t repeat your words, Delia. You did something unforgivable, and the price you pay... is your life."

As he moved toward the door again, Delia’s voice sliced through the air.

"You slaughtered many witches because they killed your parents, didn’t you? In your eyes, that made it right. You took mothers from countless children, and no one dared criticize you. Yet when I did the same to Leia, whose father took my mother’s life, you declared it wrong."

Lucien’s hands clenched into fists, his jaw tightening at her accusation.

"You’re comparing two situations that aren’t even the same," he snapped. "Leia grew up without a father among humans. And what do you know of my past? Nothing. Since you don’t, don’t try to manipulate me with your twisted logic. I know witches like you do anything to save themselves. You will die. You asked for it, remember?"

Lucien turned and strode out of the dungeon. Outside, the weather had taken a strange, oppressive turn. It seemed a heavy downpour could begin at any moment. The sky looked too dark.

He returned to the mansion, intending to discuss his next move with Ronan, when a familiar scent caught him mid-step. The living room was empty, silent except for the faint rustle of the curtains in the wind. He moved upstairs, straight to his room, and saw Leia, standing near the bed, cradling a photo frame in her hands.

"You’re back," he remarked in astonishment.

Leia lowered the frame onto the bedside table and turned to face him. She stepped closer, the soft swish of her white A-line, knee-length dress brushing the floor. His gaze flicked immediately to her neck, and he froze at the marks etched there.

"Yes," she said, a small, teasing smile playing on her lips. She intentionally craned her neck, making sure he saw what she wanted him to see. "Did you like my surprise?"

"Why did you let Ronan and Kieran mark you before me?" Lucien closed the gap between them as pressed her against the wall. His eyes promptly turned, gleaming in possessiveness.

He wanted this moment for him. He wanted to mark her first. But then, he told Kieran last night to give Leia his mark. He leaned closer, taking in a deep breath.

Leia felt the gentle brush of his lips on her earlobe. "Are you again jealous of your own brothers?"

"I’m going fucking crazy, Leia. You seduce me, put my entire body on fire, then ignore me as if nothing has happened," he whispered and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

"You left yesterday after our fight. You cried alone in the house... and later, in the evening, made me feel so... pathetic. Then," he lifted his head, his gaze locking onto hers, "you returned, and got marked by my brothers while I wasn’t here. At least... you could have waited for me. Why do you do this?"

His hand settled possessively on her lower back, his eyes searching her hazel ones with an intensity that made her pulse quicken.

Leia laughed. It was a soft, teasing sound that both confused and infuriated him. He clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to let his emotions spill over.

"I made fake marks, Lucien," she said, still laughing. "I can’t believe you actually fell for it!"

"What?"

The anger that had burned in him moments ago evaporated, replaced by something darker. He nipped at her neck, and Leia winced at the sharp sting.

"Lucien..." she whispered, her voice trembling as he pressed his mouth to the tender spot. Her hands rose to her shoulders instinctively, but she didn’t push him away.

His gaze met hers, and in that moment, his pupils flared fully red, revealing his true Alpha eyes. His canines elongated, glinting sharply, and Leia froze, her breath catching in her throat. She knew what was coming. Their wolves connected in a silent, mental bond as he leaned closer.

"Ahh!"

Leia gasped, her mouth opening in surprise and shock as he marked her in the same spot he had nipped moments before. The mark burned against her skin, glowing first red, then shifting to gold. A sudden heat coursed through her body, fiery and consuming, igniting her in ways she hadn’t anticipated.

She clung to him, her eyes brimming with tears as heat coursed through every inch of her body. Lucien’s canines had returned to normal, but his eyes remained that deep red.

He pressed hot, lingering kisses along her neck, each one heavy with desire and possessive love. His hands roamed over her body, memorizing every curve, every contour, before lifting her effortlessly into his arms.

"Lucien... what is happening? I want you... but... what did you do to me?" she whispered, breathless, trembling in his hold.

"You played a trick on me, so I returned the favor," he murmured. "You’re mine, Leia Solayne. I’ve marked you and no one can separate us anymore."

His lips crashed against hers. His hands gripped her thighs firmly, anchoring her to him. Leia melted into the kiss, her arms tightening around his neck as their tongues met.

When she was out of breath, she pulled away and found herself on the bed.

"You want to give your first time to Kieran. I don’t mind it. I couldn’t stop myself from giving the mark to you. It was necessary. I am scared for you. I may not express my fear well, but I don’t want to lose you, Leia. A lot is going on and I just want you to be safe," Lucien pronounced, his eyes slowly changing into the normal shade.

"Lucien, I want you. I love you," Leia said, her eyes holding his gaze. "I’m sorry for the last day. I’ve hurt you on numerous occasions. But it was never my intention. I returned because I wanted to apologize to you by looking into your eyes."