CHAPTER 242: _TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES...

Elian’s POV

*****

"Marriage? Next week?" Elian gawked at Lucian like he’d lost his mind when the broadcast was over and they were on their way to Lucian’s room.

Or, at least Lucian was on his way there. He just followed.

Elian was forced to when Mister High and Mighty couldn’t spare a moment for him after the broadcast, too busy answering calls from different councils around the Empire.

Safe to say Lucian had said some things that pissed them off.

"Elian, no offence, but I’m—" Lucian turned to Elian, gesturing at his communication ring, which was already flashing with another call.

But before he could complete that sentence, Elian grabbed his fingers, forcefully turning off the ring. He made Lucian look at him, much to the latter’s surprise.

"I’m not going to wait till tomorrow to talk about this." Elian’s tone was unwavering. "You didn’t even think about discussing this with me? Really?"

[Ouuu. Go, diva! Clock his tea... Or whatever those earthling younglings say.]

Elian felt like clawing the system out of his head. But alas, he had to cope with its confusing words alongside Lucian being... Well, himself.

"What’s there to talk about?" Lucian slowly withdrew his hand from Elian’s grip, raising a brow. "And what’s wrong with what I said? What’s wrong with me declaring my feelings to the empire?"

No. No... NO.

He was already heated with Kyren right now. He couldn’t stand butting heads with both mates.

Elian’s eyes scanned around the hallway. Empty. Yet the white walls and golden crystal lights felt like they had ears.

So he grabbed Lucian’s wrist, dragging the Alpha Prince to his room door. When they were finally in Lucian’s room, the door clicking shut behind them, Elian’s eyes landed on him again.

"Someone’s a little too assertive tonight." Lucian sounded amused, folding his arms in front of his chest. "Now that we’re here, do you mind explaining how—"

Elian didn’t let him finish.

He didn’t even know if he was thinking. Heck, thought seemed like a fleeting concept right now. And what remained between him and the Alpha Prince was tension.

So when his lips smacked Lucian’s in a kiss, he didn’t even try hiding his hunger. He wasn’t afraid to let his want bleed.

Lucian stiffened, his breath shuddering through the kiss. But it didn’t take long for him to give in, his hands finding Elian’s waist and grabbing tightly.

[Well... That happened. Do you want me to still be on the lookout for anything suspicious or—who am I kidding? Horniness wins again.]

The kiss deepened, the lights in the room dimming as if even the artificial intelligence could recognise the rising heat between the two mates and what it meant.

Elian’s fingers held Lucian’s shoulders, gripping them like they were the only thing keeping him tethered to the ground.

All day he’s wanted to feel something other than the creeping existential dread. Something other than the confusion that came with his past.

"Elian..." A low growl rumbled through Lucian’s throat when he briefly broke the kiss. "What... What were we arguing about again?"

Elian’s lips curled into a teasing grin, his hands clasping the Alpha Prince’s face. "Uhm. World peace?"

Yes, he was upset Lucian didn’t discuss his decision to get married with him. There wasn’t even a private engagement or something.

But above all that... He was horny as fuck just staring at Lucian’s features.

[Talk about priorities...]

When he kissed Lucian this time, the Alpha Prince didn’t resist. Instead, he responded with the same burning hunger, his tongue finding every inch of his mouth.

Elian wrapped his arms around his neck, shuddering when Lucian’s fingers slid underneath his shirt and scoured up to his chest. The Alpha Prince found his nipples, teasing and flicking them in gentle strokes that drove Elian crazy.

However, just when he was about to rip Lucian’s outfit apart... It happened.

A sharp pain hit his head, his eyes widening as his back arched. Elian gasped, his body spasming while images flashed through his mind in a blur.

"Elian?" Lucian’s voice broke in a panic, but Elian could barely hear him.

He could barely feel his touch as his mind bolted through scattered images.

The metallic taste of blood. Ghastly growls and howls. A scream. Sound of claws ripping through flesh. Then his eyes settled on a vast forest, covered by the thick cloak of night.

There on the ground beneath the trees stood a little boy. No older than five. He was alone and had his back facing Elian’s line of sight.

But when the boy slowly turned to face him—Elian gasped. Violet eyes and white blonde hair.

Was that... Was that him?

Before he could wrap his head around it, his consciousness came back to his body. He rasped, falling to the ground as pain surged through his body.

"Elian!" Lucian grabbed him on time, keeping him steady and pressing his body against his chest. "Gods, you scared me. Are you... Are you okay?"

Elian’s breathing was strained, his eyes hazy. His arms were limp on the floor but he managed to gather enough focus to reach out to the system.

’Do you mind telling me what the fuck that was?’

[It happened so fast. Your consciousness seemed like it was... Slipping through memories. Memories that aren’t exactly yours but at the same time feel like they are.]

’Fuck me sideways!’ he cursed mentally, grunting when Lucian helped him to his feet.

The Alpha Prince slung his arm around Elian’s waist, guiding him to the bed. It was at that moment that the system rang in his mind with an alert.

[Warning: Mana signature detected outside the palace. Just below the Alpha Prince’s balcony.]

Elian’s jaw tightened, his strength coming back instantly. He pushed past Lucian without saying anything, rushing to the glass balcony doors.

"What are you—" Lucian followed behind him but he didn’t stop.

When the doors slid open and he stepped into the cold night air, it didn’t take long for his gaze to catch something. He placed his hands on the marble railing.

A figure in a black cloak stood on the ground tens of meters below with the hood barely covering her face.

When she craned her head to look into Elian’s eyes... Every cell in his body shivered.

He didn’t know her but something inside told him he should.

They stared at each other for a few seconds, Lucian soon joining Elian on the balcony.

"Who...?"

Suddenly, red smoke swallowed her. She shifted into a black bird, cawing before flying into the night.

Leaving behind way more questions than answers.