CHAPTER 51: _NO ONE INTERRUPTS THIS TIME

Elian’s POV

*****

"Well, well... should I come back later, or join in?"

Elian’s eyes widened with horror when he raised his head and saw the person who said that.

Estella!

She stood all the way at the entrance of the training hall, her arms folded in front of her chest. She had a smug smirk as she took slow steps forward while Lucian turned around to face her with a snarl.

"What the fuck are you doing here?! Are you stalking me now?"

Meanwhile, Elian panicked a little, sitting up on the bench and adjusting his pants, trying to hide his already prominent erection.

"Shit, shit, shit..." He whispered under his breath, his chest heaving as his face heated up with an embarrassed blush.

When will people stop walking in on him making out with one of his mates?!

[Making out? Darling, Lucian was about to eat you for lunch AND dinner.]

Elian rolled his eyes, ignoring the system’s words while Estella sniggered at Lucian’s last remark.

"Stalking you? Why would you say that, my prince?" She drawled, her voice low and aggravatingly seductive.

Elian gazed at her and noticed her giving him a knowing smirk.

It felt like a silent "don’t think I’ve forgotten about you".

A shiver crawled up Elian’s spine as he looked away from her, scratching the back of his neck.

He hadn’t forgotten that she was at the top of his list of suspects who sent that first assassin who almost killed him in his sleep.

And probably even the second assassin.

"Anyway, I’ll go straight to the point so you two can go back to... Whatever I walked into." Estella sighed, her voice increasing in pitch. "It’s almost time for dinner. Your mother said she’d like to see you there, since Aurora’s mate will be joining for the first time tonight."

She paused, flicking her gaze to Elian who stiffened, struggling to maintain eye contact.

Her eyes glinted with an unreadable light before her smirk widened. "You too, Elian. The Luna Queen hopes you’re able to attend dinner this time."

Elian blinked at her, a bit surprised.

She actually referred to him by his name instead of calling him "Omega" like it was a slur and he owed her bloodline a debt.

She stared at Lucian for a few more seconds and turned to leave. But without warning, Lucian bolted to her, grabbing her wrist and forcing her to look at him.

Her eyes widened, but she didn’t make any sounds, her gaze trailing his exposed chest with lust.

Elian glared at the two of them as Lucian spoke coldly, his voice clear as day.

"What are you up to, Estella?"

Estella blinked, a dry chuckle finally leaving her lips. She shook her head, smirking mischievously at Lucian before leaning closer until her lips were dangerously close to his face.

"Wouldn’t you like to know?"

Those words were daring. A subtle challenge.

And when she glanced briefly at Elian after saying it, his fists clenched involuntarily.

’A new mission should involve exposing that bitch.’ He spoke to the system mentally, his jaw tightening.

[You want us to go all spy on her? Well, well, well... Looks like I’m becoming an influence on you after all.]

Elian ignored while Estella pulled her wrist out of Lucian’s grip, giving the Alpha Prince one final cold smirk before she turned away, walking out of the hall and slamming the door shut.

Lucian’s shoulders relaxed, sighing lightly. Elian’s gaze lingered on his back muscles as he bit his bottom lip, already imagining sinking his nails into his skin.

[Just a reminder... You have 1:10:40 until the deadline for the special mission elapses.]

Elian’s heart skipped a beat as he cleared his throat, getting on his feet while his gaze was still on Lucian.

He clasped his hands in front of his chest, plastering a smile on his face while Lucian slowly turned to stare at him, arching an eyebrow.

Lucian’s gaze swept over him lazily, that silver-eyed intensity making Elian’s skin prickle.

"What’s with the creepy smile?" he finally asked, voice a low growl.

Elian shrugged innocently. "Nothing. Just... thinking you owe me a proper sparring session. And maybe..." His smile sharpened. "...something else."

Lucian narrowed his eyes, reading between the lines immediately. "You don’t quit, do you?"

"Nope," Elian replied, popping the ’p.’ Then, without waiting for an invitation, he strolled toward Lucian, brushing past him deliberately so their shoulders touched. "Unless, of course, you’re too much of a coward to finish what you started."

The air between them went razor-sharp. Lucian’s wolf practically bristled, and Elian knew he had him.

Within seconds, Lucian grabbed his wrist — not hard, but firmly enough to make Elian’s pulse spike — and wordlessly started pulling him toward the side corridor.

"Where are we going?" Elian asked, though the smug curl of his lips betrayed that he already knew.

Lucian didn’t answer until they stepped out into the dimmer, quieter hallway that led to the private wing. "Somewhere no one will interrupt us this time."

Elian’s stomach flipped. Bingo.

Within moments, they reached a tall black door inlaid with silver — definitely Lucian’s room. He shoved it open and all but dragged Elian inside, slamming it shut behind them.

The space smelled like pine, musk, and the faint scent of liquor and cologne. Heavy curtains muted the outside world.

Before Elian could even take it in, Lucian had him backed against the wall, lips ghosting over his jawline, hands sliding down his sides. The press of Lucian’s hard body against him sent a shiver straight through his core.

Lucian’s hands gripped his hips, thumbs hooking just inside the waistband of his pants. "I could take you right now," he murmured against Elian’s ear, "and you wouldn’t be able to stop me."

Elian swallowed but then smirked. "You could... But I have something better in mind."

Lucian pulled back just enough to frown at him. "Better?"

Elian met his gaze head-on, his voice dipping low. "Suck my dick."

The Alpha Prince stilled. Then he gave a short, incredulous laugh. "I see. You’ve lost your damn mind."

[Ouch.]

"Scared?" Elian teased, cocking his head.

Lucian scoffed. "You think I’m going to get on my knees for you?"

Elian’s smirk widened. "I think you want to. You just need a reason... or maybe a little push."

Lucian’s eyes narrowed but then they dropped, flicking over Elian’s flushed face, the way his chest rose and fell, the faint tremor of need in his legs. And then a slow, wolfish smirk curved his lips.

"Beg for it."

Elian’s breath caught. He hated how easily the words hit him and how heat pooled low in his belly at the challenge in Lucian’s tone.

Still, he forced a roll of his eyes. "Oh, please—"

"Beg," Lucian cut him off, his voice commanding now.

The last of Elian’s retorts caught in his throat. The ache between his thighs was maddening, his cock straining against his pants.

He licked his lips and, with more need than he’d like to admit, whispered, "Please, Lucian... I want your mouth on me."

Lucian’s smirk deepened into something darker. "Better."

And then he dropped to his knees, parting Elian’s legs aside and pulling down his pants in one fluid movement, leaving cool air to hit his flushed skin.

Lucian’s gaze dipped, his voice coming out in a sinful rasp. "Let’s see if you taste as smug as you talk."