••{AZERIA'S POV}••
I stand still while my maids begin unfastening the clasps of my gown. My mind hasn't stopped spinning since the court meeting. I keep replaying my brother's words, the gasps across the hall, my mother's fury, the whispers rising like a storm. I've never seen our empire shaken this way. And all because of a human girl.
The door creaks open before the top clasp is undone. All three of us turn at once. My breath stops in my throat when I see who steps inside.
"Oh… Luceris." The name escapes before I can school my voice.
He smiles like he's been waiting for this moment all day. "Azeria."
I straighten my shoulders and nod toward the maids. "Leave us."
They bow and slip out, closing the door behind them, sealing the room in silence.
I move toward the stand where a half-full bottle of bloodwine waits, grateful for something to keep my hands busy. I pour two glasses, the liquid catching the firelight in a deep ruby glow. When I return to Luceris, I pass one to him.
"I thought you would have left Darkholme by now," I say, keeping my tone light even though my pulse kicks.
"Without seeing you?" He lifts the glass to his lips. "How could I?"
The way he says it unsettles me more than I want to admit. I take a sip to disguise the heat rising in my cheeks. His gaze tracks every movement and it sends a shiver through me.
"Actually," he says, "I'm not leaving until after Azrael's wedding."
My brows rise at that, but I don't say anything. Because I don't know how to feel about that.
I move toward one of the chairs near the fireplace. "So… what brings you to my chambers at this hour?"
He wanders over, casual as ever, and sits in the chair beside me. "I wanted to talk."
"About what?" I settle beside him, though part of me knows I shouldn't. Close is never safe with him. Close gives him room to pull me in without even touching me.
"Azrael," he says, swirling his wine, watching the liquid shimmer with the firelight. "And this… princess."
I knew this would come. Everyone is talking. How could they not?
Luceris continues, "His announcement already has the nobles in an uproar. And your mother was in his chambers a few hours ago. Saying she's furious would be an understatement. She looked like she wanted to tear the castle down."
"I sigh, staring into the bloodwine. "I knew she'd react that way. And honestly… I don't blame her. Why would Azrael risk angering our entire race for a mere human?"
"That's what everyone wants to know," he says. He takes another sip, then leans forward slightly. "I learned from Seraphine that Azrael abducted her and brought her here."
"Yes." I nod slowly. "She's in the castle."
He tilts his head. "Have you met her?"
"Twice," I answer. "But Azrael won't let anyone near her chambers. I practically had to beg to see her the second time."
I shake my head. "He's never been this protective of anyone."
Luceris chuckles softly. "Azeria, you of all people should know how your brother gets regarding what or who he considers his."
"No." I stare into my wine. "This is different. Completely different."
Before I can take another drink, Luceris reaches over. With a smooth, gentle motion, he slips the glass from my hand and sets it aside.
"Luke," I say, raising a brow. "What are you doing?"
He doesn't answer.
He sets both glasses aside. Then he rises and steps closer. I lean back instinctively as he places both hands on the armrests of my chair, trapping me between his arms. And just like that, my breath stutters.
He leans in, his lips brushing mine so faintly it sends a tremor through my entire body.
"Luceris…" I whisper, my lips grazing his. "We can't keep doing this."
He tries to kiss me. I turn my head away but he follows, persistent.
I can feel each breath he takes with his close he is.
"Azeria," he murmurs into my ear. "It's been so long since I've seen you. Every waking moment… I think about you. Everything reminds me of you. I've taken many lovers, men… women… and still, none of them could erase you."
My heart is beating so hard and fast in my chest that I'm sure he can hear it.
"Azeria. Look at me."
I refuse at first. I'm afraid of what will happen if I do, so I keep my face turned away until his fingers touch my chin.
He slowly turns my face toward his.
"Look me in the eye," he whispers, "And tell me you don't feel the same."
I slowly lift my gaze and the moment I look into those grey eyes, the world narrows until it's only him—his warmth, his scent, the hunger in his gaze.
"What will Azrael think if he ever finds out?" I whisper. "You're like a brother to him. His closest friend. Aren't you afraid of what this will do to the two of you?"
"I don't give a damn what Azrael thinks," his voice darkens. "I want you, Azeria. I'm in love with you."
"No…" my voice trembles and my heart skips a beat. "You can't be."
"But I am." His lips graze mine, barely a breath apart. "And you'd be lying if you said you don't want me here. Right now."
I open my mouth but nothing comes out. My body betrays me instantly.
Luceris kisses me softly at first. His lips warm and steady as they close over mine. I inhale sharply and my hands move before I can stop them, sliding into his hair, pulling him closer.
His mouth fits against mine perfectly. The pressure grows as our lips move together, slow at first, then deeper, hungrier. I feel his fangs brush against my lower lip and it makes me shiver.
He deepens the kiss, slipping his tongue into my mouth. As I taste the rich bloodwine on him, my mind screams at me to break the kiss, to push him away. But my body sings a different song as I press my thighs together in a useless attempt to calm the heat already blooming between them.
Luceris angles his head and kisses me harder. His fingers slide into my waist while his tongue moves against mine in slow, sensual strokes. I kiss him back just as hungrily, opening for him, needing more of the heat he's pouring into me.
When we finally break apart, our foreheads rest together. We breathe each other's air as we gaze into each other's eyes.
My heart is still racing. My lips feel swollen. My thoughts are a tangled mess.
And in that fragile space between our breaths, I know this isn't something I can walk away from anymore.
"Let's take this gown off you, shall we?" Luceris says, his voice a low growl.
I barely have time to nod before his hands fist in the fabric at my chest. A sharp rip tears through the quiet of my chambers. The silk gives way like nothing, and my breasts spill free into the cool air, my nipples hardening instantly. He doesn't stop, he just keeps pulling and tearing until the whole gown is in shreds at my feet. His grey eyes are black with want, eating me up.
Then his fingers hook into the waistband of my undergarments. Another quick, brutal tear, and I'm naked, sprawled in the velvet chair, completely exposed to him. He just stares for a heartbeat, his gaze a physical heat stroking over my skin.
He fumbles with his own clothes next, a frantic, clumsy mess of laces and buckles that's so unlike his usual controlled grace. It makes my heart beat harder. He gets impatient, ripping his clothes off. In seconds, he's naked too, and my eyes trail down the hard planes of his stomach, down to his cock. It's thick, hard, and erect.
He drops to his knees and pushes my legs apart, settling my feet on the armrests of the chair, opening me up completely. I'm on display, and the cool air hits my wetness. He leans in, his nose almost brushing my skin, and inhales. His warm breath ghosts over my cunt and I shiver.
"Azeria. You smell like you were made for me to eat."
He reaches over to the table and grabs one of the forgotten glasses of blood wine. He holds it over my stomach, his eyes locked on mine as he slowly tips it.
The dark, cool liquid splashes over my belly, dripping down my folds. I gasp at the shock of it. Then he lowers his mouth to me.
His tongue is hot as he laps the wine from my skin, following the trail straight to my opening. He doesn't tease. He digs his tongue right inside me and my back arches off the chair. A moan almost escapes my mouth but I bite my lip. The castle is too quiet. Someone might hear.
He pours more wine straight onto my bud this time, the sweet-sharp liquid mixing with my own arousal. He seals his mouth over me and devours me.
His tongue is relentless. It thrusts inside, it circles my entrance, it flicks and sucks at my bud until I'm seeing stars behind my eyelids. My hands fly down, my fingers finding that swollen, aching bud, rubbing frantic circles as he eats my cunt like it's his last meal. I can't hold back. The pleasure is a coil winding tighter and tighter, a burning pressure in my gut.
"Luceris… please…" I'm begging, I don't even know for what.
His answer is to thrust his tongue deeper, lapping up every drop of wine and me.
My entire body seizes up. A silent scream is stuck in my throat as my cunt clenches around nothing, waves of pure pleasure washing through me, shaking me apart. He doesn't stop. He keeps ravaging me with his tongue, drinking down my release until I'm a trembling, oversensitive mess, until the last pulse of my release is gone.
He drops the empty glass back on the table with a clink and climbs over me, grabbing my face and pressing his mouth to mine. His tongue plunges into my mouth. I can taste myself on him, sweet and musky, mixed with the metallic tang of the wine. It's the most depraved thing I've ever experienced, and I love it.
He pulls back, his breath ragged. In one smooth motion, his arms wrap around my waist and he turns me over. I catch myself on the arms of the chair and spread my legs wider for him.
He leans down, his hard chest pressing against my back, and his lips brush against my ear.
"I've missed this cunt," he whispers, his voice deep and rough. "I've missed how it feels to be buried inside you, to ravage you until you come all over my cock. Have you missed it?"
I can only nod, pressing my forehead against the chair.
"Say it. I want to hear you say it."
"Yes. I've missed it."
"Tell me you want my cock inside you."
"I want you inside me, Luceris. Please."
The blunt, hard head of his cock presses against my entrance. "Again."
"I want you inside me!" The words are a desperate gasp.
He pushes forward, burying himself in one long, smooth stroke that punches the air from my lungs. I cry out and his hand slaps over my mouth, muffling me. My fingers grip the armrests as he starts to move.
There's no gentle rhythm.
It's hard… fast… merciless. The sound of his hips slapping against my ass fills the room. Each thrust hits that spot deep inside that makes my vision blur. I moan and cry out into his hand, my body jerking with every punishing drive of his cock.
Just when I'm getting used to the brutal pace, he pulls out completely. My cunt clenches around emptiness, aching for him. He turns me around, sweeps me up into his arms like I weigh nothing, and carries me to my bed, dropping me onto the sheets. I don't hesitate spreading my legs for him, watching as he kneels between them.
He guides his cock back to my soaked opening and this time, he eases in slowly.
I feel every inch of him stretching me, filling me up until he's buried to the hilt. He leans down and kisses me. As his tongue explores my mouth, his hips roll as he slowly thrusts his cock in and out of my cunt.
I wrap my arms around his shoulders, my nails digging into his skin. I grind my hips against his, trying to get him deeper, but he won't give me more. This slow rhythm is going to kill me.
"Please," I beg against his lips. "Please, Luceris. Ravage me. Take me hard."
He obeys immediately. He pulls all the way out, the cool air hitting my wetness, and then slams back into me with one brutal thrust. I cry out and he swallows the sound with his kiss. He ravages me now, hard and fast, his rhythm breaking into something frantic, and wild. I can feel the tension coiling in his body, hear the ragged grunts in my ear.
"You're mine, Azeria," he grunts, his pace becoming erratic. "You're going to take my seed, you hear me?"
I nod, digging my nails deeper into his back as his thrusts become more powerful.
My cunt spasms around his pounding cock, a second release ripping through me just as his thrusts stutter. He lets out a deep groan and I feel the hot, sudden rush of his release flooding into me, pulse after pulse, as he empties himself deep inside my cunt.
He collapses on top of me. Our chests rise and fall together, our breaths the only sound in the room. His cock is still inside me, and I can feel his seed starting to leak out onto the sheets beneath us. He nuzzles into my neck and stays there
His breath is warm against my skin... steadying, almost tender. I stare up at the canopy, my body still trembling from what we just did, and a sharp ache twists in my chest. I hate how familiar this feeling is. I hate how much I want to pull him closer instead of pushing him away.
I shouldn't feel this way about him. I shouldn't crave him the way our kind craves blood.
It's wrong. It's reckless. It's dangerous. Every part of me knows that.
But when he touches me, when he looks at me like I'm the only thing in the world worth breaking rules for, something inside me gives in. Every single time.
Azrael would lose his mind if he knew. Our entire world would shift. Luceris is more than just our cousin to my brother. He's someone Azrael trusts without question. And I'm lying beneath him, filled with him, claimed by him in ways Azrael would never forgive.
I tell myself this needs to end. I tell myself I'll walk away after tonight. I've told myself that so many times that the words feel meaningless now.
Because the truth is simple and horrible.
I don't want him to let go.
I don't want to let go either.
And that makes this forbidden thing between us feel less like a choice and more like a curse I willingly keep stepping into. I feel it now, tightening around me, binding us together in a way that terrifies me more than anything else happening in the empire.
The princess Azrael brought into Darkholme… the uproar in court… the marriage he's forcing upon her… all of it should be what keeps me awake tonight.
But it isn't.
It's this.
It's Luceris.
It's the fear that one day Azrael will find out, and I have no idea what he'll do to me. To us.
And still, I don't move from beneath Luceris. I hold him tighter instead.