ã€ŠThe Vampire Prince&#x27;s Toxic Consort (BL)ã€‹


 Chapter 1 The Marriage

    Lucius was dreaming of a handsome, dark, devilish god with eight packs and ck eyes feeding him the most exquisite wine he had ever tasted with those luscious lips when the butler, Mr.Carter¡¯s stern voice dragged him out of paradise.

    ¡°Master Lucius, wake up.¡±

    No matter how grown up Lucius was, Mr. Carter¡¯s voice could always sober him up instantly. He propped his eyelids open, rubbed his face, and groaned from the onught of a hangover headache, ¡°huh? What?¡±

    ¡°His lordship wants to see you.¡± Mr. Carter stood straight and tall next to his disheveled bed, unfazed by the chaotic image of several of his half-naked, passed-out frat friends and escorts scattering on the lounge bed, couch, and floor.

    Lucius sat up groggily, blonde locks all tangled and messy, ¡°what time is it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ten in the morning.¡±

    ¡°Geeze Carter, so early!¡±

    ¡°They are waiting for you.¡± Carter waved his hand, and a maid quickly entered with newly washed clothes in her arm.

    Lucius dragged his heavy body out of the warmth of theforter, managed to finish brushing his teeth, washed his face and brushed his shoulder-length hair into a presentable state in ten minutes, and put on the attire Carter had chosen for him. He looked much more like a demur college boy in the white shirt and muted green sweater, a look that his parents preferred.

    Lucius looked into the mirror and rolled his eyes, ¡°why do you dress me to look like my brother?¡±

    Carter replied calmly, ¡°you brother no longer wears secr clothing, master Lucius.¡±

    ¡°I meant like my brother before he became the High Priest,¡± Lucius sighed, ¡°what¡¯s going on? Why do you want me to please my parents? What did I do this time?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not in the position to disclose.¡±

    ¡°Fine...I will find out soon anyway,¡± Lucius grunted as he left the room.

    Lord Rosenfield was standing next to the window, a cigarette between his fingers, while Lady Rosenfield was sitting on the couch, looking tense. Lucius spotted some small cakes, cookies and tea on the table, fetched one scone with jam, took a generous bite to appease his empty stomach, and slumped into the nearest armchair.

    ¡°You want to see me?¡± Lucius asked with a mouthful of scone.

    ¡°You are getting married,¡± said Lord Rosenfield curtly.

    Lucius blinked, ¡°what?¡±

    ¡°You are of age, and it is an honorable arrangement,¡± said Lady Rosenfield softly, ¡°it¡¯s your chance to serve your king, your country, your people, and defend our belief.¡±

    Lucius¡¯s chewing paused in rm, ¡°what does my marriage have to do with serving the country?¡±

    Lord Rosenfield turned around and strolled closer to his wife but kept his eyes locked on his son, ¡°You are betrothed to Prince Dorian Ashdown of Eternia.¡±

    Lucius choked on his scone and coughed for a few moments before blurting out, ¡°are you fucking kidding me?!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care how you speak with your friends, but this is not how we talk in this house.¡± Lord Rosenfield berated.

    Lucius couldn¡¯t stay calm. He stood up abruptly and almost knocked over the teacup, ¡°I can¡¯t swear, and yet you can sell me to some abusive blood-thirst devil psychopath?! What kind of father are you? Do you really hate me this much?!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s in their premises of the peace treaty. Dorian Ashdown specifically said your name, and if I don¡¯t agree to it, the war will never end! Do you want your people to suffer for another decade, or even worse, be enved by the vampires in five years?!¡±

    ¡°Why in seven heavens would that prince wants me as his consort?! I know vampires don¡¯t give a shit about sexual orientation like our people unfortunately do but still, why me?! I haven¡¯t even met him!¡±

    Both of his parents fell into an eerily protracting silence. Lucius immediately sensed something was fishy, ¡°what? What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Ere long, Lady Rosenfield finally answered, ¡°in fact...they want Julian.¡±

    ¡°Margret!¡±

    ¡°He will know sooner orter!¡± Retorted thedy, ¡°we have to tell him the truth. There is no other way!¡±

    Lucius gaped at his parents. Their words reverberated in his head and whelmed all his organs in icy water.

    It all made sense now.

    Julian, his perfect twin brother. They had exactly the same look: strawberry blonde wavy hair, baster skin, almond-shaped hazel eyes, and lean frames. The only difference was that Lucius was slightly taller.

    However, somehow, their personality diverged drastically during the process of growing up. Julian was exceptional in every aspect. Intelligent, responsible and had a kind heart of an angel. The dream son that even the king would hope to have. Meanwhile, Lucius grew to be a regr flippant andzy posh scion, drinking and footled about with his friends and barely keeping out of the prying eyes of the reporters. Lord Rosenfield would thank God every day as long as Lucius didn¡¯t be a scandal.

    The difference became more prominent and substantial when Julian received ¡°the calling¡±, and decided to be a priest when he was fifteen. And soon, he was known for having a divine gift of hearing God¡¯s voice and performing miracles and was promoted to High Priest when he was only 23 years old, the youngest High Priest in history. Many people even believed that he was the messenger of God, a true angel incarnated.

    In a country where eighty percent of people were believers, such a well-loved person would be seen as the hope against the looming darkness. A sign that God was standing with them against the devil¡¯s advocates-vampires. In a sense, Julian was more important than the King.

    Maybe that was why Dorian Ashdown made such an infuriating request. It¡¯s a sacrilege and humiliation of their belief. If they choose not to ept, Eternia would have a perfect excuse to continue the war.

    But epting it would mean that their symbols of purity and hope fell into the inferno of obscenity and depravity, and it would surely damage people¡¯s trust in their king and the government. Riot might ensue, and the war-decimated kingdom could not bear more turmoil.

    ¡°But he asked for Julian,¡± Lucius said in a hollowed voice, ¡°if he finds out that I¡¯m not, surely it would make him more furious.¡±

    Lord Rosenfield pressed out the cigarette in the ashtray and said, ¡°no. He will not. Because you are Julian.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Lucius! Are you mad?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    ¡°Not anymore.¡± Lord Rosenfield raised his eyes and regarded his son intensely, ¡°not since yesterday. We have changed your name to Julian on all legal documents and your brother¡¯s to Lucius. And today, our eptance of the uses has been sent to Eternia. We won¡¯t break any use by sending you.¡±

    A loud humming filled Lucius¡¯s head, and a terrible giddiness rushed toward him like a wild horse, knocking him to the seat. He couldn¡¯t breathe.

    ¡°Dorian Ashdown will kill me.¡±

    ¡°No, he will not. Even vampires havews, and murdering their consort will be punished severely. And he also promised not to force you to turn into one of them.¡±

    ¡°Is that supposed to make me feel better?¡± Luciusughed anguishedly while trying his best to contain the excruciating hurt welling up in his eyes, ¡°Julian agreed to this?¡±

    ¡°He did.¡±

    ¡°So it¡¯s all settled. You finally find a chance to get rid of me and only keep the son you want.¡°Lucius sneered coldly, eyes red, ¡°you don¡¯t care what they would do to me.¡±

    ¡°Lucius...¡± His mother tried to say something, but he no longer wanted to hear another word. He stood up abruptly and stormed out of the room, knowing his faith was already settled.

    He shouldn¡¯t be surprised. Of course they would choose the better son over the insignificant one. But it still hurt like hell.

    And worst of all, his father didn¡¯t even say ¡°sorry¡± as he pushed his own flesh and blood toward the depth of the abyss.

 Chapter 2 Choice

    Lucius woke up to a knocking sound on the door. He rubbed his eyes, feeling disoriented and nauseating from all the wine he had consumed the night before.?

    ¡°Lu, open the door!¡°Came a contralto female voice.

    Lucius knew the voice. It was his big sister, Amelda. She moved out of the manor after married Marquess Sheridon, and Lucius hadn¡¯t seen her for almost a year.

    Amelda was ten years older than him and Julian, and sometimes she was like a mother more than a sister to the twins. Growing up, she was the only one in the household that Lucius was willing to confide in because she cared about him. His parents probably called her here to talk some sense into him since the day for him to depart was getting closer, and they couldn¡¯t risk Lucius blowing their truce with Eternia.

    Lucius didn¡¯t answer. Did shee to persuade him into ¡°performing his duty and sacrifice for the country¡± as well? The thought gave him a bitter taste of betrayal in his mouth.

    ¡°Lu, I swear if you don¡¯t open the door I will kick it down!¡±

    Lucius groaned in annoyance and dragged himself out of bed and opened the door. Amelda was two steps away from the door about to give a roundhouse kick, and she gasped as she saw the state Lucius was in.

    ¡°My goodness! You look like shit!¡±

    Lucius rolled his eyes, ¡°good, then Ashdown can just dissolute the engagement and send me back.¡±

    Amelda¡¯s expression softened, and Lucius saw pity in her eyes. She passed him and entered the room. Lucius nced venomously at the two guards standing outside, sent here to prevent him from escaping, and shut the door forcefully.

    Amelda was in her mid-30s and yet still looking in her early twenties. She had the same strawberry blond hair color as their mother, porcin skin and blue eyes, and a covetous body entuated with a tight red blouse and ck leather pants. She settled on the couch, lighted her cigarette, and drew deeply, exhaling a long white mist, ¡°I didn¡¯t know about this untilst week.¡±

    ¡°So? Don¡¯t act as if you were going to be against it. It¡¯s too good a deal.¡°Lucius poured himself a cup of water and gulped it down, feeling slightly less miserable.

    Amelda gaped at him, ¡°it pains me that you think I would choose to sacrifice you over the so-called peace. This is not peace. This is surrender. And now we will have to pay tribute to those sadistic monsters, sending defenseless people to them as pets or blood bags and watching them enve humanity.¡±

    Lucius scoffed bitterly, ¡°it¡¯s all settled. Did you know our mother came to see me the other day, begging me to do my part perform my aristocratic duty and pretend to be Julian and be a pliant sweetheart so Ashdown would be pleased? She said it in a verypassionate way, as if she felt sorry for me, but still, she chose to send me so her precious Julian won¡¯t be defiled. And father...he got angrier as time passed, and one day he just yelled at me that I should be happy about the arrangement since I like cocks more than vaginas anyway, that I can finally go somewhere I belong to.¡±

    Amelda was quiet for a long moment, and then she said, ¡°it¡¯s not your fault, Lucius.¡±

    And that broke the young man¡¯s barely keeping veneer. Lucius buried his face into his hands, ¡°I kept wondering if I¡¯m more like my brother, would they still agree to this?¡±

    ¡°But you are not. And you shouldn¡¯t be. ¡±

    ¡°But you still agreed toe and talk me into it.¡±

    ¡°No. I agreed toe because I want to ensure you are not doing stupid stuff, like shutting yourself in and not eating, which is exactly what is happening.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t lock myself in. They locked me in so I can¡¯t escape.¡°Lucius spat, ¡°didn¡¯t you see all those guards at the door and around my windows? They are sent by the crown to ¡®protect me¡¯. They even took my phone,ptop, and tablet, so I can¡¯t contact someone for help.¡±

    Amelda pressed the cigarette into the ashtray, sat next to Lucius, and wrapped her arm around her little brother. Luciusid his head on her shoulder, taking a deep breath to take in the scent of her perfume to quell his nerve.

    ¡°You can run.¡± Amelda said quietly, ¡°and I will help you.¡±

    Lucius paused and sat straight, peering into her eyes to see if she was serious.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Amelda¡¯s gaze was steady and calm, ¡°I¡¯m serious. I know some people. They can get you a new name, identity, and documents and get you out of Anthor. You won¡¯t be able toe back after this, but you will be safe as long as you keep your heads low for a while, at least until everything is settled. I¡¯ve already made some inquiries on your behalf before Ie. You just need to tell me if you want to go.¡±

    Lucius blinked, ¡°for real?¡±

    Amelda nodded, ¡°if I make a phone call now, at 3:45 am, all the electricity of the manor will be cut off, and all rms will be disabled, all locks open. Someone will create a distraction to make it looks like theft, and you just open the window, and someone wille to pick you up. By tomorrow 8 am, you will be on a ne to Estos.¡±

    Lucius gaped at her incredulously, ¡°just what kind of people have you been mixing with?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say mom and dad will have a heart attack if they know.¡°Amelda grinned.

    Lucius felt like he didn¡¯t know his big sister at all. He had so many questions, but now was not the time to ask. He had a huge decision to make, and he didn¡¯t have enough time to contemte.

    ¡°What will happen after I leave?¡± Asked Lucius.

    Amelda shook her head, ¡°you don¡¯t need to worry about it. This is your life.¡±

    ¡°But I have to!¡± Lucius stood up and paced around the room, all kinds of thoughts swirling in his tempestuous head. He didn¡¯t think he¡¯d had choices, but now that he did, it all became even moreplicated, ¡°this is something all parties agreed to. It¡¯s an order from the Crown and the Churches. What will happen to mom and dad? Hell...what will happen to Julian?¡±

    ¡°You are only torturing yourself to think about these. They are beyond your control.¡°Amelda said morosely, ¡°if you want to avoid that fate they arranged for you, this is your only out. And you shouldn¡¯t look back. It may sound cruel, but in this crazy world, what is not?¡±

    Lucius was not a saint like Julian. He never wept for homeless people, never pitied those who suffered in famine on some distantnds, and never worried about the world¡¯s future. In his view, those were not his problems to solve, so why bothered? But his was different. This was about his families and many people¡¯s lives.

    If he was gone, then they couldn¡¯t fulfill thepact with Eternia unless they sent the real Julian. His father and mother would be severely punished, and Julian would probably have to go to Eternia as the price of continuing the war would be too big.

    But could Julian survive it?

    The vampires were the predators. They used to hide in the darkness of the night, but since their number rapidly grew and the first vampire king Edward Ashdown sat on the throne of Eternia and imed that it would be a vampire nation, they no longer needed to hide and grew much more powerful than any human nation. They were immortals who were stronger and richer, and some even had supernatural abilities, and they could quickly produce more scionspared to the traditional primal and slow human reproduction. They also had no morality or religious baggage and ventured into many scientific areas that humans failed to conquer, including DNA engineering and body alteration.

    Nowadays, the human beings living in Eternia were ves, pets and live stocks. They were murdered, eaten, raped, and tortured every day just for some vampire¡¯s amusement.

    And Julian...he was well sheltered all his life, and his soul was too soft and gentle. Besides, he was too pious and also probably not gay (Lucius wouldn¡¯t know for sure since Julian had never had any romantic rtionship before he entered the seminary, but the Churches condemned homosexual activities). Asking him to marry the very incarnation of evil and serving him sexually would be a fate worse than death. He couldn¡¯t survive Eternia.

    Lucius might be jealous of the affection Julian received from their parents and pretty much everyone else, but he still loved his twin brother, and he didn¡¯t want him to suffer.

    And Lucius? He might be frivolous, troublemaking, and drank too much, but he knew he was tougher. Besides, how many people would miss him if he was gone? He had no boyfriend, and no significant others. All his ¡°friends¡± would sell him in a blink of an eye.

    He could stop a war and save his brother from a terrible fate... it was a good deal. Could he really live with himself if he chose to flee, knowing he was sentencing Julian to a horrifying death?

    Lucius cursed loudly, knowing he didn¡¯t really have a choice. He copsed into the armchair, resigning, ¡°no. I¡¯ll stay.¡±

    Amelda didn¡¯t appear to be surprised, ¡°are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°You are a fool, you know that?¡°She sighed profoundly.

    ¡°Maybe...¡± Lucius gave her a wry smile, ¡°but at least now I feel like it is a choice I made...Thank you...I know the escape n is probably not real, and you are just tricking me since you know me so well. You knew I would have chosen to stay. But still, you make me see the whole picture better.¡±

    Watching the color gone on Amelda¡¯s face, Lucius knew he guessed it right. Amelda might be caring for him, but she would never risk sacrificing Julian.

    There was never any escaping n.

    ¡°Lucius I...¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ok, sister. ¡± Lucius closed his eyes, suddenly feeling even more exhausted than before, ¡°I will eat and learn the etiquettes and y my part. Is there anything else? I¡¯m really tired.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you when I said I didn¡¯t agree to this... It¡¯s just...we don¡¯t have a choice.¡°Amelda¡¯s sorrowful voice would have moved the hardest heart, but Lucius just couldn¡¯t process it anymore.

    Ere long, Lucius heard the sound of the door opening and then closing, he opened his eyes. He looked around, feeling a bit cold.

    He was all alone once more.

 Chapter 3 Arrival

    Lucius hated airnes. No matter how much statistics suggested it was the safest way of traveling, he just couldn¡¯t help but imagine the worst scenario, how scared the passengers must be when they knew it was going down and they would die in a few minutes, no time to process and to make peace. Before they boarded it, they were probably nning what to do during their vacation or what to eat as supper, having no inkling that they would never make the destination.?

    However, he was much calmer than usual this time. Probably because what was awaiting him on the other side of the journey was worse than his worst fear about nes.

    After two martinis, the head bodyguard escorting Lucius to Eternia forbade the stewardess to bring him more, so he had to suffer the whole trip and the following ordeals sober. Plus, the rigid Crimson Robe, a typical formal attire High Priests wear, was extremely cumbersome and ufortable. He wondered how Julian could wear suchplicated and restricting clothing every day.

    He tried to watch some movie or listen to music, but the chaotic thoughts roaring in his head prevented him from enjoying any of it.

    He wondered if there was any morsel of remorse in his parents¡¯ hearts. Would Amelda regret that she tried to trick him intopliance? Would the people of Anthor know that he was the otion of the so-called peace?

    And most of all, would Julian miss him? Would he weep for him? And why didn¡¯t he try to contact or talk to him since the farcemenced? Why didn¡¯t hee to say goodbye? Was it guilt or fear?

    Did he know about the premise of the treaty at all, or did they keep him in the dark? And if he knew, did he agree to this?

    Lucius thought he knew the answer, but he was no longer sure after being sold by his parents and his country.

    In three hours, theynded in Emberton. As the ne glided to a stop, Lucius looked outside the window and saw figures in ck suits waiting next to a long, ck limousine. They looked just like regr humans from afar.

    Lucius felt nauseated.

    The stewardess was practically shaking as she opened the cabin door. Lucius could smell the fear and uneasiness from underneath all his bodyguards¡¯ collected demeanor. Even the head bodyguard Dan, who allegedly killed three apostle vampires during his serving time, appeared unsettled.

    ¡°Are you ready?¡°Asked Dan.

    Luciusbed his shoulder-length hair a few times with his sweaty fingers and straightened his robe and sash as he stood up, trying to look as presentable as possible.

    From now on, he had to stop being Lucius and be Julian. But how long could hest? Was it possible to pretend someone he was not for the rest of his life?

    ¡°I wish you¡¯d let me have that one more drink,¡± he mumbled before standing up and walking toward the exit.

    Six vampire guards stood straight and silent on either side of the airstair, three men and three women. Probably all neophytes or above since they were not afraid of the sunlight. They were youthful, slim and elegant, with cooler-toned, immacte skin and rich, lustrous hair. The only thing that gave away their predatory nature was when their piercing gaze locked on you. The covetous lust for killing, blood, and cruelty slithered out from the eerie glistens of their unblinking eyes, making the ones under their gaze shudder instinctively.

    It was the first time Lucius came so close to vampires, and every hair plus the goosebumps on his body stood erect. His steps slowed down haltingly as the urge to run became harder to suppress. But Dan put a hand on his back, and the forceful pressure pushed him forward.

    A tall, ck-haired vampire woman walked up to them with a morous smile, revealing two long, sharp fangs, ¡°wee to Eternia, your holiness. I hope the flight was pleasant.¡±

    Everyone could hear the sarcasm as she spoke the term ¡°your holiness,¡± as in their mind, the famous ¡°the angel of God¡± would soon be their Crown Prince¡¯s whore, and it must feel satisfying to defile the whole country¡¯s belief.

    Little did they know all they were getting was a downgraded copy of the authentic one. Thought Lucius with dark, self-deprecating humor.

    She opened the limousine door for Lucius, but as Dan tried to follow, two vampire guards stopped him.

    ¡°The reception is finished. We will take his holiness to Vermilion Citadel from here.¡± The woman curtly said, gesturing to the ne, apparently did not n to provide any unnecessary hospitality to a man known for killing three of their precious apostle vampires.

    Dan looked at Lucius with concern because if they left now, Lucius would have to face whatever came next alone. It woulde sooner orter, but Lucius still felt panic rise once more to his throat. He managed to nod to Dan, permitting him to leave him here, as he knew there was nothing else they could do.

    As the car drove away, Lucius looked back and saw the guards were still standing there. They were likely thest person from Anthor he would see for a long, long time, making his eyes swell and painful as he tried to press down the wetness.

    The limousine soon dove into the heart of Eternia. It was the hour of sunset, the vampires¡¯ early morning. The intricate, archaic streets appeared quiet and forlorn, sealed into the resin of roseate twilight, beautiful and almost peaceful.

    The ancient capital was a concoction of antiquities and vanguards, a jarring between two extremes yet fitted perfectly. Heavy, stately columns and heavenly arches adorned each stunning building, yet colorful augmentative projecting ads, sleak automated cars, and cleaning bots were easily spotted everywhere. There was no sight of homeless people or even a piece of garbage. Everything was clean and fresh and unting luxury.

    And Vermilion Citadel was the heart of the evesting capital, a magnificent and ancient edifice erected at the center of Emberton and could be seen half city away. It was a gothic castle built with a kind of volcanic stone with a florid ruby hue, symbolizing the color of blood. As the limousine approached the gate, thest ray of twilight shone on the giant rose window, which glistened alluringly.

    Many vampires were staring at the limousine as they passed by. Probably all knew well of the key passenger. The car went past the tall ck front door of the main building and went all the way to one of the side entrances, and there were several vampires in fine ck morning suits lined up on both sides. Each wore a cold and rigid expression. One of the footmen opened the door for Lucius, and another prim man with salt and pepper hair stood in front of him.

    ¡°Wee to Eternia, your holiness. I am the Head Steward, Harold Sherriden.¡±

    Lucius quickly scanned around. All the vampire servants were expressionless, but their nostrils were ring, and some were gulping as if seeing a delicious dessert, and their re contemptuous. Lucius knew how perilous his situation was even though he was to be the Crown Prince¡¯s Consort. He was just a bag of blood to them, and any of them could have torn him apart in a blink of an eye.

    When one was surrounded by predators, the worst thing one could have done was to show fear. So Lucius mustered up all of his courage, straightened his back, slightly raised his chin, and extended his right hand that wore the High Priest¡¯s ruby ring, which was one of the rings that Julian wore every Tuesday, palm facing down and waited. A gesture was universallymending the other party to kiss his ring and show subordination.

    It was a bold move, and the steward paused for a second. But soon, he bowed his head, and bended down to kiss the ring.

    ¡°Pleasure to meet you. Mr.Sherriden.¡± Said Lucius, trying his best to maintain an even, authoritative tone.

    ¡°I am responsible for preparing you for the wedding tonight. Please follow me.¡±

    Lucius was guided through the imposing hallways and colonnades with several servants and guards trailing. Every person passing by was staring at him while chittering orughing without much dissimtion. Each pair of gazes was a pair of needles nipping at Lucius¡¯s back, and anxiety scratched the inside of his skin like thousands of crawling worms.

    asionally human ves appeared behind their vampire masters. All of them wore cors with a leash attached to the front. Some of them werepletely naked and crawled on the ground like dogs. Many of them were adorned with jewelry, and their body was maintained in great shapes like the models in the magazines, albeit scattered with wounds and bruises. And to Lucius¡¯s surprise, some of them looked at their masters in such an infatuated way as if they were madly in love with their tormenters, and even as their masters punished them, their moans were like pleasure more than pain.

    Lucius heard many horror stories about how vampires tortured their human ves for fun. One time, he visited Julian when thetter was helping in a refugee center for all the human ves escaped from Eternia, and he saw all those scared, deformed, and scrawny men and women, some of them dead than live. One of the girls barely had any skin left, as if she was eaten by a pack of wolves and left behind a skeleton with a thinyer of muscle and scarred tissue.

    Julian told him that some vampires not only liked to drink blood but also bit and tore flesh like ravenous wolves. And if some vampire masters tired of their ves, they would feed them to the most primal type of vampires, namely beasties, which were more like ferocious animals than a sentient being.

    He didn¡¯t know how far was he from being attacked and eaten.

    ¡°To ensure your safety, please refrain from walking these hallways alone. ¡± As if reading his mind, Sherriden said nonchntly, ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone would dare toy a hand on you, but just for precaution, please always bring a guard.¡±

    ¡°And what if my guard attacks me?¡±

    ¡°That is impossible. All guards in Vermilion Citadel are selected by Prince Dorian and are well trained, including controlling their urge to feed. They wouldn¡¯t touch you even if they starve, given that it is Prince Dorian¡¯s will that you are not to be harmed.¡±

    Which means if he displeased his future husband and lost his favor, Dorian could easily get rid of him and get one of his loyal guards to take the me.

    The next few hours went by fast. Lucius was brought into a luxurious room and was asked to take off all of his priest attires, as he was no longer the High Priest of Anthor. Luciusplied without much dispuse as it was not his clothing anyway. He wasn¡¯t allowed to bring anything of his own as he was supposed to be Julian.

    Then Lucius was guided to a huge bathroom with an ancient roman caldarium pool. The water was heated perfectly, and a human eunuch servant insisted on giving him a scalp massage as he was soaking in the water, and it felt so good that he almost felt rxed. After the bath, two other human women put rose scent oil on him and then dressed him in an exquisite embroidery dark red velvet tunic, matching dress pants, a ruffled diaphanous white silk shirt and a bow tie with a dainty ruby brooch. Several maids fussed over his hair to make it curled loosely elegant. He felt like he was being packed and adorned like a dessert.

    All the while, someone was reading Lucius¡¯ court etiquettes and the wedding procedures, and he had to memorize everything within two hours. By the end, Lucius already began to have a pretty bad migrant, for he hadn¡¯t studied so intensely since uni finals.

    ¡°You know, you could have sent these to me like a month earlier, so I have time to prepare!¡± Lucius was so frustrated and pissed that he forgot about his fear of vampires and bitched loudly at Sherriden. And thetter only smiled and reassured him that even if he forgot about something, someone nearby will remind him.

    The hour finally came, and Lucius soon found himself standing outside a heavily ornate door, waiting to enter the grand throne room as the Crown Prince Consort. He was lightheaded, couldn¡¯t grasp the weight of reality, feeling as if he was in a dream. A very bad, very long dream.

    And then, the imperial organ music grew louder, and the door slowly opened.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

 Chapter 4 The Wedding

    The wedding began at midnight, and Emberton was bathed in sshy neo lights, huge and vivid AR projections of live streaming of the wedding, and a din of thousands of people gathering in front of the vast space before Vermilion Citadel, trying to take a peak of the royal wedding.?

    Elder vampires arrived at the pce one after another in luxury cars to attend the wedding and the banquet. Beautiful people dressed in panoplies were posing on the red carpet for the shing cameras. Some even brought their half-naked human ves to taunt the new war-spoil consort that their prince would im tonight.

    It was probably the greatest celebration of the year so far, and yet, the protagonist of the charade didn¡¯t see any of these. He stood forlorn in front of the giant door while two guards stood next to him.

    Sherriden appeared from a side door and came to Lucius¡¯s side, ¡°most of the guests have arrived. The ceremony will start soon. Do you need to drink some water? You look a little pale.¡±

    ¡°Not as pale as you, I should hope.¡± Jibed the human.

    Sherriden smiled, ¡°it¡¯s very understandable if you are nervous. Do not worry. Prince Dorian is one of the most good-looking men in this country.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I do not worry about that. You vampires are all rather good-looking.¡± Lucius swallowed and tried to quash his frantic heart, ¡°I only hope that he is not cruel.¡±

    ¡°Cruelty is a rtive term. He will treat you well if you try your best to please him.¡± Sherriden¡¯s quiet reassurance didn¡¯t do much to assuage Lucius¡¯s nerves. But it would have to do as the organ music began to y.

    What¡¯s with the obsession with organs... almost all vampire music had that instrument. Thought Lucius absentmindedly.

    And then the door was opened, and resplendent light poured out like a toppling tide. In front of him was a long passage of ck carpet covered in red rose petals. Thousands of candles irradiated the vast throne room, and on each side, countless vampire nobles gathered, and they all turned toward him, hearing the door was opened. Stretching their neck, trying to see the holiest man of their strongest foe falling from grace.

    Lucius kept his eyes straight and tried not to notice those prickling gazes and malicious chatters. He was not used to all this attention. And though he had wished to be seen more by people around him when he was younger, presently, he only wanted to disappear in thin air.

    And at the end of the long walk was the throne sitting on several stairs, and King Cosmos of Eternia sat solemnly. It was said he was one of the oldest vampires, the son of the first Vampire, King Edward Ashdown, yet he still looked handsome and strong in his thirties.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    And at the bottom of the stairs stood a man. His Persian blood gave him rich raven hair, deep-set, alluring ck eyes, and lustrous sun-kissed skin. He was dressed in full ck with gold embroiders hemming the edges of his waistcoat. And his posture was straight and dignified. Though merely standing, there was an ineffable aura of danger, depravity, majesty, and a covert form of seduction about him that drew everyone in like a ck hole sucking in light.

    And that was the Crown Prince of Eternia, Dorian Ashdown.

    His name was not unfamiliar to all people in Anthor, as he was themander of all eternal armies in the recent war. People in Anthor hated and feared him, seeing him as the incarnation of the devil. There were many rumors about him. Some said he liked to eat human children. Some said he did experiments on all the captives and had a sacred room full of twisted human bodies. And some said he enjoyed hearing men¡¯s screams while he ate dinner. But as Luciusid eyes on him, he couldn¡¯t help but forget all the horrible stories about him for a short while and was astonished by his devilish beauty.

    And Dorian was also gazing at him, a smile hinged on the lip corners. Lucius couldn¡¯t tell if the smile was genuine or not.

    He walked up to his side, trying hard not to avert his gaze as Dorian kept peering at him. Lucius had that dreaming feeling once again.

    It was his wedding, possibly the most important asion in his life, yet he felt like a stranger.

    The vampire wedding was simr to human weddings, except for certain strange traditions. They had to bite on their own wrist and pour their blood into two small crystal vials, seal them, and exchange them with each other. And then, they had to stand in a circle with runic symbols carved into the ground and vow to be faithful and loyal to each other. Lucius was pleased that he said his vow unerringly, given that he had only memorized it two hours ago.

    As the King pronounced them husbands and husbands, the throne room was inundated by cheers and music. The King appeared to be offish and disinterested, though he still gave Dorian a nod, ¡°may this marriage bring us peace and prosperous as you hoped.¡±

    Lucius could hear the satire between those words. So the King did not agree to this marriage?

    Dorian bowed reverently toward his father king, ¡°when have I ever let you down? Father.¡±

    The king grunted as he nced at Lucius. It was a strange look, and Lucius almost imagined he saw pity in those red-tinted brown irises as someone looked at a cattle that was going to be sent to the ughterhouse.

    And then Lucius looked back at Dorian, and for a moment, the smile on the prince¡¯s lips slipped, and a brief coldness fleeted across his sculptural countenance.

    Throughout the wedding and the banquet, Lucius hadn¡¯t a chance to speak a word to his husband, for everything went by fast and chaotic and noisy. Vampire¡¯s feast was every inch true to their reputation. Every ambrosial was bathed in blood, and naked entertainers presented extremely suggestive performances while the nobles drank andughed and even touched and kissed and undressed their ves and lovers in public shamelessly. Even Lucius, who was not a stranger to parties and debauchery, felt awkward and uneasy.

    He didn¡¯t dare to touch any food or drink, thinking it was all made with human blood. And soon hunger was roaring in his belly. He could only hope that the loud music concealed the rumbling sound.

    ¡°You can eat some fruits. They are clean, no blood.¡±

    Lucius jolted and turned his head. A very handsome man was standing next to him, handing him a te of assorted fruits. The man¡¯s appearance resembled some simrity to Dorian, except with longer hair and softer features. Lucius recalled information that an agent imparted to him before his departure and surmised this was Dorian¡¯s younger half-brother, son of Cosmos¡¯s favorite concubine Lady Devina, Prince Silvan.

    ording to the agent, Dorian and Silvan had a rather strained rtionship, for Dorian and his mother were exiled to Levanin because of Lady Devina¡¯s false usation that the former queen had poisoned her daughter. And though Dorianter managed to clean his mother¡¯s name, the vampire queen had passed away when Anthor took hold of Levanin several years ago. After returning from exile and being re-introduced to the court, Dorian was unexpectedly civil and amiable to Lady Devina, yet there was always an undertone ofpetition between Dorian and Silvan, as they were both considered potential heirs to the throne.

    Dorian¡¯s position was not as solid as it appeared. He was appointed as Crown Prince only because of the king¡¯s guilt toward his ex-queen. Some said the living lover could notpete with a dead one, as memories were always the sweetest. But since King Cosmos didn¡¯t punish Devina at all for her treachery against the queen, how long would it take for her to whisper some poisonous honey into his ear and turn him against his first son?

    All the information quickly shed across Lucius¡¯s mind, and he smiled politely toward Silvan, epting the te, ¡°you are very thoughtful, Prince Silvan.¡±

    ¡°You recognize me.¡± Said the prince surprisingly.

    ¡°You and your brother often make the news of my country. And someone like you two is hard to forget.¡±

    Silvan raised one side of his brow and chuckled, ¡°be careful your holiness. If not knowing you were a High Priest, I¡¯d thought you were flirting with me.¡±

    Lucius secretly chided himself for forgetting he was supposed to be his pious and bashful brother and not his frivolous self. He maintained his cool and replied, ¡°I¡¯m only stating the fact. How to interpret it is on you, your highness.¡±

    Silvan tilted his head and studied him with great interest, ¡°I thought priests are pretty dull and boring. You seem different, though.¡±

    ¡°How many priests have you seen, given they lived long enough for you to know them?¡±

    Silvanughed amusingly, and then his eyes flickered to somewhere on the other side of the room, noticing Dorian was ncing in their direction, observing their interaction tacitly.

    The younger prince¡¯s smile went a bit wider. He picked up a strawberry, dipped in the dark chocte sauce, and put it next to Lucius¡¯s lips, ¡°try these. There is no blood in them; they are very sweet and delicious. I hate seeing the new groom starving in his wedding banquet.¡±

    Lucius tried to take the strawberry with his hand, but Silvan retracted a little and moved it closer to his mouth.

    Lucius frowned. Such behavior was rather intimate, but then...maybe it was a norm in the vampire world? Compared to the orgy happening in one corner of the room, feeding a strawberry to someone else was only too vani. He hesitatedly opened his mouth, and took a bite.

    Just then, someone cleared his throat behind him. Lucius turned and saw Dorian was there, ring at him darkly. He was way taller when he stood closer, and Lucius felt like he was being pressed down into the floor by his shadow.

    ¡°Dear brother, yourpanion is looking for you. Leaving ady alone in a banquet is not very courteous.¡± Dorian said in a deep, maic voice.

    Silvan smirked, ¡°I should say the same to you, brother. You shouldn¡¯t have left your very lovely consort here all by himself. Beware all the staring eyes. What if someone whisks him away?¡±

    ¡°I appreciate your concern for MY consort. I will indeed always keep an eye on him.¡± Dorian then moved his attention back to a nervous Lucius. The Crown Prince squinted his eyes, then put a big hand on his chin, tilted his face up, and leaned in. Before Lucius could understand what was happening, something soft, wet, and demanding swept against his lip corner.

    Dorian let go of his chin while tasting something in his mouth, ¡°you had some chocte there.¡± He whispered huskily and seductively, ¡°I cannot wait to taste you more thoroughly when we return to our room.¡±

    Lucius goggled at him, stunned. Words had failed toe to his lips. Then hotness spread under his cheek instantly.

    And then Dorian straightened his back and announced, ¡°my consort and I will retire for the night. Please continue to enjoy the food and the wine without us. The night is still young.¡±

    And in the rumbling,ughing and cheering, Lucius¡¯s mind waspletely ck as Dorian took his wrist and pulled him out of the ballroom.

 Chapter 5 The Wedding Night

    Lucius stood in Dorian¡¯s bedroom like a lostmb as the doors closed behind him. The mming sound jolted him a little. The room was spacious but dimly lit, and a light musk scent fermented the air. A giant four-pole bed already made by the servants.

    Lucius turned around and was startled by the closeness of the vampire prince. In the obscure light, something ominous and dark was expanding on his shadowy countenance, making Lucius¡¯s stomach twist in disquiet.

    ¡°Your highness, I.....¡± Before he could finish, a powerful hand clutched his shirt and threw him onto the bed like a ragged doll. Lucius yelped in surprise and fear, and before he could prop himself up, a heavy body loomed over him and pinned him down like an unmovable mountain.

    Dorian gazed down upon him like a beast about to take his first bite, and the coldness in his dark irises made Lucius shudder.

    ¡°No need to continue your charade. I know you are not him,¡± said the prince in a contemptuous snarl.

    Just like that, all the courage that Lucius tried to muster up for the past month sundered to pieces. They didn¡¯t even have a chance to talk! Howe he knew already?

    Lucius didn¡¯t expect to fail his mission so quickly, and for a moment, his mind was nk except for one word: shit.

    ¡°You are his twin brother, aren¡¯t you?¡± Dorian¡¯s finger trailed along his eyebrow and cheekbone, ¡°even though you look just like him, your smell is different, and I can tell it the moment you walked toward me in the ceremony. Do your cunning prime minister and that fatuous king really think such trickery can fool me?¡±

    The smell! But how did Dorian know Julian¡¯s smell? Did they meet before? Then why no one told him so?! Lucius¡¯s thoughts churned rapidly as he replied in panic, ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯m Julian Rosenfield!¡±

    ¡°Stop lying!¡± Dorian pounded the bed furiously right next to Lucius¡¯s face, and Lucius squeezed his eyes shut as he trembled. Would he die on his wedding night?

    ¡°I¡¯m not lying! My name is Julian Rosenfield.¡±

    Technically he was telling the truth since his parents had changed his official name before Anthor epted the treaty conditions.

    Dorian¡¯s nostrils red in anger, his fangs protracted longer, and his body seemed to growrger and stronger with all the muscles bulging, heavily pressing Lucius into the bed, ¡°Why are you still trying to cover for them? They send you here to be my whore so they can protect the High Priest, don¡¯t you know? Or do you prefer the role since you are already used to being a whore, based on your reputation?¡±

    Lucius couldn¡¯t breathe from the weight on him, yet listening to the words fall from the prince¡¯s mouth hurt even worse. He struggled to retort, ¡°if you are so sure, why didn¡¯t you expose me and break the treaty in the ceremony?¡±

    Dorian bared his teeth as he answered in spite, ¡°because I don¡¯t want to be humiliated in front of everyone in the court and be a joke for the next decade. ¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯d rather marry a ¡®whore¡¯ rather than the holy and pure High Priest you want so much just to save your face?¡± Jibed Lucius. Probably not a good idea, but he couldn¡¯t help it.

    And the way Dorian glowered at him made Lucius think the vampire would rip his throat out in the next second. But the weight on him suddenly lifted. Dorian stood straight and regarded him with such repugnance that made Lucius feel worthless.

    ¡°Get off my bed. Tonight you will sleep on the couch.¡±

    Lucius blinked in confusion and hesitated for a second. But Dorian didn¡¯t have much patience for him, ¡°go on, get off. I¡¯m not interested in fucking an imposter.¡±

    Lucius¡¯s face reddened in mortification. It was ironic since Lucius had been dreadful about consummating the marriage, but now that the prince didn¡¯t even want to touch him as if he was something dirty, he felt so much worse. He bit back the retorts, knowing it won¡¯t be wise to infuriate Dorian more. But why did the vampire have to be such an asshole?!

    It was not like he wanted this!

    Lucius scrambled out of bed and went to the couch. He figured that Dorian still wanted other people to believe that they had spent the night together, which meant the prince was hesitant to break the treaty for some reason.

    He sat on the couch, noticing Dorian was taking off his clothes and preparing for sleep. And though he hated this man for belittling him throughout the whole night, he couldn¡¯t deny how attractive Dorian was. Those beautiful curves of the eight-pack muscles on his abs, the streamlined mermaid lines, the soft light trickling across his velvety sun-kissed skin. If there were an incarnation of Lucius¡¯s wettest dream, this would be it.

    Dorian felt his gaze and leered at him annoyingly, ¡°what?!¡±

    Lucius blushed as he was caught staring. He cleared his throat, ¡°do you have an extra nket?¡±

    Dorian rolled his eyes, peeled off the nket on top of theforter, and threw it over Lucius¡¯s head. Lucius murmured a thank you, took off his tunic and slid under the nket.

    However, Lucius couldn¡¯t fall asleep. It was eight in the morning, and he was not used to vampires¡¯ schedule. Even though the heavy drapes shielded the sunlight and he was exhausted, his body still told him it was time to rise and shine. Besides, how could he find a trance of sleepiness when the other person in the room was a vampire that might go into a blood frenzy and suck him dry, and he could do nothing to stop it?

    He tried to get up quietly and find something to do, maybe find a book or a tablet so he could watch a movie, but as he was sitting up, Dorian¡¯s grumpy voice came from the bed, ¡°what are you doing?¡±

    Lucius cursed silently, ¡°I can¡¯t sleep.¡±

    ¡°Try count sheep.¡±

    ¡°Can I just read a book by the window? I will be quiet.¡±

    ¡°No. Lie down.¡±

    Pissed at Dorian¡¯s domineering tone, Lucius didn¡¯t obey but tried to stand up, but then Dorian¡¯s voice got darker, ¡°lie down, or I will bite you. Our venom has a certain soporific effect.¡±

    Lucius froze, ¡°you can¡¯t do that! It was in the treaty!¡±

    ¡°And yet they send me a fake Julian,¡± Dorian propped his body up to look at Lucius, ¡°I only promised not to turn you against your will. Merely biting you won¡¯t turn you into a vampire.¡±

    Lucius pouted for a short while and decided not to take the risk. Hey back on the couch and stared into the heavily ornate ceiling. He wasn¡¯t sure if Dorian was asleep or not. He couldn¡¯t even hear his breath.

    What would Dorian do to him in the morning? Would he keep the front or tear him apart? Thetter was rtively unlikely as he wouldn¡¯t have been alive now should Dorian want to break the treaty. But why wouldn¡¯t Dorian wish to break the treaty?

    Eventually, Lucius fell asleep at some point during the day and was awakened by a strange noise.

    Someone was moaning.

    Lucius sat up and looked at the bed, and his eyes widened. Dorian crawled on the bed, and theforter was draping from his waist. A beautiful tattoo of a gloomy mountainousndscape covered almost his back. The muscles underneath the tattoo moved and undted, and a thinyer of rosy red seeped out from the dark skin. And his wavy hair fell from his forehead, covering his eyes and his blushing face. Albeit the essential part was shielded by the cover, it wasn¡¯t hard to make out what he was doing.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Dorian was pleasuring himself.

    Lucius blinked in astonishment, but he didn¡¯t look away. The scenery was too beautiful to look away from. If Dorian didn¡¯t mind performing such an astounding act in front of him, he would not let it go to waste, no matter how much of an asshole the prince was.

    And as he observed shamelessly, an amorous heat was also growing inside his body. And as Dorian¡¯s moan grew loader and eventually culminated into a deep growl, Lucius shivered, almost wishing himself was the one that made him growl like that.

    But that was a stupid thought. Especially when he heard the vampire mutter a name.

    It was faint and damped, but Lucius found the name eerily simr to ¡°Julian.¡±

    He must know Julian, thought Lucius. But when? And under what asion? As far as Lucius knew, Julian had been sheltered well and had never been exposed to dangerous situations like nearing a murderous vampire.

    Dorian panted for a few moments and then threw the cover back, revealing his fully naked, sculptural body. He stretched himself a little, pulled on a pair of shorts and then turned his eyes to Lucius nonchntly.

    ¡°That was quite a show,¡± Luciusmented tantly.

    ¡°And you obviously enjoyed it,¡± Dorian leered at him as he buttoned up a shirt, e here.¡±

    Lucius didn¡¯t move.

    ¡°Must I repeat every single one of mymands? I thought you at least wouldn¡¯t be dumb since you are Julian¡¯s twin.¡±

    ¡°And how did you know Julian?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern. Now,e here.¡± The tone of the prince got more serious and dangerous, and Lucius knew he betterply. He stood up from the couch and took a few steps.

    ¡°Closer. I won¡¯t bite.¡±

    Lucius inched closer cautiously. The smell of semen grew stronger, and he could see the stained bedsheet. He looked away.

    ¡°Oh, we are shy now, aren¡¯t we,¡± Dorian scoffed, ¡°no need to pretend you are Julian if it¡¯s just us.¡±

    It was not like he was faking the embarrassment! Lucius red at him, ¡°what do you want?¡±

    Dorian took a small knife from the nearby fruit tray and tossed it on the bed next to the stain, ¡°cut yourself.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    Dorian sighed as if talking to a stupid child, ¡°if you don¡¯t want to restart the war, the servants who will be cleaning this room shortly have to be convinced that we consummated the marriage. And since Julian is a virgin, it is only logical to assume that he may hurt a little during our passionate lovemaking.¡±

    Lucius rolled his eyes, ¡°and how do you know he is a virgin?¡±

    ¡°He is one of the five high priests of your country, isn¡¯t he? They can¡¯t be high priests if they are not virgins.¡±

    ¡°Ok, even if so, he doesn¡¯t have to bleed if you are a skillful and careful lover.¡± Lucius crossed his arms.

    ¡°Well, the alternative is that you do the same as I did. Vampires have a keen sense of smell. They can tell if it was only my scent on this bed.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to masturbate in front of you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to,¡± Dorian nced at the knife, ¡°Blood has the strongest smell of you and will distract them.¡±

    ¡°Or, you can just leave the room, and I will do what you did, ¡°Lucius said sternly, ¡°cutting is painful, and I hate pain.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t leave. We have to leave this room together, and I have to take you to the dining room to meet the royal family on the first wedding night.¡±

    ¡°Then go to the washroom!¡±

    Dorian clicked his tongue and gave in, ¡°fine.¡± He walked toward the washroom door while saying, ¡°I thought you¡¯d prefer to drop a little blood.¡±

    ¡°And why do you think of that? Why do I have to harm myself when all I need to do is have some fun with myself, which I was already doing pretty much every morning,¡± Lucius answered venomously, ¡°or did you mistake me for my brother?¡±

    Dorian answered by mming the washroom door shut.

 Chapter 6 Meat

    Lucius had never witnessed a murder before, even though Anthor and Eternia had been at war for years and had heard various versions of horror stories of how vampires butchered humans in horrendous ways, he never really saw it with his own eyes.

    Andst night though the vampires acted in various licentious and depraved ways, none of them killed any human ves. Even when they drink, they will stop before their victims lose too much blood.

    Therefore he was not prepared to handle the ughter that happened over breakfast.

    It all went well at first. The King was not present. Lady Devina and her two daughters were nice and courteous toward him. Silvan had been exceptionally charming and smiled at him in a way that would have made any experience social butterfly blush, which annoyed Dorian to no end.

    The cook prepared all the food in human-food form. Biscuits and pancakes, smoothies and coffee...all made with the blood but less bloody, severing the association of the ingredient from its procuring method so the new human consort wouldn¡¯t be startled. On top of that, they also prepared blood-free human food specifically for him.

    Everything fell apart, though, when Lady Devina¡¯s third child, Prince Archie, barged into the dining room like a hurricane and sat next to one of the princesses.

    ¡°Where have you been!¡± Lady Devina eximed, ¡°your father asked where you werest night, and I didn¡¯t know what to tell him!¡±

    ¡°I was busy,¡± said the youngest prince curtly. He was rtively unkemptpared to other princes and princesses and had a ruggedly handsome face and an impressively strong body, probably even taller than Dorian.

    ¡°Too busy for a royal wedding?¡± Dorian said calmly and coldly as he seeped blood from a wine ss.

    Archie nced at him and then moved his attention to Lucius. And his gaze had such raw, primal maliciousness and avarice that waspletely different from the other princes and princesses. It was the gaze a wolf had while staring at a rabbit. Lucius genuinely thought he would lunge across the table and devour him alive, making his heart pound in rm.

    ¡°The royal wedding of our Crown Prince and a piece of food. How romantic,¡±Archie jibed.

    ¡°Archie! Manage your tongue!¡± Lady Devina warned.

    Lucius frowned and leered at Dorian. Thetter didn¡¯t show much emotion, but the temperature around him suddenly dropped several degrees.

    So it seemed not everyone was on board with such an unusual marriage, and there was definitely some tension between Dorian and Lady Devina¡¯s house.

    Archie didn¡¯t continue the squabble. He looked at the food on the table and scrunched his nose in disgust, ¡°what is this garbage? I want some real food!¡±

    The older princess Loretta berated, ¡°For the love¡¯s sake, Archie, stop making a fuss!¡±

    ¡°Just because we have a human sitting at the table, we all have to go vegetarian?¡°Archie retorted, turning to the footman, ¡°Tell them to bring fresh meat.¡±

    Lucius tensed up. He heard about the term ¡°fresh meat,¡± which meant a human bred for ¡°harvesting¡± purposes, just like how humans breed pigs to eat. And when vampires drink fresh meat, they rarely stop until the meat is dead.

    Devina nced at Dorian but didn¡¯t stop her son, and Dorian maintained his straight face and also didn¡¯t say anything.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Lucius goggled at the crown prince. Archie¡¯s adamant about having fresh meat was an obvious act of taunting. An insult to the new Crown Prince Consort and, therefore, an insult to Dorian himself. How could someone as proud as Dorian just take it?

    Soon a guard dragged a young man into the dining room. He barely passed twenty, trembling in terror like a trapped dear. And as he saw Archie, he began to whimper and cry piteously and muttered something under his shaky breath.

    Archie yanked the chain connecting to the meat¡¯s cor and let the young man fall helplessly into hisp. He then pulled the young man¡¯s hair and mmed him onto the table. The meat yelped in pain and fear and cried even louder.

    Archie grinned satisfactorily, and as he leaned closer to the young man, his gaze fixated on Lucius.

    ¡°Hmm, this one is an educated meat, probably a capture rather than a house breed. He is praying to your God,¡± The prince said sarcastically as he forced the young man to look in Lucius¡¯s direction, ¡°look, your High Priest is right there. Don¡¯t you want him to give you the Last Rite?¡±

    The young man widened his eyes as he recognized Lucius, probably mistaking him for Julian. And his eyes were brimmed with pleading and hope as if thinking Lucius could spare him from this fate.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Dorian finally opened his mouth, and every light and candle in the dining room dimmed simultaneously, ¡°you can have your meat in silence!¡±

    ¡°And why is that? Don¡¯t you want to give him some peace before he meets your lord, High Priest?¡±

    As Dorian slowly stood up, the tension in the air was tautened as a sting about to break. The situation was going to escte before Lucius suddenly said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s ok. Everyone has the right to their Last Rite.¡±

    Dorian leered at him with mild surprise.

    Before Lucius¡¯s departure, several Arch Priests were sent to Rosenfield manor to teach him how to be a high priest, which included cramping four years of seminary curriculum into one week and intensely watching all footage of how Julian presided over various rituals and performing public services, imitating how he pronounced each word and practicing day and night until not even his parents could tell the differences. Lucius had never studied so hard in his life, and ironically the Arch Priests were impressed by how fast Lucius was able to pick up things, which was some kind of praise he was never able to obtain from their previous private tutors.

    It turned out he was very good at pretending to be his brother. Sadly no one knew that Dorian had met Julian before and could identify his scent from miles away.

    Lucius stood up, and his countenance was settled in an ineffable peaceful tenderness that would calm the most troubled souls. In an instant, he changed into another unearthly radiant being as he came around the table and walked up to Archie and themb about to be ughtered, calm and determined as if nothing evil or dark in this world could touch him.

    He stood in front of the poor man and gently touched his cheek with his left hand, ¡°what is your name, my child?¡±

    ¡°Harvey Caldwell. I¡¯m an Anthorian.¡±

    Lucius nodded and used his right thumb to draw the Eye of God on the young man¡¯s forehead, ¡°may the Omniscient Lord of Love and Mercy guide you with the Light of Northern Star, wash off all your sins, pain and suffering, and receive your soul in his Land of Eternity.¡±

    And then, following the standard prayer, he kneeled in front of the man, gently wiped away his tears, and said quietly, ¡°I am sorry that I cannot save you, but fear not, for the Lord will take care of you, and soon you will be weed by all the loved ones you¡¯ve lost in his paradise. There will be no more fear, and in no time, you will be drinking ambrosia andughing with your kin and angels and reminiscent of all the good old times. Eventually, we will meet again in his lordship¡¯s garden, and everything will be alright. Do you believe me?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Your Holiness! Please pray for me!¡±

    Lucius cupped the young man¡¯s head between his palms and said firmly, ¡°look at me and believe in what I said.¡±

    The young man clutched his hands desperately. Just as Lucius began to pray for him in Latin, a gush of warm blood abruptly sshed all over him. He was caught in surprise and tasted the metallic sweetness in his mouth, and some blood even got into his eyes.

    Archie¡¯s face transformed in a blink of an eye, and his fangs-filled mouth opened abnormally wide as he took a huge chunk of flesh off the poor man¡¯s neck, exposing the gaping tubes, torn muscles and tendons. The man¡¯s head almost fell off with only a bit of skin and flesh connected, and blood spewed like a fountain.

    The young man¡¯s body went into a violent spasm, albeit life had already left him, yet it was still confined in the vampire¡¯s powerful grasp. And Archie just drank like a ravenous beast, sucking and gulping and tearing the main blood vessel open wider with his teeth.

    Lucius¡¯s mind was nk, petrified witnessing such aghast brutality. Archie paused for a moment and let out a satisfying sigh, and grinned at Lucius, ¡°sorry, it was a bit too...prolix.¡±

    Lucius didn¡¯t know what to do or what to say. It was too much. He was still holding the man¡¯s hand, but now it was only meat and bones.

    It could have been him. He was no different from this young man in these monsters¡¯ eyes.

    But then someone took his hand, and he heard a deep voice reverberating in his head.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look.¡±

    Dorian was by his side, and then he was somewhere else. He didn¡¯t remember what happened in between. Presently he was in a warm and cozy room, sitting on a sofa, and Dorian was handing him a clean towel.

    Lucius blinked, ¡°where are we?¡±

    Dorian sighed and sat next to him, using the warm and damp towel to wipe the blood off his face, and his touch was surprisingly gentle, ¡°we are in a drawing room. You were in a shock, so I took you here to clean up.¡±

    Lucius then began to notice that he was shaking. He tried to stop it but couldn¡¯t, as the body was reacting to a much more primal sensibility.

    ¡°Were you also a priest at some point?¡± Dorian asked as he tried to pick some blood clogs out of Lucius¡¯s hair.

    Lucius scoffed, ¡°of course not.¡±

    ¡°You were just like him when you gave the Last Rite,¡± Dorian remarked. Lucius wasn¡¯t sure if it was in his mind, but Dorian¡¯s countenance was much softer than before as if he was looking at someone else through him.

    Bitterness expanded in Lucius¡¯s heart. Dorian was only nice to him because he was a good imitator of his brother. But then, again, what else was he expecting? Being his brother was his full-time job now, wasn¡¯t it?

    ¡°Do you really think they will send someone who couldn¡¯t even recite the Scripture?¡± He answered wryly.

    ¡°Do you believe in your God?¡±

    ¡°Nope,¡± Lucius answered without hesitation.

    Dorian raised his brows, ¡°And yet you gave that man a Last Rite?¡±

    ¡°It only matters what he believes. I couldn¡¯t save him, and you were not going to. The best I could do for him is give him hope and die in peace.¡± Lucius paused for a moment, trying to contain a sudden rush of emotion, ¡°but it was not so peaceful after all.¡±

    ¡°This is how many of the vampires eat. I can¡¯t just forbid it because of you.¡± Dorian put down the towel and went to pour a ss of whisky, passing it to Lucius.

    Lucius gulped down the whisky and let that warmth sink into his stomach. Feeling slightly calmed, he replied, ¡°He was taunting you by humiliating me since I¡¯m your consort, and you allowed it. Do you have a scruple about displeasing Lady Devina or what? Is she having power over you?¡±

    ¡°Been here for one day, and you have already tried to interpose in court intrigues. Tell me, did they instruct you to do anything else other than impersonate your brother?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a spy if that¡¯s what you are asking. They didn¡¯t have time to train me up for that.¡± Lucius rolled his eyes, ¡°which would have at least given my life a bit more purpose.¡±

    Dorian peered at him dubiously for a moment and decided to drop the conversation, ¡°You can go back to our room and rest. I¡¯m sure others will understand. But I suggest you do not go anywhere else without me. As you can tell, not everything will respect your status.¡± He then turned to the door and prepared to leave.

    ¡°Dorian,¡± Lucius called abruptly before he could dissuade himself, ¡°I know you didn¡¯t want me, but if you don¡¯t want this war between humans and vampires as I surmised, we have to work together.¡±

    Dorian¡¯s step halted. However, he didn¡¯t reply before he opened the door and left.

 Chapter 7 Dangerous Game

    One month after the wedding, Lucius only saw Dorian five times. After the breakfast, the Crown Prince deemed he had fulfilled the minimum requirement of keeping the appearance of a happily consummate marriage and went straight back into his old life, which Lucius was not a part of.

    With no honeymoon, public appearance, and royal family integration, plus being advised by the steward to stay in specific areas of the Citadel and not to venture anywhere he was unfamiliar with, Lucius felt like he was a prisoner more than a consort, albeit living in an extremelyvished prison.

    The heavy security around him guaranteed his safety. The food was scrumptious, the rooms were ornate and cozy, and the clothes were extravagant. And if Lucius wanted, he could have any kind of enjoyment he could think of and live afortable and frivolous life just as before.

    But he couldn¡¯t. There was something he had to aplish, and he couldn¡¯t do much if Dorian ignored him for the rest of his life.

    One day he was sitting behind some exuberant rosebushes in the garden, trying to read an overly heavy and boring book about Vampire history and trying not to fall asleep, and he heard two meandering nobles chattering and gossiping on the other side.

    ¡°I bet the Crown Prince has already gotten tired of his holy bride. He isn¡¯t even showing him to the public.¡±

    The other voice snickered, ¡°This whole marriage is a farce. It would be fun to fuck and drink a virgin priest, but why would anyone want to marry them. They must be boring to death. If he wants to humiliate the humans, he could have just fuck him publicly and then sucked him dry.¡±

    ¡°Some said he is sympathetic to humans.¡±

    ¡°No way. Humans killed his mother. And he was the one who vanquished Anthor and their alliance¡¯s army. I don¡¯t believe those rumors.¡±

    ¡°Anyway, I bet he will divorce the High Priest and throw him into some ve house in less than two monthes. Then we can all get a taste of that holy blood...and his pretty ass.¡±

    ¡°Hahaha, I would love to see that little innocent face stained by tears and pleading for mercy. I would certainly film the whole thing and put it online for the humans to see how their beloved angel of the lord is defiled by the demons.¡±

    ¡°You are such an evil bastard.¡±

    ¡°So are you!¡±

    Lucius¡¯s face was reddened with anger, yet he didn¡¯t make himself known. He had deserted the guards for a couple of hours of quiet and alone time, and he wouldn¡¯t impolitically expose himself in front of two hostile creatures of the night.

    But then he knew this day woulde when Dorian stopped showing up three days after their wedding. He was a human consort who had no power in this ce and was barely kept alive by the name of the marriage. The moment when the rumor of a divorce rose in the darkness, he would bemon prey among the wolves.

    He had to do something about the situation.

    For the next few days, he tried to elicit answers about Dorian¡¯s whereabouts from the valet and servants and yielded no good result, as they barely told him anything except for some very general prevarications. He requested to see the Crown Prince and only received some curt reply saying that Dorian was preupied with meetings and other stately matters.

    Not other nobles tried to pay him visits, as they all saw him as a temporary ceholder for the consort¡¯s position and wouldn¡¯tst too long. They believed Dorian married him just to humiliate Anthor and buy some respite so they could focus on dealing with their more perilous werewolf problem on the eastern front.

    Running out of ideas, Lucius felt like he had to think of something out of the box and...possibly stupid and mad.

    He spent more time wandering in the citadel during sunset hours, always ensuring the two guards that Dorian assigned were with him. Many vampires gazed at him, and only very few greeted him. He took his time to put names on several regr faces and then researched their backgrounds online.

    Eventually, he locked his attention on a gardener, Faith. She was a vegetarian (which means she only drank from animals) and had no human ves, suggesting she might be more sympathetic to humans. On top of that, she had served in the royal family longer than Lucius had been on earth and probably had witnessed or heard many affairs. Most importantly, she was turned into a vampireter in her mortal years and thus was less youthful than the other dazzlingdies in court. Therefore, in a heavily lookism-dominated vampire world, she was almost invisible.

    It wasn¡¯t too hard to befriend her. Lucius made sure he always went for a walk during her working hours and always greeted her with a Julian-signature disarming smile. A smile that he had been practicing every day in front of a mirror since he epted his fate, and he had found it was an exceptionally handy weapon.

    In less than a week, he had harnessed myriad valuable information from the all-seeing gardener, including some insight into vampire society and culture that was hard to find on any human-reachablework. But most importantly, she knew all the important events that would take ce in the near future and who would be on the guest lists.

    The nearest event suitable for Lucius¡¯s plotting would be Duke Theron¡¯s birthday party, held in the rose garden at midnight. Archie and Silvan would be attending as they were good friends with the Duke, and Dorian had already sent word that he would bete for about two hours, as he had to go to a charity event before that.

    On the night, Lucius put on a white shirt and white pants, leaving two buttons open and revealing his cor bones. He looked into the mirror and tied his longer hair into a ponytail to show his neck better. And then he took a deeper breath, reassuring himself that everything would work out, that he wouldn¡¯t be murdered this evening.

    But he knew it would be a lie. He will likely be dead before sunrise and possibly in a horrible way.

    But maybe it wouldn¡¯t be too painful? Vampire¡¯s venom often gave their victim euphoria to ensure they wouldn¡¯t fight back too hard.

    He was scared shitless. Where would he go after death? He never really believed in the afterlife, as everything seemed too artificial and perfect. But thinking that he would dissipate into an evesting nothingness made his stomach cram. He still had a full life ahead of him and so many things he wanted to do and ces he wanted to go.

    But if he didn¡¯t try, he would surely not have much longer life left.

    At 1:00 am, he told the guards that he wanted to take a walk in the eastern garden, some distance from the rose garden. The guards believed that the east garden was far enough from where the party was taking ce and agreed to apany him.

    By then, Lucius had his own knack for shirking the guards since those guards had be less rmed as Dorian stoppeding back to their room. He got rid of the guards when he entered thebyrinth, quickly exited from another exit, and moved toward the rose garden as stealthfully as possible.

    He could hear the loud music, jovialughter and mor from the party from afar. He hid behind taller bushes and saw Archieughing loudly with some of his friends, already half drunk from all the blood cocktails.

    Soon Archie left the crowd to release himself. And as he walked several rows of bushes further and was unzipping his pants, his ear caught some murmuring sound in the wind, almost musical, like a gentle crooning.

    He followed the voice, turned around another row of rose bushes and saw a small pound glistening under the moonlight. And near the pound, a figure was kneeling on the mossy ground, facing north and praying. Moonlight trickled over his red-tinted blonde hair as if forming an angelic aura, and the baster skin on his long neck was almost translucent under the moonlight.

    He was praying to the Northern Star as the starlight twirled in his hazel irises, stirring all kinds of kaleidoscopic colors. And his youthful countenance held such weight of determination and innocence, making him otherworldly.

    Archie gulped, and an unrestrained desire burst into me. He could smell the blood rushing through the slender body, so sweet, pristine and nutritious.

    The blood of an angel...Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Looks what I found. My brother¡¯s little pet.¡± He spoke the words like a low growling.

    Lucius was startled, and his prayers interrupted. He looked at the predator with those alluring big eyes wide open, ¡°Prince Archie.¡±

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Archie sauntered toward him slowly. His dark eyes fixed on Lucius, ¡°roaming in the darkness all by yourself, like a clueless little bunny.¡±

    Lucius was tensed and skittish. He stood up and took a few steps back, ¡°I¡¯m just saying my nightly prayer.¡±

    ¡°There is no ce for your puny god in Eternia, and he won¡¯t listen to you here. My brother should have kept a close eye on you. Or...maybe he just doesn¡¯t care about you anymore. I heard he hasn¡¯t been to your room for a month already? Perhaps he regrets the marriage and hopes someone can take care of you for him?¡±

    Lucius¡¯s heart pounded loudly, and the frantic rhythm made Archie¡¯s blood boil. However, the prey was not toothless, ¡°Dorian is not a coward. He will own his action and deal with the consequences. Unlike you.¡±

    The vampire¡¯s yful and drunken expression transmuted into something darker and colder, ¡°what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡°I am the Crown Prince¡¯s Consort. Spouse of your future king. You should show me some respect!¡°Lucius audaciously raised his chin, trying to bluff. And it sessfully incensed the fractious and impulsive vampire prince.

    The next moment Lucius felt like being hit by a raging train. He was punched in the gut by such sheer brutal force that some bones must have been broken. He cried in pain but lost his voice as all his breath was knocked out of him, falling to the ground.

    Something gigantic and monstrous was on top of him. The vampire¡¯s body erged instantly, and thick, sinewy muscles bulged and tore the well-fitted fine clothes. His nails grew sharper and longer like ten knives. His handsome features shifted into something demonic and beastly, and his teeth protruded into long, sharp fangs.

    Archie¡¯s giant hand pped Lucius¡¯s face, and for a moment, Lucius couldn¡¯t hear, see, or think of anything. A loud ringing upied all his senses. He was cked out for a short while from that merciless blow, and when he came back, his shirts and pants were torn into pieces, and his naked body was covered in several angry long, deep w marks.

    ¡°No! Help!¡± He only had a chance to utter two short cries before the monster grabbed his hair, pulled his head back, and sank his teeth into his neck.

    And then a strange sensation exploded in his body. Itchiness quickly spread through his veins and wrapped his mind in a foggy warmth. It was almost blissful and erotic. He knew the vampire venom was working in his system, and if he was seized by it, he would stop fighting altogether, which would be his end.

    He bootlessly pushed against the mountain-like body of muscles, feeling his strength quickly sucked out of him. Meanwhile, the giant hands roamed aggressively on his body, leaving bruises and scratches. He whimpered in fear and desperation when one hand forced his legs open and fumbled his private parts and opening roughly.

    ¡°Hmmm, delicious! He hasn¡¯t even touched you, has he!¡± Archie let go of his neck for a moment and gazed down at him with such smugness and covetousness, fully enjoying Lucius¡¯s trepidation and suffering.

    ¡°He will kill you for this! Let me go!¡± Lucius panicked. It was not as he imagined. His strength failed him. He couldn¡¯t shout as the loudest voice he could make was like a weak cat cry. If no one heard him, this would be his humiliating end.

    ¡°I hope you know what happens to me here, mother and father.¡± Lucius thought wretchedly, ¡°I hope you know what I¡¯ve been through in Julian¡¯s ce and regret.¡±

    Though would they regret it? Or would they feel relieved that it was not their more precious son?

    ¡°Oh...little angel. I will be your first andst man. But don¡¯t worry, it will feel really good.¡± Archieughed loudly next to his ear, and his licentious tone made Lucius cringe and shudder.

    And then something ck shed with the monster on top of him and smashed Archie into a nearby tree, causing that tree to snap into two.

    It was an infuriating, wroth, blood-seeking Dorian.

    The Crown Prince¡¯s body also shifted. He was lean but taller and faster, like an enraged panther determined to rip his opponent apart. Archie tried to fight back, but his heavier body couldn¡¯t overpower Dorian¡¯s relentless attacks. Soon the Crown Prince held Archie¡¯s throat and pressed him into the dirt, forcing him to return to his original form.

    Meanwhile, a long jacket was warped around Lucius¡¯s bloody and naked body. Silvan was on his side, pressing a hand against the wound on his neck. Lucius instantly clutched at the vampire¡¯s sleeve and refused to let go, as if scared of being left alone. Lucius was shaking violently and uncontrobly, his teeth were chattering as if he was extremely cold.

    ¡°Shhhh, it¡¯s ok now. You are ok.¡± Silvan¡¯s soothing voice barely contained Lucius¡¯s chaotic thoughts.

    On the other side, Dorian had returned to his original form, but he was still jamming his fist into Archie¡¯s face. Again and again and again, as if setting out to bash Archie¡¯s brains out.

    ¡°Dorian! Please!¡± Silvan yelped, ¡°you should take care of Julian first!¡±

    And that stopped Dorian¡¯s attack. The Crown Prince marched toward them, gently wrapped the jacket tighter around Lucius but carefully avoided all the wounds. Then he collected Lucius into his arms and carried him back to the citadel wordlessly.

 Chapter 8 The Classes of Vampires

    Lucius was still shaking when Dorian took him back to their room and put him on the couch. His heart was thumping frantically, and no matter how hard he tried to breathe, the air refused to stay in his lungs.

    ¡°Look at me.¡± Dorian¡¯s authoritativemand pulled him back to his presence. Lucius focused his wild eyes on the vampire¡¯s unreadable countenance.

    Dorian stared into his eyes and his soul. An indomitable beam of power pierced Lucius¡¯s chaotic mind and transmuted into a cool mist of calmness, gingerly epassing his thoughts like a shroud of protection. The panic subsided quickly, and Lucius was finally able to breathe again.

    Every inch of his body was in zing pain, and his left cheek was swollen from the blow. Dorian tilted Lucius¡¯s chin and looked at the two terrible bites on his neck. His frown deepened.

    ¡°I will call a physician to check on you.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Lucius finally spoke, ¡°I don¡¯t want them!¡±

    ¡°Your wounds need to be treated, or they may get infected.¡±

    ¡°Just...just give me some time...¡± Lucius struggled to take a long deep breath, ¡°I just want to be alone for a moment, and then I will be fine...alright?¡±

    Dorian studied him for a while and nodded. He stood up as if about to leave.

    ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± Lucius shouted in rm.

    Dorian looked at him in perplex, ¡°I thought you wanted to be alone?¡±

    ¡°Except for you, obviously!¡°Lucius¡¯s voice broke a little. He cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to collect hisposure, ¡°Can you...can you just stay with me for a sec?¡±

    Dorian raised one side of his eyebrows but turned back and sat next to Lucius. He didn¡¯t say anything, and he wasn¡¯t particrly nice to Lucius, but his presence strangely calmed Lucius¡¯s nerves.

    ¡°Why were you there?¡± Dorian suddenly inquired.

    Just one question, and it strangely got on Lucius¡¯s nerves again. He snapped, ¡°Are you seriously going to me this on me?¡±

    ¡°Your guards should have stopped you from going anywhere near that party.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want them to follow. I want to be alone for just a few moments!¡± Lucius retorted, ¡°am I your consort or a prisoner?!¡±

    ¡°So you lost them on purpose?¡± Dorian squinted his eyes, ¡°You haven¡¯t answered my question. What were you doing there?¡±

    ¡°I lost my direction after I came out of thebyrinth.¡±

    Lucius knew Dorian didn¡¯t believe him, which was probably judicious on his part. But still, shouldn¡¯t his ¡°husband¡± show more sympathy rather than interrogating him right away after he was almost vited and killed?

    ¡°This will happen again, you know.¡± Lucius turned his face away from the crown prince, trying not to let the vulnerable emotions engulf him, ¡°If you want to divorce me, may as well just do it now and get it over with. I¡¯m sure you can find a proper excuse.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    ¡°Who said I want to divorce you?¡°Dorian frowned.

    ¡°Everyone.¡°Lucius scoffed coldly, ¡°They have already been nning which ve house I should go to. ¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous! You were well protected. If you just do as you told and don¡¯t do stupid things like you did today, no one could have harmed you.¡±

    ¡°And why was it so easy for me to lose your guard?¡± Lucius pressed on, ¡°Why was your insubordinate brother so eager to defile your consort without qualm or hesitation? You never appear in public with me. Never even came to see me or try to introduce me to the court. You lived your normal life pretending that I didn¡¯t exist. I¡¯m a human. A ve or livestock in vampires¡¯ eyes. You don¡¯t need to divorce me. All you need to do to get rid of me is give people the idea that you don¡¯t want me anymore, and they will rip me apart.¡±

    Dorian red at him, ¡°You are saying this is my fault?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just trying to understand what you want and what I am to you.¡± Lucius said quietly, pulling the jacket around him tighter as if trying to look smaller, ¡°I know we tricked you, but why haven¡¯t you exposed me?¡±

    Dorian stood up, went to the bar table nearby, and poured himself some drink, mixing it with a small portion of blood. Ere long, he replied, ¡°I don¡¯t want to continue the war.¡±

    ¡°But why? The werewolves¡¯ insurrection?¡±

    ¡°Partially.¡±

    ¡°Or...is it because of my brother?¡±

    Dorian¡¯s movement paused for a long moment. He raised his eyes and leered at Lucius.

    Lucius pressed on, ¡°When did you two meet? He never mentioned anything. Not even to me.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Dorian answered offishly, ¡°But I admit that I¡¯ve been neglecting your situation. You are my consort, and I should have treated you as such.¡±

    That was what Lucius wanted to hear. He exhaled in relief and felt pain from the scratches rose again. He groaned in agony as blood soaked the jacket. Dorian called the physician and hesitated before asking, ¡°I can relieve it a little.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Lucius winced. Every tiny movement worsened the pain.

    ¡°My venom.¡±

    ¡°Hell no!¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t drink your blood, and you will feel better.¡±

    ¡°Bite me and don¡¯t drink my blood? How ignorant do you think I am? You wouldn¡¯t be able to help yourself.¡±

    ¡°It requires a great deal of restrain. Not all of us can do that.¡± Dorian leaned against the armchair as his eyes lingered on the moonlight spilling near the window, ¡°and it¡¯s probably wise for you not to trust anyone who tells you that, though.¡±

    Lucius knew he had no reason to trust Dorian, especially when thetter left him all alone in this cold, forbidding castle and showed no interest in his wellbeing until today. However, he also treated him with a degree of respect. He had every right to drink from or abuse him, just like everyone else around him wanted to do, but he didn¡¯t.

    And...he looked unnaturally beautiful under the moonlight...The glisten in his deep-set eyes looked almost...gentle.

    ¡°I guess what can be worse, right?¡± Lucius muttered, ¡°ok, I trust you. Just do your thing.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t want to be awake at this moment, to be honest.¡± Lucius inhaled shakingly, ¡°If possible, I don¡¯t even want to remember tonight.¡±

    Dorian regarded him profoundly as he drew nearer. His alluring eyes mesmerized him even before he touched him.

    ¡°Then I should give you something better to remember, I suppose.¡°Dorian¡¯s deep voice echoed in his brain like a chanting. He sat next to Lucius, putting one long arm around him and the other hand gingerlynded on his chin, tilting his head to one side. The prince¡¯s hot breath brushed against his skin, slithering into his ear.

    It almost felt like an affectionate embrace, and Lucius suddenly realized that he had never been embraced like this before.

    He had put on a charade of a rakish brat to give his parents some childish headache, but he never had the guts to follow through. All those quick dalliances and flirting were empty and pathetic, and he always wanted something more.

    ¡°Archie will pay for what he did to you,¡± Dorian whispered before he bit down.

    The initial piercing pain quickly dissolved in a rush of dizziness, and that strange itchiness once againmenced spreading through his veins. It was like tiny feathers were growing under his skin, raising goosebumps and a sweet, tingling sensation.

    All the pain that gued him was eased into that eerily erotic warmth. Lucius widened his eyes, and the world environed him was glowing. An irresistible pleasure was rising in his stomach, and he could tell he already had an erection.

    And then everything was foggy and distant. Lucius sat on that couch calmly and let the physician examine and treat his wounds. Dorian was always quietly present somewhere near, giving him a sense of security.

    Afterward, he fell into a long and deep slumber, and when he was awake, the wounds were almost gone. Even the worst ones were barely visible.

    Lucius was reluctant to leave the room for a few days. The thought of encountering another vampire was too dreadful. He supposed it was only normal after the terror of that night. He was already in much better condition than he anticipated.

    And one morning, when Lucius settled himself in the bed ready for sleep, hoping not to be gued by nightmares, the door opened, and Dorian stepped in.

    They stared at each other in awkward silence. The moment Luciusy eyes on that beautiful, dark and dangerous man, the sensation of the intoxication came back in full force, and he hoped the light was dim enough so Dorian wouldn¡¯t see his blushing.

    Lucius berated himself silently. Why was he acting like a young girl in a crush? It was not like they slept together.

    Dorian opened his mouth, ¡°I can sleep on the couch.¡±

    ¡°Ok...¡°Lucius mumbled.

    Dorian took off his shirt and went into the bathroom, and hearing the showing sound, Lucius couldn¡¯t restrain his imagination of how water was trickling down the curve of each muscle, caressing his sculptural, beardless chin and dampening his rich, raven, lustrous hair...

    Lucius quickly buried himself into theforter and shut his eyes as the sound of water stopped, pretending to be asleep. He heard Dorian open the door and turn off the light, setting himself down on the couch.

    ¡°I want to take you on a trip.¡± Dorian¡¯s voice disrupted the quietude.

    Lucius opened his eyes, ¡°what?¡±

    ¡°There will be a negotiation with Nocturne happening in Aetherfort. But before that, I need to pay Lord Durchville a visit. He has been holding up the werewolf attacks for months now. You will be kept safe in his castle, but it will benefit us if people see you go to the frontline with me.¡±

    Lucius sat up abruptly, ¡°you want to take me to war?¡±

    ¡°Only if you want to.¡±

    Lucius pondered for a while, ¡°what do I need to do? I know very little about...everything.¡±

    ¡°I can teach you.¡± The voice from the darkness was t, and Lucius couldn¡¯t guess his expression.

    ¡°Ok. I want to go with you.¡±

    ¡°Great.¡± Dorian turned over on the couch and no longer spoke.

    For the next several days, Dorian kept his word and spent most of his time with Lucius in his study, introducing the ten oldest vampire families, their descendants, and the division of different sses.

    Vampires are known for their strict and fixed social stratum as their level of sentient and abilities are tight with their sses. The lowest ss is called ¡°the ogres,¡± which are more simr to beasts rather than sentient beings. They are strong, fast, nocturnal, bloodthirst all the time, and are driven by primal instinct rather than rational thinking. Their life span is usually around two hundred years, and their exceptional cell regeneration rate makes them immune to regr physical attacks. However, they will burn in the sunlight and can be hurt lethally by silvers and werewolf teeth. They cannot make any other vampires but can infect creatures they bite with a deadly madness simr to rabies. If they mate with each other, the offspring will also be ogres.

    The second ss is called ¡°the neophytes.¡± Theyprise the majority of the vampire poption. They possess all the preternatural abilities that ogres have and more. They are capable of hypnotization, hyper-olfaction and night vision, hyper-speed and often inherit one or two distinctive gifts from their makers. Their appearances are the same as humans except with two long retractable fangs. They are immortal unless killed by starvation, fire, dark arts, werewolf attacks, high concentrations of UV exposure and some direct-energy weapons. Daylight will weaken them but won¡¯t harm them. The only kind of vampire they can make is ogres, and the offspring they reproduce are neophytes.

    The third ss is ¡°the apostles.¡± They are the nobles of the vampires, direct offspring of the ten oldest Elders. Except for the first generation, who were made by the Elders, all were born vampires, and none were made. They often inherit many supernatural traits like shape-shifting, mind-controlling, invisibility, teleporting, etc. Many of them are masters of dark arts. However, their gifts are greatly affected by their Elder bloodline. Sun does not affect them though they would prefer night over day. High concentrations of UV beams or some types of direct-energy weapons could burn and slow them down but would not kill them. They can withstand long periods of starvation but would eventually fall into hibernation. And the only way topletely end their life is when their body ispletely shuttered into dust, preventing them from resuscitating. Their offspring will also be apostles, and the vampires they make are neophytes.

    Thest and the highest and also the most enigmatic ss is the ¡°Elders.¡± The first ten vampires were cursed into eternal damnation. They were powerful angels of God in the immemorial beginning of the universe but were punished for their pride and insubordination. Their existence has gradually faded into legend as no one had seen an Elder for more than three centuries. They made the First Generation of apostles, yet they seemed unable to produce any offspring. They were the ancestors of all vampires.

    ¡°So, which Elder is your ancestor?¡± Lucius asked with great interest.

    Dorian turned some brittle pages of the giant, archaic tome and pointed at a beautiful figure with raven hair and golden skin, three pairs of giant ck wings spreading behind him.

    ¡°Azreal.The Angel of Death. The one who harvests souls.¡± Dorian said reverently.

    ¡°He is beautiful.¡± Lucius admired, ¡°so...he actually exists?¡±

    ¡°As real as you and me.¡±

    ¡°But how do you know that if no one has seen an elder in centuries?¡±

    ¡°Because as our maker, every vampire is attached to them. And if they are harmed, we will all feel the pain.¡±

    Lucius blinked, ¡°So hypothetically, if one of the ten elders is dead, what would happen?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Some believe they cannot be killed. But if they can die, maybe one-tenth of us will die with them.¡± Dorian said nonchntly as if it was no big deal.

    Lucius widened his eyes, ¡°what?! Aren¡¯t you worried that your life is attached to someone you don¡¯t even know where they are?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a burden all vampires have to bear. Just like you, humans all will age and die, yet you still live your life as if it won¡¯t happen.¡±

    That was...strangely and philosophically making sense.

    Lucius tilted his head and studied Dorian curiously, ¡°so...what¡¯s your family¡¯s special ability?¡±

    Dorian was about to answer, but a knock on the door interrupted their conversation.

    ¡°Your Highness, the King requests your presence.¡±

 Chapter 9 "Do You Think Im Better Than Them?"

    Dorian had left to see the King for an hour. Lucius waited in the study, flipping through the Book of Bloodlines, taking in as much information as possible. After a while, an almost invisible side door crept open.

    Lucius was startled but kept quiet. His hand moved to the hilt of a silver knife he started carrying after that night in the rose garden.

    A scrawny shadow moved out of the darkness. It was a girl, just turning into an adult, though much smaller for her age. She was so pale, as if she had never seen much sunlight, and her eyes looked too big for her tiny face.

    Lucius could tell she was not a vampire by then. There was something skittish and evasive that could only find in human ves. Besides, her clothes, though clean, were threadbare and tatty, and her long brown hair was too unkempt.

    She let out a surprised and scared yelp as she noticed Lucius, but then she paused, ¡°you are a human!¡±

    Lucius answered reservedly, ¡°I suppose.¡±

    She scanned Lucius¡¯s appearance as a realization dawned on her, and she pell-mell dropped to the ground on her knees, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, your holiness! I didn¡¯t know you were here! I heard no sound, and I...I thought everyone had left!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Who are you?¡°Lucius tilted his head and inquired curiously.

    ¡°My name is Rose,¡± The girl answered timidly.

    ¡°Are you a...¡± Lucius hesitated to utter that word. But Rose understood it well, ¡°yes, I am a house ve. My duty is to clean the rooms after all the masters left.¡±

    Lucius stood up and walked toward her. She flinched as he got too close. A self-defense instinct against a potential punishment.

    Lucius extended a hand and said softly, ¡°no need to kneel to me.¡±

    She stared at his hand briefly before taking it sheepishly, stealing a few nces at his face.

    Lucius chuckled amusingly, ¡°you know who I am?¡±

    ¡°Yes...Everyone knows.¡±

    ¡°You mean every one of us here?¡±

    Understanding the meaning behind the words, she quickly nodded.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see too many ves around here, though. Most of them are with some visiting lords.¡±

    Rose exined, ¡°there are about two hundred of us living here. Most of us are not allowed to show our faces in front of lords anddies. We are...too dirty and lowbred to be seen. We do most of the cleaning and chores when no one is present.¡±

    Two hundred humans were living in the Citadel! Howe no one told him anything about it in Anthor?!

    ¡°And who is your master?¡±

    ¡°We are the house ves. Everyone in the Ashdown family is our master. Including you, my lord.¡± She paused for a second and added, ¡°though we report to maids and guards.¡±

    Lucius¡¯s gaze passed her and lingered at the secret door she came from. He came closer and looked into the darkness. It was a poorly lit tunnel, so narrow that only one slender grown-up could pass through.

    ¡°Do you all travel between different rooms in these secret tunnels?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It leads to our pens underground. We are not allowed to walk in the hallways in tant sight.¡±

    Lucius wasn¡¯t surprised as he had heard rumors about human ves¡¯ living conditions in Eternia. However, he didn¡¯t anticipate that aplete secret structure would be built for the ves only.

    ¡°So you can go to any room you want?¡±

    ¡°No...there are surveince cameras everywhere in the tunnel, and they nted tracking chips on us. If we are in the wrong ce, this thing will shock us real bad.¡± She pointed at the red cor on her neck.

    Lucius gazed into the tunnel longer, contemting all the new information he got. But as he turned back to face the girl, a disarming sympathetic expression upied his countenance.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for bothering you with so many questions. I¡¯m...very new to this ce.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no. It¡¯s not bother. Many of us are overjoyed that your holiness is here! Especially my mom. She really wants to meet you.¡°She smiled sheepishly, ¡°I was born here, and I¡¯ve never seen any human like you, your holiness....¡±

    Lucius knew well what she meant, but he asked amiably nheless, ¡°what am I like?¡±

    ¡°You are...exactly like I imagined.¡± She stared at her own bare feet, blushing.

    Just then, someone¡¯s footsteps were approaching. Rose was startled and hastily retracted into the tunnel. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, your holiness! I can¡¯t be seen!¡°She eximed, panicking.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok. Go! We can talk next time.¡± Lucius cringed at his own overly soft voice. But the girl seemed to buy it as she blushed even deeper.

    The secret door was shut just as the study¡¯s door opened. A servant came in and told Lucius that Dorian wouldn¡¯t finish anytime soon and would meet him at dinner.

    Lucius decided to go back to their living quarters and beguile the rest of the night there and do some research and read online about the Elders. As he traversed the halls, a group of loud nobles was approaching. The one most noticeable among them was Silvan. He wore a well-fitting riding outfit, an equestrian helmet under his left arm.

    The group noticed Lucius instantly, which elicited a dash of anxiety in him.

    Silvan bowed slightly in front of him and smiled graciously, ¡°good night! It¡¯s a delight to see you again!¡±

    Lucius didn¡¯t smile back. He replied sarcastically, trying not to show his tenseness, ¡°it is indeed a God¡¯s miracle that I am still alive and breathing.¡±

    Everyone around them went quiet as no one expected the skittish human prey who was too scared to leave the room for half a month to talk back.

    Remorse and regret tinged Silvan¡¯s graceful features. He stepped forward and lowered his head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what my brother did that night.¡±

    ¡°You are sorry?¡± Lucius tilted his head inquisitively, ¡°is that all? Did your brother receive any punishment?¡±

    ¡°Dorian had given him a memorable beat up.¡±

    ¡°So have I heard.¡± Lucius said coldly, ¡°If my information is through, Dorian is also severely berated by the King for harming his precious youngest son.¡±

    Silvan signed, ¡°it¡¯s always hard for a father to see his son get hurt. But both mother and I have made sure Archie learned his lesson.¡±

    ¡°How did you make sure?¡± Lucius scoffed, ¡°doesn¡¯t Eternia hasws against attempted rape and murder? Does he get a free pass because he is a prince? Or because I am a lowly human even though I am Dorian¡¯s consort? Or is it that Eternia doesn¡¯t have aw for such sort of things?¡±

    The air went still. One of the nobles eximed, ¡°surely you are not suggesting sending Prince Archie to jail?!¡±

    ¡°I am not suggesting anything. I¡¯m merely wondering. That¡¯s all.¡± Knowing that he had struck some nerves, Lucius returned a head bow and left with his guards. He had no illusion that Archie would be seriously punished for what he did. But it would at least stir up some rumors and tensions.

    Within two days, the rumor that Crown Prince Consort wanted to press charges against Prince Archie spread to every corner of the Citadel.

    ¡°Why did you say that to Silvan!?¡°Dorian stormed into the room, seething with a cold fume.

    Lucius was working on something on hisptop. He looked up from the screen and raised one side of his brows, ¡°what did I say?¡±

    ¡°That Archie is above thew!¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t he, though?¡±

    Dorian put a hand on his forehead as if having an enormous headache, ¡°I know he should be punished. And I also promised I will make him pay. But it has to be done in a more...circuitous way.¡±

    ¡°I know that. ¡±

    ¡°Then why did you provoke them?¡±

    Lucius closed theptop and leaned into the armchair calmly, ¡°why do you worry about provoking them so much? You are the Crown Prince, and they are just princes of a concubine.¡±

    Dorian glowered at him, ¡°You can¡¯t be this naive.¡±

    ¡°It must be hard watching the woman who usurped your mother¡¯s position and pretty much got her killed brandishing her fortune in front of you every day, acting as if she is the queen. They must have tried many ways to get rid of you already, but somehow you thrived and gained enough favor from your father to name you his heir. Is endurance your major strategy?¡°Lucius said in a matter-of-fact tone but it still angered Dorian more. The light in the room once again dimmed significantly, and it was so cold that the exhaling air turned into mist.

    ¡°So you checked my wiki page and decided you¡¯ve known my 105 years of life story?¡±

    Lucius stood up to face him, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to anger you. I¡¯m just saying you will always be their enemy, no matter what you do. No matter how much youy low and take their shit. and your father will always favor those two sons more than you, no matter how much better you are than any of them.¡±

    ¡°Better? Why do you think I¡¯m better than them?¡°Dorian approached Lucius formidably. His looming monstrous shadow stretched long behind him.

    Lucius tried his best not to flinch, ¡°you are the reason that the war that was destroying my country is stopped. And you have tried your best to protect me even though I am not the one you want.¡±R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    ¡°Do you know that saying someone is nice in vampire culture is an insult?¡± Dorian now stood very close to him, looking down at him and baring his teeth menacingly as he grabbed Lucius¡¯s jaw roughly, ¡°I don¡¯t know what mission you received from your King, but stop ying with things you do not understand. If I find out that you are trying to harm Eternia in any way, I will show you what is true horror, and what Archie did was merely child ypared to it.¡±

    Lucius was seized by fear, petrifying like a stone. All his courage dissipated instantly, and he couldn¡¯t even utter a word as if an invisible hand was strangling him, choking out all the air. For a moment, he thought he saw the shadow behind Dorian be giant ck wings, and a demonic redness was burning in the vampire¡¯s irises.

    And he could only start to breathe after Dorian let him go. He gasped at the air and fell into the armchair.

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to stir any trouble in this court ever again,¡± Dorian snarled at him before he left.

    Lucius reminded on the chair for a long while. The overwhelming rush of fear ebbed when Dorian exited the room, but something else lingered. Something bitter and damp that tasted like sadness.

    Many moments of the past month shed across his mind. The erotic sensation when Dorian¡¯s mouth touched his neck as he bit him. The strength of his arms when he held him. The deep and resonating voice as he recounted the histories of the aristocratic families. The rich, musky smell as he leaned close to point at something in the book.

    He almost liked him.

 Chapter 10 Doomed Trip

    ¡°Lu! Wake up!¡±

    It was a hot summer night. Lucius was shaken awake by Julian in the middle of the night.

    He probed his eyelids open and asked in delirium, ¡°huh? What?¡±

    Julian was kneeling next to his bed, his hazel eyes gleaming like shattered diamonds in the moonlight, ¡°he talked to me again.¡±

    Lucius sat up and rubbed his eyes, ¡°who talked to you?¡±

    ¡°Who else?¡±

    Lucius sighed and asked quietly, ¡°Are you sure it was not a dream?¡±

    ¡°No, because I wasn¡¯t asleep! I was praying to him about the refugees, and then I heard his voice. It was just asst time, I can¡¯t describe, but it was the most beautiful sound I¡¯ve ever heard.¡±

    Lucius looked at him quizzically, ¡°o...k...What does he tell you then?¡±

    ¡°He told me to go to Greendale Refugee camp to save a man. He said if I do this, one day, all of us will be saved.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    Lucius rolled his eyes, dismissing his twin brother¡¯s ¡°sacred inspirations¡± as usual. Their parents were ted about it, but Lucius always thought maybe it was hallucinations which meant Julian should see a doctor...

    ¡°Julian, why on earth would you want to go to Greendale? It¡¯s one of the most chaotic ces in this world right now.¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s God¡¯s will, I will obey him.¡°Julian dithered over an idea for a second and then continued gingerly, ¡°and...I hope you cane with me.¡±

    Lucius goggled at his brother, ¡°is this also God¡¯s will?¡±

    ¡°No...but I want you to be with me. I always feel calmer and safer when you are around.¡±

    Lucius fell back into his bed and sank himself deeper into the nkets, ¡°nope. It¡¯s too far.¡±

    ¡°Come on! It¡¯s summer break. What else do you have to do?¡±

    Lucius leered at him annoyingly from under the cover, ¡°excuse me, do you think you are the only one with important things to do?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m with you everyday. All you have this summer is just some pool parties with your ¡®friends¡¯ and getting drunk.¡±

    ¡°Welp, that¡¯s much more fun than what you proposed.¡±

    ¡°Stop acting like you don¡¯t care, Lu!¡± Julian snapped, ¡°why don¡¯t you want to spend time with me anymore? You barely talk to me these days!¡±

    Lucius was unmoved by the usation and replied offishly, ¡°maybe it¡¯s because I don¡¯t believe all your ¡®oh I¡¯m so special I¡¯m chosen by God¡¯ craps. Heck, I don¡¯t even believe in God.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say that!¡°Julian¡¯s voice was full of hurt.

    ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Lucius turned in the other direction and covered his head. He didn¡¯t want to witness the pain he had caused, ¡°now leave me alone to my sinful and debauched dreams, please.¡±

    ¡°Lu...¡±

    ¡°Lucius...¡±

    ¡°Julian!!¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Lucius yelled as he opened his eyes and almost jumped as he saw Dorian¡¯s inquisitive face. And his mind returned to the presence.

    The rumbling humming of the ne engine and the dry air of high altitude regained their magnitude. Outside the small window, the vastndscapey quietly under the silver moonlight. Wispy clouds floated below them, castingrge, ghostly shadows on the slowly churning.

    ¡°You were zooming out. ¡°The vampire remarked.

    ¡°Yeah...I do that sometimes.¡±

    Dorian didn¡¯t inquire further, probably not interested in his daydreams. He simply said, ¡°we are going tond in an hour.¡±

    ¡°Ok.¡± Lucius¡¯s gaze lingered on Dorian several moments longer, and the vampire gave him a bemused look.

    ¡°What?¡± Dorian asked.

    ¡°Nothing...¡± Lucius averted his eyes. He couldn¡¯t shake off a thought that just came to him.

    That memory...in which Julian asked him to go to Greendale with him for some God-sent mission about saving a man.

    Is it possible that Julian met Dorian in Greendale?

    It was about six years ago right after their 20th birthday, and Julian joined the seminary the very next year, and there couldn¡¯t be any other chance of him meeting a vampire without anyone knowing.

    Moreover, Dorian was still in exile at the time, and his mother had just passed away... Could it be possible that somehow he ended up in Greendale?

    He couldn¡¯t dwell on the spection for too long as soon as the nended. And new anxiety overtook him. It was the first time he appeared in public as Dorian¡¯s consort. He had no idea how he would be received by a bunch of vampire nobles who probably all possessed some human ves back home and media who would surely make fun of him.

    A ck antique car and more than ten other cars for the royal bodyguards and entourages were waiting on the tarmac to take them to Lord Durchville¡¯s manor. The impressive motorcade cruised through the murky forests like a disjointed train. Darkness and quietude were thicker and stranger in the rural wilderness, and trees and the lurking owls were whispering some ominous secrets.

    Dorian had been reading something on his phone the whole trip and didn¡¯t try to make many conversations, which irked Lucius immensely. Why did Dorian have to be so...unreadable and stone cold?! He was anxious enough with the thought of appearing in public!

    The tension had been growing between them since theirst fight, but Lucius wasn¡¯t preparing to apologize for what he said. For fuck sake, he was the victim! Yes, it was a trap, and Lucius premeditatively used himself as a lure, but Archie fell for it too easily.

    Besides, if Dorian hadn¡¯t thrown Lucius on the side and put him in a perilous situation, he wouldn¡¯t have needed to risk his life just to get the crown prince¡¯s attention!

    Lucius was in the middle of a self-pitying brooding when something moved at the corner of his eyes. He looked outside the window but couldn¡¯t see much, as the forest was overgrown and shielded most of the moonlight.

    But just as he was about to dismiss it as an optical illusion, Dorian¡¯s expression changed instantly as he pulled Lucius into his arms and pressed him down. At the same moment, a blindly bright light sted over his head, and a hot wave of air rushed over him like a deluge. Loud sounds exploded in his ear, and he could hear the screechy sound as the car disintegrated.

    But before he could be scared for his life, the strong arms holding him lifted him up, and soon the light and burning heat dissipated into the coolness and scent of the night.

    He realized that Dorian was carrying him, and his body was supported by nothing else other than the vampire¡¯s arms. He looked up and saw two pieces of giant shadow looming over him, almost covering the sky, and as they pped, it dawned on him that those were two huge, ck, bat-like wings.

    ¡°Holy shit you can fly!!!¡± Lucius couldn¡¯t help but exim in disbelief, though the wind greatly drowned his voice.

    The vampire rolled his eyes as his hyper-acoustic sense obviously caught Lucius¡¯s words. He swiftly dived into a cloud of thick tree branches and leaves like a hawk, eliciting a scream from Lucius, andnded quietly as a feather on one giant bough.

    ¡°Keep your voice down,¡± Dorian whispered, and his right arm held Lucius tight, keeping him from falling from the majestic elm. Not far from them, the car they were in moments ago was burning, and the guards and entourages all rushed out of their vehicles and yelled something.

    ¡°What just happened?¡± Lucius asked under his shaky breath.

    ¡°Someone attacked us,¡± Dorian said. He shrouded his wings around both of them like a cloak, hiding them in the shadows. Lucius noticed one of the wings had big patches of burned marks and blisters. Dorian probably used it to shield most of the st as he took both of them out of the exploding car.

    It must be a high-energy concentration weapon if it was capable of leaving burn marks on Dorian, which was very expensive and hard to procure. This was no regr assassination. Someone powerful and resourceful nned it.

    A screamcerated the silence. Something huge and fast dashed out of the forest and took one of the guards. It happened so fast that Lucius couldn¡¯t tell if it was just a gasp of wind that carried the guard away. The guard¡¯s scream was cut short as a chilling noise of bone being crushed echoed somewhere deep in the forest.

    ¡°Werewolves!¡± Someone shouted.

    It was the first time Lucius saw a werewolf in real life. Most of them lived in the eastern region of Eternia and were believed to be much more relentless and ferocious than vampires. They had generations of feuds against vampires, yet human nations were reluctant to seek them out as allies only because they also saw humans as prey.

    More giant shadows dashed out of the veil of darkness, and the vampires were ready this time. Some of the vampires changed into their beast forms. Their body grewrger and taller, sinewy muscles twined and bulged, their ears pointy like bats, their teeth sharpened into lethal fangs, and their fingers transformed into knife-like ws. Others who didn¡¯t have the shapeshifting gifts took out their gun and fired silver bullets.

    A giant ck wind shed with a simr-sized vampire beast and revealed its true form. A gigantic wolf size bigger than a strong male bull, covered in ck furs. And yet there were some humanoid traits. Their back legs were much stronger than regr wolves, making them able to walk, run and jump on two legs like humans. And their front ws took the shape of five-fingered hands.

    Both monsters had supernatural speed that Lucius couldn¡¯t even capture with mundane eyes. Both tried to maul and bite each other, and blood sshed everywhere. Some vampires were faster than werewolves and were able to gain some advantage over the enemies, but as more and more werewolves rushed out of the forest, they were greatly outnumbered.

    Whoever nned this did not want to leave anything alive behind.

    Another long howling echoed somewhere behind Dorian and Lucius, and then another as if replying to the first one. Lucius¡¯s heart jumped to his throat.

    ¡°There are more! We are surrounded!¡°Lucius was not ready to be mutted and eaten alive by frenzy werewolves. It was surely much less euphoric than a vampire¡¯s deathly bite.

    Dorian said quietly, ¡°hold the tree tightly and stay very still. I will try to delude them, but they may be able to see through it if you move too much.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t we just fly away?¡±

    ¡°My wing is wounded. We won¡¯t be able to make it far enough. There are too many of them. Our best chance is to hide.¡± Dorian said calmly and showed no pain despite the horrible burns on his right wing.

    Lucius pell-mell clutched at the closest bough with all his strength.

    Dorian let go of Lucius¡¯s waist and crotched down on the bough, his giant wings spread behind him like a dark cloak. He closed his eyes and listened to the wind and the ineffable whispers between the trees. The echo of all the sounds made by any living creature weaved into a lively picture in his mind, and he could ¡°see¡± the exact location of all the werewolves within 3 miles.

    Five werewolves were approaching the motorcade, all trained killers, as they moved with unusual stealth for a regr werewolf. One of them was probably carrying the high-energy weapon that melted their car.

    Lucius saw Dorian¡¯s irises glow in an ominous red, and something intangible and shapeless extended from his body and radiated into every direction like the ripple on a tranquilke. As the ripple traveled through space, strange things happened. The tree¡¯s positions subtly changed, and the ground also shifted. It still looked like the forest a moment ago, butpletely different simultaneously.

    Illusory art...Lucius thought. A delicate andplex magic that some apostle vampires are proficient at. It is a powerful ability that maniptes and beguiles all sentient creatures¡¯ sensory input in a radial range, making them see, hear, smell and even feel a different and false reality. The stronger and older the vampire was, the more real the illusion was, and the harder for the victims to escape from it. ording to tales and legends, a famous ancient vampire, who happened to be one of the ancestors of the Ashdown family, was able to trap a whole kingdom of people in his fantasy reality for decades. It was almost like creating a new world.

    But for most younger vampires who inherited the gift, the illusion always had some minor defects which, if detected by the target, would lead to disillusion.

    Soon, the werewolves tearing the flesh off some dead vampire bodies suddenly paused, then turned and lunged at each other. They attacked their associates ferociously and brutally as if they were enemies, tearing off limbs and smashing skulls between their powerful ws.

    Meanwhile, moremotionmenced in the nearby forests. The howling and screaming and trees falling from the fights echoed. Lucius saw one brown-furred werewolf stumbled into his sight, and the other dashed into him and gouged one of his eyeballs out with her w.

    Lucius tried to repress nausea bubbling in his throat as he watched the two werewolves continuously m into each other and take away chunks of flesh, and the mossy ground turned red as their blood sshed everywhere. Eventually, both of them slowed down as they lost too much blood.

    Just then, Dorian moved. He leaped off the bough and moved so fast that Lucius could only see his blurry afterimage. His ten nails extended like ten silver knives, and as he quickly dashed past the two werewolves, both of their head fell off their shoulders, and the mountainous bodies fell to the ground, gradually shrinking in size and all the fur shed off, revealing two headless human-like body.

    Lucius¡¯s mouth was open in astonishment.

    Dorian stopped on his tract and wiped his cheek, and licked the smudge of blood away from his finger. He then looked up and said, ¡°Stay here. I will go clean them up ande back for you.¡±

    Lucius couldn¡¯t believe his ears, ¡°What?! Wait wait wait don¡¯t leave me alone here!¡±

    But the vampire was already gone.

 Chapter 11 Feeding

    It was early summer, but the night was still chilling, and Lucius¡¯s red satin zer and the silk shirt were not very practical attire in such circumstances. He clumsily sat down on the bough as the tree¡¯s height made him dizzy, pulling his jacket tighter and cursing Dorian for leaving him there.?

    He patted his pockets and couldn¡¯t find his phone, which probably drooped when the car exploded. He sighed in unsettled frustration and stared into the elm leaves and darkness, trying not to freak out at the two headless, mutted, and yet still twitching bodies under him.

    For fuck sake, they looked just like regr humans...

    He tried to think over the whole situation. Why would werewolves attack them if they agreed to a negotiation? And how did they know their itinerary as it was all supposed to be ssified?

    He had never seen so many dead bodies. Was any of the guards still alive? Why was it so quiet...

    And...what if he escape now?

    What if he just took his chance and disappeared into the forest?

    No...no...that was suicide. Lucius had zero knowledge about surviving in the wilderness and probably couldn¡¯t even make a mile without bing some werewolf or vampire¡¯s dinner.

    Waiting was probably his only option. But what if Dorian never came back? What if he was killed or wounded?

    What if he decided to use the chance to get rid of him?

    No...Dorian wouldn¡¯t do that to him...he could have just not done anything when Archie was on top of him. Or he could not have saved him moments ago. There were millions of ways to make him disappear without consequences if he chose to.

    Just as his thought ran rampage, a scuffling in the thickets caught his attention and evoked another rush of disquiet. He held his breath and didn¡¯t dare to move even a hair.

    A very long thing crawled out of the shadow. It moved erratically but very fast, almost simr to the movement of an insect. It had long, spindly limbs resembling spiders, and at the end of the limbs were long, human-like fingers and toes and ck pointy nails. Its torso was scrawny and ashen in color, the spine arched high, and the shape of ribs protruded from the thin, wrinkly, and slimy skin. It had no hair, wore no cloth, yet still possessed a sliver of human features.

    Lucius couldn¡¯t see its face, but he wasn¡¯t sure if it was a very skinny human or a strange animal. The way it moved gave him goosebumps. And a foul rotting smell deeply revolted him.

    It sniffed at the dead bodies and began to lick and suck the still-fresh blood oozing from the opening of the neck gluttonously. And as it sucked, something under its¡¯ skin moved and writhed as if some worms lived underneath the thinyer of flesh.

    And soon, another two simr creatures appeared. One twice bigger in size and the other one smaller and thinner. Lucius had a boding feeling as all three tore and chewed the corpses, sucked the blood dry and spit out of the meat.

    Were they orges?

    Lucius had only seen the images and some video clips of orges online when he was in Anthor, mostly from some horror channels. They often move gregariously and hide in dank and murky corners like sewages, underground tunnels and deep lightless caves, and only came out to hunt at night. They drink any blood they can find, including from animal cadavers that have yet to rot, unlike higher-ss vampires who saw drinking from corpses as a distasteful and degenerated behavior.

    These creatures act purely on their instinct and wouldn¡¯t even hesitate before sinking their teeth into anything that has blood. It was a miracle that they hadn¡¯t detected Lucius, probably thanks to Dorian¡¯s illusory gift.

    Lucius stayed very still, held his breath as long as he could, and prayed for Dorian to return. His heart thumped so loud that he worried those orges would hear him, but it seemed the illusion hid him well. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t notice a fuzzy spider size of a palm and possibly venomous surreptitiously descent with her silver silk andnd soundlessly on his back cor, and as her hairy leg touched Lucius¡¯s chin and he noticed the horrifying creature, he reflectively let out a startled cry and jerked her off his shoulder. He soon realized his mistake and covered his mouth, but it was toote.

    Several orges raised their head, and what faces did they have! Their nose was like two ck holes, and their mouth was aceration in the middle of their face, with their two long fangs protruding. Their eyes degraded due to their lightless living environment and appeared to be two murky white marbles stuck in a pile of loose skins. Numerous lesions and abscesses festered their pale face and neck skin.

    It was hard to imagine at some point, some of them might be regr-looking humans and were only slowly transformed into horrifying creatures like this after being bitten and turned by neophytes. Would it be luckier to be born this way, as they never knew what they once were?

    The orges¡¯ noses twitched as they tried to capture smells and sounds through the illusion, and some of them probably picked up something as they came closer to the tree Lucius was on and began to climb like giant geckos.

    Lucius panicked. They moved too fast, and before long, they would be too close and would definitely detect his presence. He had to move!

    He went to the climbing gym regrly, but climbing a tree was a different story, not to mention he had no proper equipment. One slip and he would fall for thirty feet and likely break his neck. He held on to a strong bough and managed to pull himself up higher and further from the orges, but it made too much noise and attracted all orges¡¯ attention. They swarmed around the tree like a crowd of rats.

    Lucius forced his shaking limbs to move as fast as possible, but how could a humanpete with creatures with preternatural speed? The orges were getting closer and closer, and soon Lucius found he had nowhere to go as all the boughs that were strong and thick enough to carry his weight were out of reach. He had to take a leap to reach the closest one, and even that was a bold gamble of his life. If he failed, he would either die from the fall or fall into the pound of writhing orges. The former was probably a better way to go.

    But if he hesitated any longer, the orges climbing the tree would surely catch him. He took a deep breath, wiped his mmy hand on his pants, and jumped.

    He touched the bough, but the momentum plus his weight was too much for his arm, and his hand slipped.

    It happened so fast that he didn¡¯t even have time to think what it meant as he was falling into the bloodthirsty crowd of orges. But before he hit the ground and those filthy hands could touch him, a dark shadow swooped in and caught him in the air.

    Dorian tightly grabbed him by his waist, gliding for a short distance with his burned wings andnded on the ground with a powerful stamp, creating a shock wave undting to every direction. The orges screeched in terror and fell back, clearing a space around them.

    ¡°I told you don¡¯t move!¡± Dorian scolded as he let go of Lucius.

    ¡°If I didn¡¯t move I would have be orge shit by now! Where the fuck have you been!¡°Lucius retorted.

    ¡°Saving our ass by killing werewolves, you are wee!¡±

    Lucius then noticed that Dorian¡¯s face, hands and clothes were stained by blood, and his lips were crimson. Four deep gushes ripped his front shirt, which was surely created by a werewolf¡¯s w, and any human would have perished with such wounds.

    Lucius immediately felt bad about talking back, but now was not the time to dwell on petty arguments. The orges were clearly scared of Dorian, but they didn¡¯t disburse. Perhaps they noticed that Dorian and Lucius were alone and intended to try their luck of overwhelming the apostle with their greater number.

    Lucius asked, ¡°What do we do?¡±

    Dorian looked around and said, ¡°will you let me drink from you?¡±

    Lucius blinked, ¡°what?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve lost too much blood from the explosion and the fight with werewolves. I can do something to eliminate all these orges, but it will weaken me further. If I don¡¯t have fresh blood after, I may fall into an involuntary hibernation.¡±

    Lucius grasped the meaning behind these words. Apostles could not be killed directly by high energy light and werewolf attack, but they could lose consciousness and fall into aa-like sleep. And in that state, they were inanimate and extremely vulnerable. Anyone could burn their body into dust, destroying their life thoroughly.

    To confess such a thing to Lucius was a lot of trust on Dorian¡¯s side since he didn¡¯t have to ask permission. He could have drunk from him by force right away. And now, with such information, Lucius had the option to pretend to agree to it, and when Dorian became too weak to attack, he could just leave him there and wait for him to hibernate and kill him.

    The realization gave Lucius a strange satisfaction, and he quickly nodded his head, ¡°just don¡¯t kill me, ok?¡±

    Dorian nced at him, a hint of smile swiftly flet across his face. His deep-set eyes glowed an ominous red at once, and his silky raven hair floated as if underwater as the dark force emanated from him.

    At the same moment, the orges decided to attack. They lunged at Dorian and Lucius, but their eyes flickered the same ominous red before they could touch them. All of them paused in unity, appearing to be confused by something.

    And then, an orge let out an excruciating wail. Something was writhing violently under his skin, and soon his mouth opened big, and thousands of red threadlike fleshy things oozed out of his mouth, ears, and nostrils. His eyeballs were pushed out of the sockets by the same squirming things. Every inch of his skin was torn and cracked, and the same long, moving, red threads busted out. He lost his humanoid form rapidly as his skin fell to the ground, and his muscles, organs and bones were melted and integrated with the red threads.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    It was an unreal and appalling scene to witness. Those threads spouted into the air and quickly interweaved and froze into a distorted eerie form that looked like some fleshy chrysanthemum or a meaty firework froze at the moment of blooming, beautiful and disgusting at the same time.

    Lucius watched in disbelief as the orges exploded into those crimson ¡°flowers¡± one by one, some of their organs interweaved in the middle of the tangles and still squirming and pumping as if they were still alive. Soon there were no orges environing them but an uncanny flower field.

    Blood oozed out of Dorian¡¯s eyes and trickled down his cheeks like tears. Lucius didn¡¯t know how he killed the horde of orges without even touching them, but it was apparently a taxing task, and Dorian was exerting himself. As thest orge exploded, the vampire prince copsed and panted heavily. His sun-kissed skin was ashen and dull, and his perspiration drenched his cloth.

    Lucius had never seen Dorian in such a vulnerable state before. He looked so exhausted and could barely stay awake. The vampire couldn¡¯t even speak for a moment, but then he raised his head and looked at Lucius gingerly.

    Lucius could just leave him there and wait for him to fall into hibernation. For the first time, he had power over the vampire. But if Lucius gave him his blood, a starving Dorian might overdrink and identally kill Lucius. Dorian was aware of this. A glimmer of worry tinged his dark eyes.

    And Lucius stood over him, his countenance hiding in the night¡¯s penumbra.

 Chapter 12 The Guardians

    Before Dorian¡¯s apprehension grew further, Lucius kneeled next to Dorian, leaning in closer, brushed his hair away and bared his neck.

    ¡°Come on, drink.¡± Lucius urged.

    Such apliant and submissive posture sent a rush of excitement to Dorian¡¯s lower abdomen. The taste of Lucius¡¯s blood, though different from Julian¡¯s refreshing and soothing smell, was still unique and alluring. It had a mixed sweetness of vani and orange, plus a bit of ginger¡¯s spiciness, a surprisingly addictive vor.

    He pulled Lucius toward him, grabbed his hair, and bit down hard at that soft, pale skin. Lucius let out a low whimper but didn¡¯t struggle at all. Sweet and vigorous blood poured into the vampire¡¯s mouth and warmed his throat, and life flourished once again within Dorian¡¯s withering body.

    Every nerve in Dorian¡¯s body fired up, and each cell rejuvenated. Dorian sucked so hard that it left a deep purple mark on Lucius¡¯s neck, but he couldn¡¯t care. His dick was extremely hard, and he felt about to have the climax of his life. He drank and drank and drank and never felt so ravenous and satisfied at the same time.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Meanwhile, Luciuspletely sumbed to the aphrodisiac effect of vampire venom. As his blood flooded out of him, the arousing tingling and the fire of excitement spread to the end of every nerve. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and moaned uncontrobly, and he pressed his body closer to his predator, feeling the fraction between their flesh and the cloth in between, wanting more, albeit it would eventually kill him.

    After a while, Lucius felt it was getting colder and colder, and the world around him grew darker. He pushed Dorian weakly, trying to tell him that he was reaching the limit. But Dorian didn¡¯t respond. The vampire waspletely seized by his desire.

    ¡°Dorian...¡± Lucius pleaded, ¡°please...It¡¯s too much...¡±

    And as Dorian didn¡¯t stop, Lucius vaguely thought such death was not so horrible.

    Fortunately, a sliver of rational thinking returned to Dorian¡¯s mind as his hunger partially satiated. He realized Lucius¡¯s body had gone limp in his arms, and he jolted awake and released the delicious neck. Lucius was barely awake, and all colors were gone from his face.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry...I lost control....¡± Dorian held Lucius tighter, trying to give him some more warmth, ¡°stay with me, don¡¯t fall asleep.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s so cold,¡± Lucius whispered. His consciousness gradually sank into a void.

    ¡°I know.¡± Dorian closed his wounded wings around them, and some of the blisters were already starting to heal as fresh blood replenished him, ¡°just a bit longer, and I can fly us to somewhere safe.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you can¡¯t.¡±

    A third voice interjected and startled the crown prince.

    Lucius was in a dream.

    He was around eighteen years old, sitting in the church with Julian and his parents, listening to the archpriest¡¯s sermon. Everyone around him was listening with rapt attention, especially Julian. But Lucius never found those homiletic scripture stories interesting. He¡¯d rather surreptitiously observe other aristocratic members, amuse himself by judging their attires and appearance, and imagine what kind of depravity they were enjoying back home.

    Therefore, he didn¡¯t notice when the light outside the window faded, how all the ambient sound that always filled a crowded space ceased, and that the archpriest raised his head and looked at him directly.

    ¡°Some say twins are one person¡¯s soul split into two, one divine, the other evil. Which one are you, Lucius?¡±

    Lucius snapped his attention back to the podium. The archpriest peered at him ominously, and his shadow grew bigger and longer behind him, shielding the sacred Eye of God. And it did not match the priest¡¯s shape. Multiple giant horns were extruding from the shadow¡¯s head, and myriads of wiggling tentacles spread toward the edges of the church.

    The air became thick and sultry, stuffed with a pungent smell of sulfur. All the colors of the frescos and people¡¯s clothes faded. A sense of boding and evil devoured the holiness of the consecrated ground.

    Lucius froze in fear. He turned to look at his brother and parents, but they were all frozen in time, just like everyone else, oblivious of what was happening to the surrounding.

    Lucius stood up and ran to the door. But just as his hand was about to touch the handle, something hot and slimy wrapped around his waist and pulled him up into the air. He struggled with all his might, but the tentacle made of twined muscles and tendons was harder than metal and would not budge. Soon smaller tentacles crept up his legs and arms, and he was trapped like a helpless moth in a web.

    He cried for help, but none of the people were moving or listening. He called for his mother, and yet she was unmoved like others.

    ¡°No one will help you, my littlemb.¡± The archpriest¡¯s voice began to distort. It went deeper, rumbling like distant thunder, ¡°because they all know you are not worth the effort. You were never good enough for anyone. Not good enough to even believe in God.¡±

    The words stun more than the fear of being trapped by an unholy creature. He shouted desperately, ¡°shut up! What are you! Let me go, devil!!¡±

    ¡°Do you really want me to let you go when I am the only one interested in you?¡°The dark, sinister voice chuckled, ¡°when you are so, so alone?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not alone! I have my family! My brother will never forsake me! My parents will never...¡°He couldn¡¯t continue. Why couldn¡¯t he continue?

    My parents will never sell me in exchange for my brother¡¯s safety?

    My parents will never abandon me?

    My parents will never harm me?

    My parents love me as much as they love my brother?

    Why couldn¡¯t he say any of these things?

    ¡°It¡¯s ok, my littlemb.¡± The voice was approaching from behind, yet Lucius couldn¡¯t even turn his head as another tentacle twined over his neck and slithered into his cor, caressing his chest licentiously as the slim drenched his shirt, ¡°when your god doesn¡¯t answer your prayer, I will.¡±

    ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°You will know, when youe to find me.¡±

    ¡°How can I find you when I don¡¯t even know your name!¡±

    The voice got closer and closer, and thest word was uttered with a burning breath, scorching Lucius¡¯s ear: ¡°You will find me. You wille to me. And eventually, you will be mine.¡±

    ¡°GO AWAY!¡± Lucius screamed as he jolted awake, panting and sweating as if he had just run a marathon.

    He was not in the church.

    He was in a warm bed covered in whitemb fur. The room was spacious and cozy, and the zing wood firece emanated a refreshing pine scent. All the walls were polished logs, and all the wooden furniture was sturdy and stylishly simple. It looked like a wood vacation cabin or forest resort room.

    It was a very different style from Vermilion Citadel, but luxurious nheless.

    He was still giddy and nauseous, as if waking up from a bad hangover. All his limbs felt heavy and lethargic.

    Where was Dorian?

    He picked himself up and got off the bed but soon found the door was locked from the outside. He banged on the door for a while and called Dorian¡¯s name. There were muffled sounds on the other side of the door, but he couldn¡¯t tell what they were saying.

    Receiving no reply, he turned to check the windows. All the toughened sses all sealed perfectly, with no way to open or break them.

    His heart sank, and he called more. Eventually, he grew tired and went back to bed, taking up the ss of water on the nightstand to quench his scorching throat, but on second thought, he didn¡¯t drink, worrying it was poisoned.

    A momentter, the door burst open, and two burly men marched in. Lucius flinched and queried, ¡°who are you? What are you doing?¡±

    The two men ignored his questions, pulled him off the bed roughly, and frog-marched him out of the room. His feet barely touched the ground as the two men held him tightly by the arms, so tight that he winced in pain.

    Outside of the lodge was a stunning city merged perfectly with the forest. Trucks and cross-country cars bustled on the leave-covered winding road. Myriad rustic-styled log houses and cabins straggled in the woods. In the yonder, several high edifices nketed with luxuriate nts blend seamlessly into the ancient trees.

    Many people lived there, walking, working, or shopping in the bazaar, minding their own businesses. They looked just like regr humans, but Lucius had a feeling that they were not.

    ¡°What is this ce? Where is the vampire?¡± He asked dreadfully.

    ¡°Shut up.¡± One of the men growled.

    Luciusplied in angst. They shoved him into a car and drove ahead. Soon the road became wider, and the forest opened to both sides. Two towering wolf statues formed a stately entrance, and behind it stood an imperial stone pce.

    The moment Lucius saw the two howling wolf statues, he knew they had fallen into the werewolves¡¯ hands. But why was he still alive if that was the case? Why hadn¡¯t they killed him yet?

    Lucius was dragged out of the car and brought up the tall stairs. The giant doors were opened for them, and he was shoved into the grand hall.

    It was a more minimalist, solemn, and practical stylepared to the vampire¡¯s ostentatious castle, reminding Lucius of the great Viking halls in some of the movies he saw.

    In front of the throne, a man was throwing knives at a target hung on a wall, and each knife hit the bullseye.

    He was a tall and impressively strong-built man in his early thirties, with ck, lustrous skin, well-trimmed stubble, and handsome features. A full head of long, delicate, and well-maintained dreads fell down his shoulder. A tinum crescent earring dangled from his right ear. He wore a long ck leather jacket, ck pants and military boots that looked stylish and dangerous.

    Lucius eyed him gingerly and gave a quick nce of the hall. It was empty except for them two.

    ¡°Pleasure to have you in my humble abode, High Priest of Anthor.¡± The man said sarcastically as he threw thest knife on his belt.

    Lucius asked directly, ¡°where is the vampire?¡±

    ¡°You should worry about yourself first.¡± The man turned to Lucius and sauntered toward him, dark eyes scanning him with interest, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Prince Dorian set out to marry a human priest. I thought it was a joke.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that it gave you some amusement,¡± Lucius replied dryly. Great...now both Dorian and he were both defenseless in the wolves¡¯ den. How lucky he was.¡°Who are you? Did you send the assassins?¡±

    ¡°I am Volke Nightingale, Chieftain of The Guardians. You and your husband had entered mynd without permission, but no, I didn¡¯t send any assassins.¡±

    ¡°Yournd? But we were supposed to go by Gray Valley.¡±

    ¡°My captain found you in the woods of Crowsnest Ridge.¡±

    Crowsnest Ridge was a werewolfnd, twenty miles east of Gray Valley. Why in the hell did they end up there? Did the lead car take a wrong turn and happen to drive them into a nned assassination?

    Something funky was going on. Someone in Eternia was plotting to kill Dorian.

    In his spare time, Lucius did a quick study about the rtionship between vampires and werewolves. At some point in history, the two species had united and founded Eternia, but Vampire gradually gained control over the country and won the ensuing civil war. Since then, the feud between the two nations deepened, and the chasm of hatred grew like a gue. Werewolves used vampires of stealing their kingdom and persecuting them politically, while the vampires argued that the werewolves started the war.

    Werewolves are divided into numerous ns and chiefdoms, with three major power bncing each other out. Nocturne was the greatest n of all. While The Guardians were smaller inparison, they were known to harbor the greatest warriors and were devoted to protecting werewolves¡¯ beliefs and legacy.

    It was rumored that not all ns and chiefdoms agreed to negotiate with vampires in the current insurrection, and the attitude of The Guardians was rather equivocating.

    ¡°Even if you didn¡¯t send those assassins, people will think you did since we are captured by you. And Eternia will not allow their crown prince to be imprisoned or harmed.¡± Lucius tried to stay as calm as possible. Praying for the rumor that werewolves were generally less aggressive in the daytime was true.

    ¡°Or, maybe we will have more leverage in the negotiation now that I have the future king. But...¡± Volke stood very close to Lucius, and his stunning height blocked most of the lights and cast a suffocating shadow over the smaller man. He grinned a smile that could only be described as ¡°wolfish¡± and continued to say, ¡°I bet Eternia won¡¯t care much about what I would do to you, will they?¡±

    Lucius gulped nervously, but he tried to sound firm and authoritative, ¡°I am the Crown Prince Consort, the former High Priest, and the bridge of peace between Anthor and Eternia. Harm me, and you will incur not only Vampire¡¯s anger but also Anthor¡¯s wrath.¡±

    ¡°After five years of war, Anthor can threaten no one with the fatuous King and the internecine factions. Besides, if they give a shit about you, why did they gift you to the enemy?¡±

    Why did everyone have to keep poking at the point where he hurt the most?

    Lucius felt a surge of anger that pushed aside his angst. He raised his chin and challenged, ¡°fine, if you are so sure, do whatever you want. Kill me, eat me. You probably will have a regr unimpressed meal since I suppose I will taste like a regr human, and then let¡¯s see if this meat will turn into poison in your stomach.¡±

 Chapter 13 A Miracle

    Volkeughed sonorously, ¡°as a defenseless human priest, you have guts. But killing is just one way to deal with prey. And I have never been used of being a boring person.¡±

    Lucius snapped, ¡°just name your price. If you wanted to kill me or torture me, you would have done it now. I¡¯m really tired after losing all that blood. Can we just get down to the business, please?¡±

    And then the half-yful expression on the chieftain¡¯s face shifted into something menacing and intimidating. He grabbed Lucius¡¯s front shirt and lifted him off the ground like nothing, and he growled like a beast, ¡°be careful, human. You are still my prisoner. I could have gotten the information I wanted through torture, but I didn¡¯t want to mar your pretty face just yet.¡±

    Lucius panicked and grabbed at the steel-like wrist of the werewolf, ¡°alright, alright! I will answer your questions as much as I can!¡±

    ¡°Werewolves attacked you. Did they im that I sent them?¡±

    ¡°No...I didn¡¯t really have any chance to talk to any of them.¡±

    ¡°Did the Crown Prince aware your itinerary had been changed?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so.¡±

    ¡°Who do you think in Eternia court is implicated in the assassination?¡±

    ¡°How would I know?! I just married Dorian two months ago and don¡¯t even know all the noble¡¯s names yet!¡±

    Volke snared at him, ¡°do you take me as a fool? You wouldn¡¯t have survived two months if you were this simple and clueless.¡±

    ¡°Look, I wasn¡¯t sent there by choice, ok? I was just a priest and know very little about court schemes.¡±

    ¡°Then tell me about Dorian Ashdown.¡± Volke released Lucius¡¯s cor, appearing to believe in his words. He sauntered around a little, still keeping his eyes on Lucius and continued, ¡°how is he treating you?¡±

    ¡°He is nice to me.¡±

    ¡°Nice? That¡¯s it?¡± Volke chuckled, ¡°I heard that he was very adamant about marrying you when half of the court was against the idea. Did you know him before? Why did he want you specifically?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know him. He wanted me because that¡¯s the best way to humiliate our country.¡± Lucius answered quickly, knowing it was probably not the truth.

    Volke peered at Lucius with misgiving, ¡°so he married you out of spite? How was your wedding night, then? Did he force himself on you? Did he bite you?¡±

    ¡°Do you really have to know such personal details?!¡± Lucius retorted embarrassingly.

    The werewolf shrugged, ¡°You are under my mercy so yes. I do have to know.¡±

    Lucius took a deep breath and answered, ¡°No. He did none of those. Dorian was respectful enough.¡±

    ¡°You see, this is not making sense. If he married you out of spite, why didn¡¯t he do all those things?¡±

    ¡°Why are you so interested in my private life anyway! Are you a pervert or something?!¡± Lucius immediately regretted thest half of hisint as the werewolf leered at him and bared his sharp, wolfish teeth.

    ¡°I need to know if Dorian Ashdown is sincere about the negotiation, or is he just using it to stall for time and secretly forming an alliance with Anthor, and you are the key to his tactic against Anthor.¡±

    ¡°There is no alliance that I know of.¡±

    ¡°And how can I trust your words when you do not give me honest answers?¡±

    ¡°How honest do you want me to be?! I¡¯m already telling you details about my wedding night!¡±

    ¡°Do you love him?¡±

    Lucius paused for a second. How should he answer such a question? He barely knew Dorian...

    ¡°I believe love is something that can be nurtured, and I¡¯m in the process of developing it for him.¡±

    ¡°And does he love you?¡±

    Lucius was quiet again for a moment and then blurted out, ¡°You should go ask him.¡±

    ¡°An arranged loveless marriage. And yet you were willing to feed him and keep him alive, even though you know a starving vampire has very little self-control and likely kills you while drinking.¡± Volke studied the human with curiosity, ¡°that seems like a stupid decision.¡±

    ¡°Since our god prefers subordinate servants much more than the smart ones, I wasn¡¯t selected for the job for my brain, was I? ¡± Lucius¡¯s self-abased but sarcasticment amused the werewolf further.

    Lucius sensed that the chieftain¡¯s attitude toward him softened a little, and he quickly followed with a request, ¡°can I see Dorian?¡±

    Volke contemted it as he touched the stubbles on his chin, and then he nodded, ¡°I will allow you to see him if you do one thing for me.¡±

    ¡°What do you want me to do?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you can hear God¡¯s voice and that you are capable of prophecy and performing miracles. So I want you to perform a miracle for me.¡±

    Lucius began to sweat, ¡°a miracle?¡±

    ¡°Yes. You healed a dying child¡¯s sickness after you prayed for her next to her bed for a whole night, and that put you on the seat of the High Priest, wasn¡¯t it?¡± A tinge of sadness crept into the chieftain¡¯s eyes, ¡°Now, my nephew is very sick. A deadly werewolf sickness that drove him into madness, making him attack anyone who got too close as his body deteriorated. It is a very slow and painful death, all the cells in his body were disintegrating, and there is no medical cure. Our shamans had tried all kinds of methods, and none is working.¡±

    ¡°And you think me, an outsider human priest, somehow can achieve it?¡°Lucius asked incredulously.

    Volke signed, ¡°At this point, I¡¯m willing to try anything. And if you are really as ¡®angelic¡¯ as your churches imed, you should be able to do it. Otherwise, I will announce to the world that you are a fraud.¡±

    Lucius goggled at the werewolf wordlessly.

    Now how the fuck was he supposed to do that?!

    He could imitate how his brother prayed, spoke, smiled, and walked, but how in God¡¯s name would he heal a dying werewolf?! This was way out of his league! And he had no ground to reject or find any excuse!

    He bit his lip as his mind churned at high speed, but he couldn¡¯te up with a solution. Maybe he should stall this whole thing and reunite with Dorian first, see if he has any idea about how to get out of this ce.

    ¡°I can try, I suppose.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t sound so sure.¡±

    ¡°I am...was just a priest. I speak to God, but if he decides to answer me is beyond my ability. Especially now that I¡¯ve relinquished my vows and married a vampire.¡±

    Volke scoffed coldly, ¡°then, for your own sake, you better think of some way to get him to answer you.¡±

    Lucius was led down through dingy spiral stairs, followed by a narrow stone passage that resembled tomb paths. As they went further and lower into the ground, the passage became wider, and many shut metal doors stood on both sides.

    At the end of the long walk were two werewolves guards. The escort guards delivered the chieftain¡¯s order, and the prison guard took out a device and entered some code, and the red light next to the metal door turned green, and a mechanical sound clicked inside the door.

    Werewolves, who were much more in par opponents to vampires than humans, had abundant knowledge, experience, and instruments to subdue vampires, and the vampire den was one of their inventions. It was a cage or a room covered by intricate shamanism spells and magic circles, and at all the entrances, multiple sensors were installed, and if they detected any attempt to cross the entrance without permission, the methrower or, in some richer institutions, high energy weapons, would be triggered.

    In the vampire den, even the apostles couldn¡¯t ess most of their power, and almost impossible to escape without outside help.

    ¡°The incinerators are disabled. You can enter now.¡± The escort guard pushed Lucius forward. Lucius nervously walked past the deadly port with all the pointing muzzles of radiation guns and pushed at the unlocked door.

    It was a rtivelyfortable cell that looked like a regr hotel room. Dorian stood up as he heard the noise, and when he saw Lucius, a sigh of relief escaped his lips.

    They stared at each other for a brief silent moment, and then the vampire marched forward and grabbed Lucius¡¯s wrist, pulling him into his arms, and before Lucius could react, their lips were shing.

    All thoughts flet from Lucius¡¯s mind.

    What was happening?

    Was Dorian actually kissing him?!

    ¡°Don¡¯t resist me. They are watching.¡± As their lips moved against each other, Dorian muttered quietly, ¡°there are surveince cameras in this room.¡±

    Lucius immediately understood the situation. Of course, the werewolves wouldn¡¯t just leave a wily apostle vampire alone in a room. This meant they had to maintain the front of their marriage even when they were ¡°alone.¡±

    And so Lucius yed his part without hesitation, throwing his arms around Dorian¡¯s neck and responding to the kiss. The rich taste of wine and musk on the prince¡¯s lips was inebriating, and the way Dorian held him with such gentleness and insistence triggered a yearning in the depth of his heart, making him feel as if he was someone cherishable.

    However, it didn¡¯tst very long before the vampire pulled back. Dorian still kept him close and whispered, ¡°are you ok?¡±

    ¡°¡¯Yes. Are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Did Volke Nightingale harm you?¡±

    ¡°No. He only asked me a favor.¡±

    ¡°A favor?¡±

    Lucius then rted the concerns that the chieftain had about Dorian, as well as the miracle that Volke requested from him. Dorian frowned with grave concern as he knew well that Lucius was just an imposter, ¡°and you agreed to heal his nephew?¡±

    ¡°I said I will try. It¡¯s not like that I was in any position to decline.¡± Lucius muttered, and then said louder for anyone who was listening, ¡°besides, if I can save someone¡¯s life, then I must try regardless of the result.¡±

    ¡°And how do you n to do it?¡±

    ¡°Pray for him, I suppose.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Dorian paced to and fro in a barely contained frustration, ¡°and then you just wait for the miracle to happen?¡±

    ¡°They are trying to heal werewolf rabies so I would say yes, it does require a miracle.¡°Lucius was not impressed by Dorian¡¯s usive tone as if he made some bad decision in agreeing to the task. What else could he have done? Telling him the truth that he was indeed a fraud?

    And yet he also understood Dorian¡¯s worry. The request was almost like a trap to break the peace between Eternia and Anthor. If he failed the job, which he most likely would, Volke could announce that he was a fraud, and then other Eternia nobles who didn¡¯t want the treaty with humans could use it as an excuse to argue Anthor cheated them. Moreover, if anyone found out Lucius was not the real Julian from the beginning, the treaty would be broken, and the peace that he sacrificed his whole life for woulde to an end.

    They didn¡¯t talk too much for the rest of the day. There was only one king-size bed in the room, and Dorian was resting on it the majority of the daytime due to the vampire¡¯s natural instinct to hide in the time of the sun. Luciusy on the other side of the bed, trying to fall asleep but couldn¡¯t. He knew Dorian was also wide awake and trying to figure out a way to leave here before he had to perform the ¡°miracle.¡±

    But what if they couldn¡¯t find a way?

    What if he had to do it, and then everyone in the world would know he was a fraud and became the culprit for instigating a new war?

    What would his parents say? What would the King do to them? Would Julian be safe when all hell goes loose?R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    The mere thought of all the possible and cmitous oues made him break a cold sweat.

    He had to heal the werewolf somehow if it came to that.

    There was no room for him to fail.

 Chapter 14 The Arena

    Lucius was legitimately starving when the slot on the metal door slid open, and two trays were pushed in. One had a bowl of blood on it, and the other held a hunk of a sizzling steak.

    Lucius didn¡¯t even care about the detail that there was no cutlery and forgot about all manners. He grabbed the steak and took a big bite, and the savory juice trickled down his chin.

    Dorian had finished his portion of blood. It was bear blood, not as tasty and potent as human blood, but now was not the time to be fastidious. He gulped it down, feeling the increasing thirst slightly quenched. He then amusingly noticed how avariciously and wildly Lucius was devouring that dear steak as if it was the best thing he ever had.

    He heard that humans could taste more sophisticated vors of regr food than vampires, but for a born vampire, he could neverprehend what else they could taste other than the basic salty, sweet, bitter, sour, and spicy vors.

    ¡°You eat like a werewolf.¡± The vampire remarked.

    Lucius nced at him huffishly, ¡°what?! I¡¯m hungry!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you worry it is drugged or poisoned?¡±

    ¡°It would be stupid to try to poison a vampire since you are all immune to those kinds of things, and they have no reason to harm me yet since they still need me for that miracle.¡±

    Dorian had to admit Lucius was rather nimble for a spoiled privileged brat.

    ¡°So...¡± Lucius licked the sauce on his finger and asked, ¡°what¡¯s our n? Are you going to try to talk us out of here?¡±

    ¡°He must talk to me soon. My absence must have already been noticed. Soon Eternia will begin to search for us. Volke will have to decide how to deal with us before they find where we are. Otherwise, The Guardians will be in much greater trouble than werewolf rabies.¡±

    ¡°Are they against the negotiation?¡±

    ¡°Not necessarily. The Guardians¡¯ attitude on this has been ambivalent. Both the queen of Nocturne and the Chieftain of Shadow Bane were trying to win him to their side, with the queen inclining to make peace through negotiation and the Shadow Bane wanting more war and conflicts.¡±

    ¡°And you want peace, too?¡± Lucius tilted his head curiously.

    Dorian put down the empty bowl and wiped his lips with his thumb, ¡°all these wars are meaningless and stupid. We¡¯ve wasted so many lives, time and resources on petty disagreements about beliefs, power, and politics that only a few people care and ignore the greater looming threats.¡±

    ¡°Greater threats?¡±

    The vampire paused, deciding not to divulge more, ¡°that¡¯s not important for our current situation.¡±

    Lucius studied the prince¡¯s countenance with a bit of fascination and remarked, ¡°you are quite different from what I heard. The media in Anthor always depict you as a devil who corrupts people¡¯s minds.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I am. ¡°Dorian scoffed, ¡°my mother¡¯s Elder is ¡®the Serpent¡¯ Asmodian. I don¡¯t seem to inherit any gift from her line, but I do have the blood.¡±

    ¡°The Serpent? Like the Devil who seduced God¡¯s first son with lust and turned him against his creator?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The very one.¡±

    ¡°He is real? So am I supposed to believe God is real too?¡± Lucius tittered, ¡°I gotta say, maybe one day you will achieve what all the Sunday schools and the Archpriests failed to do¡ª making me a believer.¡±

    Thetch on the door nged and put a pause to their conversation. As the door was opened, several werewolves were waiting outside, and one guard who was twice Dorian¡¯s size came in and said, ¡°the Chieftain invites you both to the Arena.¡±

    ¡°What Arena?¡± misgiving overcast Lucius¡¯s voice.

    Dorian exined, ¡°It¡¯s where some werewolf warriors fight beasts, monsters, or each other to death. Consider it a werewolf traditional sport.¡±

    ¡°Of course...¡±

    The Arena was an impact crater created by a small meteor many centuries ago. Myriads of people were clustered around it, cheering and yelling. Vendors shuttled among the eager crowds, peddling dry meat strips and raw ale.

    Dorian and Lucius were brought directly to the grandstand, all the way to the private royal balcony. Other than Chieftain Volke, several other remarkably good-looking werewolves were reclining in the seats around, both males and females. They looked rather different from most of the werewolves Lucius had seen. They were smaller, slimmer and only a bit taller than him, much less intimidating.

    Lucius had heard about the peculiar six different sexes among the werewolves. Other than the basic distinction between male and female, there were secondary sexes such as alpha, beta and omega, with alpha as the most dominant, aggressive and powerful sex, beta as the meticulous, calm, and down-to-earth middle sex, and the omegas who were able to bear cubs (regardless if they were male or female, though male omegas were capable of impregnating female omegas as well) and deemed more fragile and delicate.

    For a heavily masculinity-driven culture, omegas were often seen as the alpha¡¯s trophy or property and were less respected, though well-protected. A high-status alpha warrior usually takes many omegas as their mates to symbolize her or his superiority over other alphas. So it wasn¡¯t strange that Volke had multiple consorts.

    Volke beckoned them to sit next to him. The marchings had already started, and Lucius could see gory body parts like arms, legs, crushing intestines and guts scattering at the bottom of the crater. The very sight made Lucius¡¯s stomach turn.

    A transformed werewolf warrior was down there. He was at least two meters high with bulging muscles. And the opponent he was facing was a...monster. He was twice the size of the other werewolf, yet his speed was still shockingly fast. The other werewolf tried to attack him from behind, yet he didn¡¯t even turn his head, but only side turned his body, and the next moment he had the other worrier¡¯s whole wolf head in his gigantic palm.

    An earsplitting shrill followed by a horrifying cracking sound muffed all other noise, and the monster crushed the other warrior¡¯s head with his bare monstrous hand. Brain pieces and cerebral fluids sshed all over his white fur-covered arm and stained his smiling face, and he even licked a piece of the brain into his mouth.

    The crowd let out a loud boo. Some even cursed at the winner. But the monster just kept smiling in disdain.

    Lucius retched. The omegas all snickered at him, but he couldn¡¯t care less.

    Volke relinedfortably in his chair and said nonchntly, ¡°This one here is a nefarious criminal called Hallec. He stalked, raped and killed 14 omegas before he was finally caught. But ording to ourw, all our death roll criminals are granted a chance to fight for their lives. They can walk free if they can win three rounds without being killed. And now, he has won two.¡±

    Lucius couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°so if he wins one more round, you are just going to let a serial killer run free?¡±

    ¡°Not necessarily free, but he won¡¯t be executed, and in some years, he maybe even eligible for parole.¡±

    ¡°What if he kills again?¡± Dorian asked.

    ¡°Criminals like this rarely change, and he will kill again. Sadly, that is thew. Unless the next one can get the job done.¡± A hint of a smile appeared on Volke¡¯s lips, ¡°would you be up to the task, Prince Dorian?¡±

    Lucius widened his eyes, ¡°what?! No!¡±

    Dorian didn¡¯t say anything, only raised one side of his brow.

    Volke grinned at the vampire, ¡°if you kill him, I will support the negotiation with all my heart and power.¡±

    And that ignited a light of interest in Dorian¡¯s eyes.

    Lucius bored at Dorian, ¡°you can¡¯t be serious. You¡¯ve just healed from the assassination. That thing is literally a monster! Didn¡¯t you see his hands?! He will tear you into pieces, and even you will die!¡±

    ¡°You should have more faith in your husband.¡± Volkeughed sonorously, ¡°people didn¡¯t give him the nickname ¡®the devil¡¯ for no reason. You should see how he mutted those human soldiers on the battlefield.¡±

    Lucius had heard the nickname many times in his life, but recently he often forgot how deadly and dangerous the vampire prince was in people¡¯s mouths.

    Dorian ruminated on it for a short while. Ere long, he peered at Volke, ¡°I need something written before I agree.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Volke signaled a servant, and a clerk was brought onto the balcony with a well-drafted agreement. Volke signed it first and then passed it to Dorian. Dorian carefully read it through. As he took the pen, Lucius grabbed his wrist.

    ¡°It¡¯s not worth it!¡± Lucius whispered under his breath.

    Dorian looked into his careworn hazel eyes and said, ¡°if I¡¯m killed or fall into a hibernation in the process, will you escort my consort safely back to Anthor, Chieftain Volke?¡±

    Volke nodded, ¡°I will. You have my word.¡±

    ¡°Dorian! That¡¯s not what I¡¯m worried about!¡± Anger reddened Lucius¡¯s cheeks.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m not that easy to kill.¡± Dorian shed a quick smile at his fake consort and signed his name.

    As the vampire prince walked into the Arena, the crowd fell into an astonishing silence and then erupted into an excited mor. They hadn¡¯t seen a vampire noble fight in the Arena for at least a century.

    Lucius¡¯s heart jumped to his throat as he saw the huge difference in size between Hallec and Dorian. The vampire looked like a childpared to the behemoth.

    ¡°If he dies here, your people will suffer the wrath of Eternia. You know that, right?¡± Lucius warned the Chieftain coldly.

    ¡°If he, a vampire, wants allegiance from The Guardians, he needs to convince my people.¡± Volke replied solemnly, ¡°my people admire courage and power. If he wins, he will gain their respect. This is the only way.¡±

    Lucius couldn¡¯t argue with that. All he could do was watch.

    Hallec let out a ground-shaking roar and pounced over Dorian. He was so fast that people could only see a st of white wind. But as the dust settled, there was no sight of Dorian. A sound of wings pping brought people¡¯s attention to the other side of the Arena, where Dorian had justnded. He extended his hand toward the monster, and his irises glowed red.

    Instantly dozens of Dorian appeared around the beast. Each looked identical to the original one. And they all swooped down to Hallec. The crowd gasped in astonishment.

    ¡°The famous Illusory art. But Hallec has a much stronger and more defensive mind than regr people, and his senses are extremely acute and perceptive. He may not be so easy to be fooled.¡± Volkemented as he picked up a horn of ale.

    As if corresponding to thement, Hallec ignored all the attacks and went directly to one of the Dorians. Surprise shed across Dorian¡¯s face as the giant grabbed one of his wings and smashed him to the ground, creating a small crater and multiple cracks.

    Dorian grunted in pain but reacted fast and rolled to the side before Hallec could smash his face into a puddle of mess.

    This werewolf had an unusually strong mind. Dorian suspected Hallec was trained to resist magics from his bloodline sometime in his life. The invisible tendrils extending from Dorian¡¯s mind couldn¡¯t prate the blocking wall.

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t y your tricks anymore, could you, puny prince?¡°Hallec taunted, snarled, and attacked again. Dorian jumped into the air to evade the onught, but Hallec was faster and left a gushingceration on his right arm. His sleeve was almost fully torn off, and the wound was so deep that you could see the bone.

    Lucius bit his tongue hard to try to calm his frantically beating heart with the pain. His knuckles turned white as he clutched at the railing too hard.

    How should Dorian kill that thing if he couldn¡¯t use one of his arms?

    Anger ignited in Dorian¡¯s eyes, and his bodymenced to transform. He grew taller, his limbs extended, and his muscle bulged, busting his shirt. His elegant features transmuted into more menacing and devilish shapes, his irises werepletely red, his dark hair grew longer, flowing like a dark me, and his ears becamerger and pointy.

    Such a form was often triggered when a vampire¡¯s mind was overtaken by fury or an instinct to survive. It releases stronger power within them and usually consumes arge portion of energy. If they fight in the form for too long, they will risk falling into hibernation.

    Dorian growled. The red in his eyes burned like moltenva. Hallec leaped at him once more with his fangs bare and ws ready for more blood, but as he was about to sh with the vampire, Dorian turned into a gush of ck mist. As Hallec¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, he heard a deep, hellish voice whisper into his ear, ¡°too slow.¡±

    And then the people of The Guardian watched in amazement as Hallec was throwing around like a rag doll with the cloud of ck mist, coagting and disbursed at such a speed that no one¡¯s eyes could catch him.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    The mist was still an illusion, but it was a higher level of illusion that was not achieved by manipting a lesser mind or sensations, but by twisting the universe¡¯s rules in a small bubble of space, often around the caster themselves. Only a few vampires from the same bloodline could use such art, and only a handful of masters of such art could extend the bubble much bigger than themselves. The most legendary one was able to cover a whole kingdom with it.

    In this bubble, time could slow down or even freeze, and what was solid could be as intangible as air. Which meant Dorian could move at the speed of sound, and to the outer world, he looked as if he had turned into a mist and appeared in another ce simultaneously.

    Hallec¡¯s rib cracked, and blood gushed out of his mouth. With onest hit, the giant hit the ground and groaned in pain, and Dorian appeared not far from him.

    Hallec struggled to get back to his feet, wiping the blood from his mouth. He was no longer as confident as before, and the wall of his mind was also shaken by intimidation.

    This time Dorian was the one smiling, showing sharp, venomous fangs. And his smile was not savage nor contemptuous but rather charming, and very, very dark.

    ¡°Not so sure about yourself anymore, are you?¡± Dorian strutted toward him, his giant bat-like wings swaying behind him like the ensigns of victory.

    Hallec growled like a trapped animal, ¡°you can¡¯tst long in this form!¡±

    ¡°Maybe I can¡¯t, but you willst shorter.¡±

    ¡°I will not be defeated by a fucking vampire!¡± Hallec spat and jumped up in the air, and it was astonishing how fast and high he could still go with broken ribs.

    But then a strange thing happened.

    The giant werewolf fell to the ground in front of Dorian, his face contorted in fear and panic, looking around as if seeing something other people were not seeing.

    ¡°No no no, you are dead! You are all dead!¡±

    Dorian¡¯s eyes burned so brightly that the light spread toward his face, neck, and body like glowing spider webs. The moment he found the crack of Hallec¡¯s mental defense, his mind tendrils dived in and seized it. Those tendrils quickly dug into the intricate mind andmenced injecting false images, sounds, and memories into each part, further weakening it to allow deeper ess.

    The vampire¡¯s relentless mind tendrils went as far as where the soul resided. As he touched the soul, his essence spread like a deadly virus to every cell and molecule.

    The crowd began to gasp when the criminal shrieked in excruciating pain, and his body exploded and bloomed into a simr blood flower that Dorian made from those orges. It was a cruel, painful, but eerily beautiful scene, though it was worse than death, as the inner organs were still somehow living and squirming. And people could still see one eyeball hanging on one end of the tendrils, turning around frantically in horror and panic.

    Dorian nced at the silent crowd and announced loudly, ¡°those who have lost your child, family, or lover to this criminal, now you can have your revenge on him.¡±

    At first, no one moved. But then a woman stood up, quickly transformed, leaped into the crater, and lunged at the ¡°flower of evil.¡±

    More people stood up from the crowd and joined her at once. They roared in rage and let out all their grief, swarming the culprit and tearing it apart piece by piece in mere minutes.

    The crowd let out a thunderous limation, so loud that it could be heard through the whole city. And in the whoop, Dorian gradually returned to his regr form. His sweat-covered, hairless gold skin glistened like crystal shards under the moonlight.

    And yet there was no joy on his face, only solemnity.

 Chapter15 The Feast

    A grand feast ensued after the yearly diatorial game. All the winners were cheered and celebrated as the guest of honor and sat at the same table with Chieftan Volke and his family pack.

    Lucius was permitted to sit with Dorian. The crowd gave a boisterous ovation when the vampire prince¡¯s name was announced as they were let to the table. The people of The Guardians saw Dorian as a hero who yed the evil monster and brought justice to the victims.

    ¡°How is your arm?¡± Volke asked with a smile.

    Dorian nced at his bandaged right arm and shrugged, ¡°it will recover in two days.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve done a phenomenal job in the Arena, my friend.¡± Volkeughed sonorously and raised his horn of ale, ¡°not only you ended him with the famous ¡®Blood Flower,¡¯ but you also allowed the victim families to have their closure. I couldn¡¯t have done it any better myself. Cheers to you!¡±

    Dorian drank with him and many others who came to propose a toast to him. The werewolves were clearly infatuated with Dorian and no longer saw him as an enemy.

    Lucius also downed several horns of the refreshing ale with them, half out of courtesy, half out of sincere joyfulness. God knew he almost screamed for Dorian to run multiple times, and he clutched his fists so tight that his fingernails cut into his palms.

    Lucius kept telling himself that he worried about Dorian simply because the prince was his protector and not because of anything else, but at this moment, he just wanted to forget about his position and be happy about the fact that Dorian was alive and mostly unharmed.

    After several drinks, he felt a nice and tingling warmth growing in his stomach, and he was slightly dizzy, but not yet to the point of intoxication. He nced at Dorian, and a strange feeling hit his heart.

    In the dancing me¡¯s orange light and the bonfire heat, Dorian¡¯s youthful and sculptural features radiated effulgently, like an ancient god. His smell was rich and intoxicating, making Lucius want to sniff more.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Why was he feeling like a schoolgirl having a crash? This was so unbing and absurd...

    As if felt his gaze, Dorian turned to look at him. And Lucius wasn¡¯t sure if it was the light or his imagination, but he thought the look in the prince¡¯s eyes was slightly different than usual.

    ¡°Why are you looking at me like this?¡± Dorian asked softly.

    ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m just d you are still alive.¡±

    ¡°But if I die, you can go back to Anthor, and Eternia will be busy dealing with the werewolves, and no one will even notice that you are gone.¡± Dorian slightly tilted his head, ¡°wouldn¡¯t that be better for you? Don¡¯t you want to go home?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d rather not go home if that¡¯s the price.¡°Lucius said quietly, ¡°and I don¡¯t really think there is a home for me to return to. Not since they have decided to send me away.¡±

    Dorian peered at him in such a way that made Lucius¡¯s heartache, and as the vampire gently caressed his cheek, he leaned in and closed his eyes. He liked the coolness on Dorian¡¯s hand and the way he touched him with such care and tenderness as if he cherished him with the most delicate affection.

    But then, someone interrupted their moment. It was a stunningly beautiful male omega werewolf, tall and slender, with milky skin, azure eyes, and curly silver hair. He smiled seductively at Dorian and asked him for a dance.

    Volkeughed and encouraged with a wink, ¡°this is Fan the White Gold, son of Jarl Alberto, the most beautiful unimed omega in my realm. You are a lucky man tonight.¡±

    To Lucius¡¯s surprise, Dorian epted the invitation, and as they joined the dancing crowd, people around them all cheered and hurrahed. The music was exotic and rhythmic, and they danced and swayed with such ease and elegance as if they¡¯d danced a hundred times before.

    Lucius watched, trying to swallow the bitterness and dismay he worked very hard to ignore.

    ¡°With a husband like that, I¡¯m sure you have to worry a lot.¡± Volke teased.

    ¡°I¡¯m not worrying.¡± Lucius cleared his throat and sipped at his drink, ¡°it¡¯s just a dance.¡±

    ¡°Well, you should. You see, the Arena and the game are all a form of sacrifice to our Goddess of Rebirth, Vehena. There are deaths, and then there is also the element of fertility and new life. Every year after the game, people will quaff these special ales with a little aphrodisiac effect. Not a lot that will turn you into a sex monkey. Just a little push to make people more open to their desire. And then, they will find a partner, go into the forest, and have a little fun. Every year after tonight, many omegas will get pregnant if their partner or themselves are not careful enough.¡±

    Aphrodisiac effect! No wonder why he was feeling all strange when he saw Dorian tonight! Lucius observed how close and suggestive the dance between the silver-haired werewolf and Dorian had be. The omega was putting his hands on all the inappropriate ces, and Dorian was not refusing anything!

    Sourness was growing more and more poignant at the back of Lucius¡¯s throat.

    He was right here! How could Dorian just go on dancing with the first pretty boy who presented himself! He should have been more considerate!

    ¡°Vampires are rarely monogamous. You should learn not to let jealousy torment your heart. After all, you were supposed to be above all these mundane feelings, right?¡°The chieftain continued with a tune of raillery.¡±

    Lucius felt a surge of anger rose within him, ¡°and I suppose you are also happy to share all your mates with other alphas and betas?¡±

    ¡°Well, they love me enough not to want others.¡±

    ¡°That is a lot of confidence.¡± Lucius jeered, ¡°and what about yourself? Have you loved one enough and not want others?¡±

    ¡°I must confess, I haven¡¯t found that kind of love yet.¡± Volke grinned charmingly, and his eyes glistened brightly, ¡°I¡¯m always curious about the new beautiful people I meet. I¡¯d love to get to know them better and maybe share a little time together.¡±

    As he spoke, his big, strong hand under the table gingerly touched Lucius¡¯s thigh. Lucius jumped a little, but he didn¡¯t move away.

    Lucius couldn¡¯t deny that he was feeling a bit horny and also a bit pissed off at Dorian. Volke was right, vampires were known for their polygamous culture, and it was not like he and Dorian were in love or together. He had no right to stop Dorian from having fun with others, and Dorian also had no right to restrict him.

    Volke had such a muscr and gorgeous body and an exceptionally attractive face. Why would he reject that? Merely imagining that dark, powerful, mountain-like body pinning him down, crashing his pale and smaller body and dominating him with a wolfish voracity was enough to make Lucius hard.

    Noticing that Lucius was not rejecting, Volke¡¯s smile grew wider, and a strong scent of sandalwood and rum emanated from his excited body. He leaned in closer, sniffing at Lucius¡¯s neck where the smell of pheromone was strongest.

    ¡°Your smell is so sweet.¡°The werewolf whispered seductively, and his breath tickled Lucius¡¯s sensitive ear. Lucius blushed as he felt the hand move higher on his thigh and rubbed a little. He let out a hitched breath.

    ¡°Do you want to go into the forest with me?¡± Volke tilted Lucius¡¯ chin up and mesmerized him with his dark irises, ¡°I will give you the best fuck you¡¯ve ever had, so good that you won¡¯t be able to walk properly the next day.¡±

    ¡°And you still want me to perform a miracle for your nephew while tempting me with all these... depravities?¡±

    ¡°You are no longer a priest. Why not enjoy a little corporeal fun? I¡¯m sure your god won¡¯t mind. Besides, your husband is enjoying thepany of Fan. It¡¯s only fair that I also provide you some entertainment tonight as well. Otherwise people will say I¡¯m a bad host.¡±

    It was such a tempting offer. Lucius hesitated a bit, ruminating over all the possible oues, and decided it was not a good idea after all. Before he could say anything, though, a stern and stormy voice interjected.

    ¡°Julian. I need to talk to you.¡±

    Lucius jolted and looked to the side. Dorian was storming toward them, and if the expression on his face could be materialized into a natural phenomenon, it would be a thunderstorm right over his head. Before Lucius had a chance to say anything, Dorian grabbed his wrist and pulled him up, ignoring his protest and half dragging him away from the feast and into the forest.

    ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you!¡± Lucius yelled peevishly and yanked his hand out of Dorian¡¯s grip.

    Dorian retorted with seething anger, ¡°what were you doing with Volke?¡±

    ¡°What were you doing with that white-haired pretty boy?¡±

    ¡°It was only a courtesy dance!¡±

    ¡°Oh, since when does a courtesy dance involve so much touching?!¡°Lucius grew increasingly huffish, ¡°he was pulling you to the woods! I saw it!¡±

    ¡°But I didn¡¯t go, did I!¡±

    ¡°Well, do you expect some big award?! I know you wanted to!¡±

    ¡°So you know how to read mind now?!¡±

    ¡°You should have gone with him. I don¡¯t even care!¡°Lucius waved his hand in frustration, ¡°we are nothing, anyway. And what I do with Volke is none of your business!¡±

    Dorian grabbed his cor forcefully and grated his teeth, ¡°you are my consort! What will people say about me if they see you ingratiating yourself all over the werewolf!¡±

    ¡°Ingratiating?! I wasn¡¯t even going to agree to his proposal!¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have let him touch you in the first ce!¡±

    ¡°Right back at you!¡°Lucius shouted back.

    There was a moment of silence as both panted after a round of shoutingpetition. They stood extremely close, face to face, breast to breast, with Dorian¡¯s hand on Lucius¡¯s neck.

    And then, not knowing who moved first, or maybe both moved simultaneously, their lips shed. This time it was not a tempting peck with feigned affection, but a provocative battle. Their tongues intertwined, pushing back and forth, sucking in breath and saliva. Their teeth bit into each other¡¯s lips so hard that they could taste the blood, which further incited the vampire.

    Dorian lifted Lucius effortlessly and shoved him against a tree. It knocked the air out of Lucius, but the roughness only excited the smaller man. He moaned and wrapped his arms around Dorian¡¯s neck, his right leg coiled around Dorian¡¯s waist. Dorian sucked and bit along his neck, and with one hand still pining Lucius against the tree, he used the other hand to tear off his consort¡¯s jacket and shirt, revealing the baster, smooth, and sweat-covered chest.

    The vampire inhaled deeply and licked the perspiration and small trail of blood like a ravenous beast, and then he caught Lucius¡¯s left nipple between his teeth, gnawing and teasing relentlessly. Lucius squirmed against him and the tree, and a sweet whining escaped his throat.

    ¡°Is this too much for you? ¡± Dorian asked in a husky, dark voice, ¡°You can still say no.¡±

    Lucius looked at his fake husband and smirked challengingly, ¡°Don¡¯t you fucking dare to hold back.¡±

    And that elicited a growl from the vampire. He tore the belt off Lucius¡¯s pants, shoved his hand inside, holding the already hardened manhood in his cool, powerful hand, and stroking it with well-practiced rhythm and force. And Lucius cried in pleasure, his fingers dug into the bark behind him. He was already so hard, and soon the tip of his cock began to wet, leaking the precums.

    Dorian rubbed the precums on his finger, turned Lucius around, pushed down the consort¡¯s pants, and probed the wet finger into the seam between the plumped bottom cheeks. Lucius grabbed the tree, feeling the finger rub at his opening for a few seconds, and then pushed in.

    Despite the profligate public image, Lucius rarely spent a night with anyone. Last time someone did this to him was almost a year ago, and the tingling pain and stretchiness made him shudder. The little entrance opened and closed around the finger like a hungry mouth. Dorian had to use almost all of his self-restraint not to just release his cock and shove it into that delicious hole.

    Lucius was finger-fucked for a few moments, and it was not enough. Those fingers were not long enough and not thick enough. He wanted more, needed more. He swayed his waist impatiently and made more erotic whining noises with his nose.

    Suddenly the two fingers were withdrawn, and Lucius looked back over his shoulder to see what was happening. And as he saw the HUGE manhood jump out of Dorian¡¯s pants, his eyes widened, and his adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down in shock.

    Dorian chuckled at his consort¡¯s reaction and aimed the impressive head of his cock at the small opening. When the vampire prince began to push in, Lucius felt his hole was stretched to its limit, and he struggled to breathe. He grabbed the tree so tight as if it was his life and worried for a moment that he would be split by the monstrous thing.

    But miraculously, Lucius took the whole thing in. He felt so full that he didn¡¯t dare to move, except for his legs shaking uncontrobly. He gasped for air and wasn¡¯t prepared when Dorian suddenly withdrew for several inches and rammed back in with soul-crushing force. Lucius cried out as he felt a jolt of electricity ripple through his body as something deep inside him was hit hard.

    And Dorian didn¡¯t give Lucius time to catch his breath andmenced a brutal, steady, and relentless pounding rhythm. Lucius felt as if his inner passage was on fire, and his organs were all melting. The pleasure was so poignant that he couldn¡¯t help but whimper and cry helplessly. The pleasure quickly built up inside him like a volcano about to erupt, and soon he screamed as hot white cream ejacted from his cock and sshed all over his belly.

    Yet Dorian was not finished yet and kept going and going. When Lucius¡¯s legs failed to support his weight, Dorian pulled out, turned Lucius around, and lifted him with his strong arms without caring about the healing wound, letting Lucius¡¯s legs dangling from his elbows and then prating him in one forceful thrust. Tear of overwhelming sensations free-flowing the smaller man¡¯s face, and he couldn¡¯t even utter aprehensive word other than dropping some shattered gibberish.

    To Lucius¡¯s surprise, his spent body kept reacting to Dorian¡¯s invasion, and his cock gradually awoke once more. He felt his whole body was on fire, and he might die here. He didn¡¯t mind, though. It would have been the best way to go.

    Dorian¡¯s speed picked up and kept hitting that spot in Lucius¡¯s body, and they both climbed to culmination simultaneously. Dorian growled and gave a final thrust, and he went so deep that Lucius thought that long prick must have touched his other organs, and hot liquid filled his belly. Lucius himself ejacted again. He would have copsed if Dorian wasn¡¯t holding him against the tree.

    They leaned against each other, panting heavily, drenched in sweat, their body still connecting in the most intimate way possible. The smell of sex was still dancing around them, and their minds werepletely nk.

    Lucius buried his face in Dorian¡¯s shoulder as the reality slowly settled in.

    Did they just finally consummate their marriage?

 Chapter 16 The Ash of Passion

    As the heat of lust ebbed, the silence seemed to be protracting. Dorian pulled himself out of Lucius gingerly and lowered him down. Lucius¡¯s legs were like noodles and he stumbled, but Dorian caught him before he fell.

    Lucius noticed the blood soaking through the bandage on Dorian¡¯s right arm and panicked, ¡°shit! Your arm is bleeding!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ok, just going to take an extra day to heal,¡± Dorian answered in such a calm, cool tune that Lucius had a hard time believing they just had sex.

    They tried their best to make themselves presentable. Dorian¡¯s clothes were still intact, but Lucius¡¯s shirt¡¯s buttons were almost all missing, and his belt was torn in half. He gave Dorian some dirty looks, and thetter tacitly took off his jacket and gave it to Lucius to cover his half-naked body.

    ¡°I will go inform Volke we will retire early.¡°Said Dorian.

    ¡°Ok. I don¡¯t really want to go back there like this.¡±

    ¡°You can wait for me here. ¡±

    Dorian didn¡¯t let him wait for long, and soon they were brought to a much morefortable lodging than before. Lucius went to the washroom and bathed first, trying to clean out Dorian¡¯s semen with his fingers. He was exhausted, but his mind couldn¡¯t stop spinning.

    Dorian was very quiet on the way here. He didn¡¯t speak anything to him except simple phrases like ¡°let¡¯s go¡±, ¡°careful,¡± and so forth. It wasn¡¯t really out of the vampire¡¯s character, but it somehow bothered Lucius much more than before.

    How did everything just... happen? Sure, the sex was the best he had ever had, but up until this morning, if anyone told him that he would make love to Dorian, he would haveughed his head off.

    What should he be expecting now? Would this change their rtionship?

    Did this mean anything to Dorian?

    There was only one bed in the room. Should he be expecting anything else to happen? Lucius quickly dried himself, put on the bathrobe, and left the bathroom with an anxious heart.

    Dorian was not in the room, though.

    He ignored the disappointment creeping at the bottom of his heart, changed into pajamas and slid under theforter. He tried not to think too much of Dorian¡¯s disappearance. The crown prince probably just had to deal with some urgent matters.

    Dorian didn¡¯te back when he fell into the realm of dreams.

    The next day they still didn¡¯t talk about it. Dorian woke him up at around 2pm and told him they would meet with Volke again in an hour to discuss the following n for the negotiation. He also exined thatst night he left to make a phone call to Eternia, letting them know that they were rescued by The Guardians and were mostly unscathed.

    Lucius mostly kept his mouth shut but ears open during the meeting. Apparently, there were tension and disputes among werewolves in terms of the direction and goal of the uprising. Some ns only want to force vampires to admit their encroachment of werewolfnds and their systematic oppression and discrimination against werewolves. While others want to oust the vampire dynastypletely.

    Nocturne, the biggest n, belonged to the former group and had been trying to convince other ns to be practical and focus on what was attainable rather than starting a full-scale civil war that would bring tremendous loss to their people. But Shadow Bane used the queen of Nocturne of being soft and gutless. They imed that werewolves had been betrayed by vampires once and had suffered oppression for centuries, and it was time to take back what had been stolen by the vampires. Shadow Bane had high hopes that The Guardians would support them as their values shared simrities.

    Shadow Bane would be really pissed off after knowing about this new alliance.

    ¡°Shadow Bane¡¯s new chief is a radical nationalist. There is no point in trying to persuade him. You should focus on winning the trust of other leaders.¡± Volke siped at the herbal tea and asked, ¡°The first step to gain that trust involves admitting the wrongdoing on vampires¡¯ part. Will you be able to do that, Prince Dorian?¡±

    Dorian replied, ¡°that is my intention. I acknowledge the history and intend to make amends for the lost friendship.¡±

    Volke hmmed before continued, ¡°your father, King Cosmo, is known for his unapologetic and megalomaniacal attitude, and he never apologized for any of his mistakes, fearing it would undermine his almighty and all-knowing image among your people. Though these two years, for some reason, he has somewhat retired backstage and passed some of his responsibility to you, but he is still the King, and you are still under his power. How much can you really promise?¡±

    ¡°My father has entrusted the negotiation to me. I have full authority over it.¡±

    ¡°But do you? What if your father deems you are too soft in the negotiation and rece you with one of your half-brothers? Will your promise still stands?¡±

    Dorian¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°I am not that easy to rece, Chieftain. I¡¯ve proved my capability to my father in the past few years. He trusts me and recognizes the importance of reuniting with our eastern friends. And I am sure someone as informative as you must have already known that he has some other priority in his life at the moment.¡±

    Lucius heard about the rumor that the King had a certain ailment, which was why he no longer appeared in public as often as before. But the one time he saw the King at his wedding, Cosmos looked healthy and strong as his often public appearance. Maybe there was some truth in the rumor, after all, inferring from Dorian¡¯s words.

    But Lucius also knew Dorian was not as confident about his father¡¯s trust as he was showing to Volke.

    ¡°It is unusual that a vampire desires peace. But I will lend you my trust, Prince Dorian. I will address the ns on your behalf as much as I can. But if Shadow Bane challenges you, you have to resolve it on your own.¡± Said Volke. They shook hands, but before ending the meeting, Volke¡¯s piercing eyes shifted to Lucius¡¯s direction, ¡°I presume our deal still holds?¡±

    Lucius was hoping now that they were allies Dorian would not impose that deal they made on him. But apparently, that was not the case.

    Dorian nced at him and said, ¡°there are some great doctors in Eternia. Perhaps I could arrange for them toe and see if there is anything they can do?¡±

    ¡°As far as I know, there is no medical or magical solution for werewolf rabies after the symptoms begin to show. Unless you im Eternia has developed a cure?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t say that, but....¡±

    ¡°Do you not believe in your consort¡¯s sacred ability?¡± Volke derided, ¡°as mates, you two have so little confidence in each other.¡±

    There was no way out. Volke¡¯s allegiance was still very brittle and could be recanted if Lucius refused to fulfill the deal. Sessful or not, he had to perform it.

    Maybe a miracle could happen. Maybe as the twin of the chosen one, Lucius could also borrow some of his brother¡¯s ability?

    But deep in his heart, he knew he would fail and be the huge fraud the whole world knew. And then Anthor would have the perfect opportunity to say that since ¡°Julian¡±¡¯s body was going to be defiled by the vampires, God pitied him and transferred his real soul and ability to Lucius¡¯s body, and the real Julian could re-emerge from hidden and re-assume his High-Priest title under Lucius¡¯s name. It was a tant lie, but people in Anthor would buy anything the Churches said. Or even if they guessed the truth, they would have agreed that it was a good deal. And vampires had no proof that he was the fake Julian all along.

    And what would happen to Lucius after all that?

    Who cares.

    Werewolves require less sleep than humans and vampires, and their sleeping time generally falls between 4am to 8am. The forest city fell into a tranquil serenity in the darkest hours before sunrise. Dorian stood alone on the balcony of their lodge, contemtive eyes looking into the distant mountain shadows, a ss of blood in hand.

    ¡°Are you really going to pretend nothing happened?¡± Lucius¡¯s voice disturbed the quietude.

    Dorian closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and turned around to look at his consort.

    Lucius was wearing a thin white shirt with the top two buttons opened. The purple and red love marks scattered on his corbones and ivory neck.

    The vampire lowered his gaze, st night was...not in my n.¡±

    ¡°So it was a mistake?¡± Lucius asked quietly, something fragile quivering in his eyes, ¡°even though we were not even drunk yet?¡±

    Dorian turned back to the forest, hating himself for being a coward. He looked at the swirling blood and said, ¡°look...you probably have guessed it...but there was a reason I wanted to marry Julian.¡±

    ¡°You knew each other.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Julian saved my life when I was exiled by Eternia and captured by humans, and I fell in love with him.¡°Dorian scoffed, ¡°I told him to wait for me for five years, and I wille back to find him. But he didn¡¯t wait. He took the vow the very next year. Maybe he never loved me the way I loved him. I can never read him well.¡±

    It felt strange telling about Julian. Dorian never told this to anyone. He waited for Lucius¡¯s reply, but only silence answered him.

    He looked back, finding Lucius still leaning against the door frame, his eyes cast down to the floor in front of him, a look of forlornness.

    Gosh, he looked exactly like Julian...Thought Dorian. And that very thought made him feel bad.

    Lucius bit his bottom lip hard to swallow the bitter taste in his mouth. He should have known. Of course, the only reason that Dorian wanted to fuck him was that he looked exactly like Julian, which was the very reason he was sent here anyway.

    This was his function from now on, to be Julian as long as he could, and he knew it from the beginning. So why did it hurt so much?

    ¡°My brother never mentioned you, even when I was visiting him at Greendale.¡± Lucius drew a wry smile, ¡°you both are very good at keeping secrets about each other. Did he know you love him?¡±

    ¡°I think so.¡±

    ¡°And he still took the vow and became a priest. It is very foolish of you to try to marry him knowing he didn¡¯t return your feeling. What were you expecting? He will be happy to renounce his religion and just be your lovely consort?¡±Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    ¡°I told you. I¡¯m not a good person. I just...missed him very much, and I need someone I can trust to be with me for whatever ising. And he was the only one I could think of.¡±

    Lucius scoffed bitterly, ¡°sorry to disappoint you.¡±

    ¡°No...maybe it¡¯s for the best.¡± Dorian gulped down the remaining blood and turned to look at Lucius, ¡°I¡¯m sorry that you are dragged into this.¡±

    Lucius looked at some spot on the floor for a while, feeling the chill in the night wind all of a sudden. Ere long, he shook his head and replied tly, ¡°it¡¯s fine. At least I know my ce now.¡±

 Chapter 17 The Miracle

    Lucius took some time to fret about his appearance before the Last Rite he was about to perform. Werewolves managed to find some items that were usually used in such rituals, including a Scripture, some holy waters and incense. They even found him priest attires, but since he had already married and supposedly no longer a priest, he didn¡¯t put them on.

    He chose a white shirt and white pants and twined the rosary with the Sacred Eye symbol on his wrist. He looked into the mirror and practiced his expressions and gestures while reciting some psalms. He knew it was all in vain. There was no way that he could cure an incurable disease.

    The young werewolf¡¯s name was Anton, and he was only eighteen years old. He caught the fatal disease while trying to rescue a beta mother and her omega son when a frenzied alpha attacked them. He killed the alpha in the process, assuming he was just a robber, not knowing that the man had werewolf rabies and was in the infectious stage. And most unfortunate of all, though most of the werewolves received vination against the disease since they were very young, this particr string was new, and a rare vine breakthrough happened.

    Currently, Anton was in the third stage, during which he was still very violent and had to be restrained on the bed with chains and straps to stop him from attacking others. No point in giving him any food or water at this point since he would probably sumb to the virus within a week.

    The whole city-state of The Guardian was praying for the courageous young worrier, and today they would all witness the ¡°miracle maker¡± making an attempt.

    Lucius contemted if losing the werewolf¡¯s restrain and letting Anton bite off his face would be a quicker way to end all these messes. But he rejected the idea immediately since it was still too much pain and too nasty a way to go.

    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Dorian knocked on the door.

    Lucius opened the bedroom door. Dorian was surprised at how pale Lucius was.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    ¡°Are you ok?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m just nervous.¡°Lucius pulled the corner of his lips and smiled worse than crying, ¡°it¡¯s not going to be a pleasant experience.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I will tell Volke that you lost your ability when you married me. He will understand.¡°Dorian whispered.

    Lucius only shook his head, ¡°this will still elicit doubts about my identity since everyone knows Julian has a twin brother. Even if you don¡¯t want to stir anything up, some people in Eternia court will definitely dig into it, trying to restart the invasion of Anthor and undermine your image. Meanwhile, my country will have to address this issue since people in Anthor cannot lose faith in the savior and prophet, and they won¡¯t hesitate to make me a scapegoat.¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯te to that.¡°Dorian said firmly, ¡°I won¡¯t let it.¡±

    ¡°Even you are not omnipotent, my dear husband.¡± Lucius sighed exhaustively, ¡°but let¡¯s hope you are right.¡±

    As Lucius expected, the praying crowd had jammed the roads in front of the hospital. People moved to the said and gave way to their car, and many eyes full of hope, doubt, misgiving, and curiosity nced over Lucius as the car went by.

    The doctor and nurses met him outside the room. Cold sweat made Lucius¡¯s hand mmy, and he hoped the doctor didn¡¯t notice it when they shook hands.

    Volke arrived shortly after, along with his sister and brother-inw. The parents of Anton looked calm andposed, though their bloodshot eyes bespoke their careworn hearts.

    A chilling howl interrupted their introduction, angry and fraught with agony and torment. If banshees indeed exist, they probably sound exactly like this.

    Volke opened the door when no others were willing to, and a rancid stench assailed Lucius¡¯s olfactory sensors. It smelled like a maggot crawling, dposing carcass that had been rotting for days in the most sweltering summer. Many people couldn¡¯t help but draw back instinctively, wanting to cover their noses but didn¡¯t dare to.

    It was a very spacious room. Aside from some destroyed medical equipment and broken leather straps strewed on the floor, a sturdy metal bed was nailed to the floor, and a big figure was strapped with a row of silver chains. It looked like a werewolf in his wolf form, but the dark gray hair was shedding everywhere, revealing his blister-covered, half-rotten body. His skin was peeling off in many ces as if it could no longer stay on his body. Blood and pus drenched the sheet.

    And yet his irises were bloody and zing, full of rage and thirst for blood. You could no longer find any light of consciousness or a soul in those irises. The only thing left was an impulse to attack and destroy.

    Some guards carrying guns with silver bullets were called in for Lucius¡¯s protection. Dorian, Volke, the parents, doctors, and nurses all stood at some distance, observing in safety. And the only one allowed to be near the moribund werewolf was Lucius.

    Lucius mustered up his guts and took the first step. He came to the side of the bed, try not to vomit from what he saw.

    Wouldn¡¯t it be more merciful to just...end his suffering?

    Anton bared his bloody teeth at Lucius and made some strange gurgling sound, and the malodor was so strong that Lucius had to hold his breath.

    ¡°Anton? Can you hear me?¡± Lucius asked gently.

    The werewolf answered with an even louder roar, and albeit bound by silver chains which were supposed to repress his strength and burn him if he struggled too harshly, he lifted his head and tried to bite Lucius. The chains were strained by his force and some of the links distorted.

    Lucius flinched reflectively and decided to keep some distance. He saw Dorian move toward him in his peripheral sight and raised his hand, signaling Dorian not to worry.

    He lit up the incense, using willow twigs dipped in the holy water, but before tossing the droplets over the werewolf, Lucius suddenly remembered that patients with rabies often developed an acute phobia of water in theirter stages. He considered it for a few seconds and decided to skip the ablution step. He then kneeled next to the bed, still keeping some distance, opened the Scripture, holding the rosary toward Anton, and began to recite the prayers.

    It was a long, tedious, and almost boring process.

    Lucius had memorized the prayers since the day he made that deal with Volke, so the Scripture was more for the purpose of holy presence. His voice seemed to agitate the young werewolf, and he struggled violently against the chains. But as Lucius repeated the whole Last Rite prayer for the third time, he seemed quieted down.

    For about three hours, Lucius didn¡¯t stop to drink water and just kept praying. At first, the words still felt strange and dry in his mouth, but as he closed his eyes and said them more and more times, he began to hope that perhaps God, if he really exists, could hear his prayer if he was praying hard enough.

    If there is a God, he could save both Anton and him with just a little bit of miracle. It wasn¡¯t too much to ask, right? He talked to Julian all the time, and Lucius just wanted this one favor, and he would promise to be the most pious believer after this.

    If the mind could externalize into physical movements, then Lucius exerted all his strength. His brows were knitted together, his lips moved fast, and he gradually went off the script.

    ¡°Dear lord, have mercy on this honorable soul. He is still a child. He did a good thing, saving the vulnerable from an already dead man. Don¡¯t take him away from his parents. He does not deserve such a fate. Please help him, please help him, please help him...¡±

    Lucius never knew he could pray with such sincerity. Perhaps it was desperation. But he tried all kinds of tactics in his mind. Bargaining, begging, berating, apologizing...But none worked. He heard nothing, felt nothing. He was not his brother, after all.

    As more hours went by, Lucius¡¯s throat was on fire, and his kneeling legs had already passed the hurting stage and entered the numbing phase. Many people waiting outside had gone home, and even the parents had to leave to take a break and returnter.

    ¡°How long will this keep going? You are asking too much!¡± Dorian whispered to Volke.

    ¡°It took him almost twelve hours to heal that little girlst time,¡± Volke said curtly, ¡°I won¡¯t be surprised if it¡¯s going to take longer.¡±

    ¡°I understand it is painful to lose someone you love. I lost my mother, and I knew it all too well. But don¡¯t tell me you are so into your own head and reject the reality to the extent that you even believe their God will save your nephew. Don¡¯t forget we are all the damned ones in their God¡¯s eyes.¡±

    ¡°You consort agreed to this.¡± Volke answered coldly, ¡°if he stops and admits failure, I won¡¯t force him to go on. But you may want to consider if he really is who he ims to be.¡±

    Dorian red at him warningly, but Volke only returned a toothful smile.

    Couple more hours psed, and Lucius began to despair. Was there really any point in keeping going? He knew he couldn¡¯t seed, and Dorian knew it too. It was nothing surprising.

    There were still many ways he could say to exin himself away. He could say it was God¡¯s intention to collect this young man¡¯s soul early. He could me it all on God¡¯s will.

    He was about to end the rite and stood up, but his legs buckled under him as he had been kneeling for too long. And as he stumbled forward, the reposing werewolf suddenly opened his eyes and lunged up. His baring muscles tensed up to the extreme, and instantly the silver chains all distorted and broke.

    It all happened so fast and without any warning, and Lucius was too close to Anton for any guard or Dorian toe to rescue him. He heard Dorian¡¯s shout and people¡¯s cries of shock as he watched the deformed giant werewolf pouncing at him, all blood-seeking fangs baring. Lucius closed his eyes in horror and screamed in his mind at thest moment.

    ¡°You said you would help me when God doesn¡¯t listen! Now I¡¯m praying to you! Save me!¡±

    And then, for a short second, all sound ceased. Even the air stood still as if frozen in time. Lucius once again felt that hot, scorching breath and heard that ominous, sinister voice whisper in his ear, ¡°as you wish.¡±

    Lucius didn¡¯t dare to open his eyes immediately, but the imminent pain and death didn¡¯tnd. He heard people¡¯s exmation and murmuring, full of astonishment but no longer urgent.

    Lucius gingerly cracked his eyelid and then widened his eyespletely. All thoughts paused in his mind.

    The werewolf was kneeling before him, looking delirious and confused, gradually returning to his human form. The red in his eyes was rapidly subsiding, the blisters and rotting patches were shrinking, and new tissues were growing appreciably. He went from zombie-like walking dead to a handsome young man within a few brief minutes.

    Anton looked at his own hand and then looked up at Lucius, then he inquired in perplexity, ¡°who are you?¡±

 Chapter 18 The Sleeping Ones

    A miracle.

    Lucius was still in shock when the parents hugged their son in exultant tears, and the doctors and the shamans stood agape. He watched the whole scene, wondering if it was a dream until Dorian gently touched his shoulder.

    ¡°You ok?¡±

    Lucius nodded, ¡°I think so?¡±

    ¡°What did you do?¡± Dorian regarded him astounded.

    ¡°I...um...I prayed.¡±

    ¡°And God answered?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know....¡± Lucius didn¡¯t feel happy about it as he should have. He had this sinking feeling in his stomach that he had done something that he would regret profoundly in the future.

    Because he was sure it wasn¡¯t God who answered his prayer.

    Who was that presence that haunted his dream when he almost died from feeding Dorian? He thought it was only a dream or a delusion, but why did he pray to the voice in the moment of exigency? And worst of all, why did it answer his entreaty?

    The rest of the night went by in a blur. Lucius remembered many people talking to him, but he couldn¡¯t recollect his reply. His legs hurt like hell, his throat dry and burning as if he hadn¡¯t drunk a drop of water for days, and his head light and dizzy. Thankfully Dorian noticed his exhaustion and made an excuse for them to retire.

    ¡°I need a bath,¡± Lucius told Dorian once they returned to the lodge. He sank into the steamy water, letting the warmth alleviate the soreness of the muscles and closed his eyes, trying to lose his tightened nerves.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.

    But he couldn¡¯t rx. How could he when something so strange thatpletely altered his worldview just happened?

    He didn¡¯t believe in god or miracles. He had thought that the ¡°miracle¡± Julian performed was just some sheer coincidence. Maybe the little girl was about to get better anyway, and she just happened to recover after his prayers. Or perhaps the doctors gave her the wrong diagnosis. There were many ways to exin it. But now, he wasn¡¯t so sure anymore.

    When that crazed, half-corpse werewolf pounced at him, when his life was about to end, he could feel a pull simr to what he felt that night as Dorian drank his blood to the extent that he knew his life was slipping away.

    ¡°Some say twins are one person¡¯s soul split into two, one divine, the other evil. Which one are you, Lucius?¡±

    Lucius still remembered that voice clearly, apanied by a strange itchy feeling deep inside his body, like many tiny hands tickling the inside of his veins. He ran his left hand over his dew-covered chest, recalling the hot, wet tentacles in that dream coiling around his body, slithered under his shirt and rubbing his nipple. He let out a shaky moan as he tilted his head backward, resting on the tub¡¯s edge.

    His right hand wrapped around his hardened cock, and he wasn¡¯t sure if he was already in the dream again, but he could feel the snaky tentacles crawling up his ankles, shins, and thighs, tititing his entrance. His lips were open, and his face flushed as the electricity of pleasure continuously built up.

    But then a knock on the door interrupted everything.

    ¡°Is everything ok?¡± Dorian¡¯s voice sounded hesitant.

    Lucius snapped back to reality and sat straight up from the embrace of the water. He lost time, and the water was only lukewarm now.

    ¡°Um, yeah. I will be out soon.¡°He said embarrassingly.

    Lucius quickly dried himself, wrapped the bathrobe around his body, and opened the door. Dorian reposed on the couch with a ss of blood in hand, reading something on aptop. He regarded Lucius with such an odd expression.

    ¡°Volke will send his guards to convoy us to Lord Durchville¡¯s manor tomorrow,¡± said Dorian.

    Lucius avoided his gaze, ¡°oh really? That¡¯s great.¡±

    ¡°Do you want to talk about what happened today?¡±

    ¡°Not really.¡±

    ¡°Ok.¡± Dorian turned his eyes back to the screen, ¡°after today, no one will doubt your identity anymore. It¡¯s a good thing.¡±

    ¡°Is that all you care about?¡°Lucius red at him.

    ¡°You are unharmed, and Volke owes you a great debt. The result is better than I expected. Is there anything else I should worry about?¡± Dorian answered calmly, didn¡¯t even look up.

    Lucius rolled his eyes and stormed into the bedroom, unsure why he was so pissed about Dorian¡¯s attitude.

    Lord Durchville sent soldiers to meet the werewolves¡¯ convoy halfway to escort Dorian and Lucius back to vampire territory. And three hourster, when thest sunlight sunk under the horizon, they finally arrived at the Durchville family¡¯s feud, Sparrowmoor.

    The city had been fending off werewolves¡¯ attacks for months, and many were wounded or killed in the strife. Therefore, a stagnant and bleak air haunted everyone¡¯s countenance. The buildings were still magnificent and historical, but a mood of gray and loss enveloped every brick and beam like an exhausting man after a long, strenuous battle.

    The Durchville manor nestled at the foot of a verdant hill, surrounded by luxuriate maple and linden. The moss-stained ancient walls were covered by a thick nket of ivy. The towers and pinnacles pointed sharply toward the sky. A moat surrounded the historical estate, and many garrison soldiers patrolled around it.

    Once they got out of the car, myriads shlights of all sorts of media assailed them and immediately gave Lucius a headache, but he still managed to p on a charming smile and wave. He didn¡¯t sleep well thest day, so he hoped people wouldn¡¯t pay too much attention to the dark circles under his eyes.

    Dorian walked one step ahead of him. He was in a ck velvet suit and looked especially morous and graceful. He paused briefly in front of all the media and put his arms on Lucius¡¯s back, pulling him closer to his body while giving him a dazzling smile that Lucius had never seen privately. Lucius was slightly caught off guard, but he soon understood that Dorian was just trying to show the world how ¡°in love¡± they were.

    ¡°You are so natural at this,¡± Lucius whispered through his feigned smiling lips.

    And Dorian replied in the same quiet voice, ¡°it¡¯s what I¡¯ve been practicing my whole life. ¡±

    Many journalists were shouting questions, and one of them managed to get close enough that her voice stood out, ¡°Prince Dorian, were the werewolves responsible for the assassination?¡±

    Dorian looked at her and answered, ¡°the attackers were werewolves, but we do not know which organization is behind it. But I am sure The Guardians have nothing to do with it since they have been sheltering us for the past several days.¡±

    ¡°How did you survive the attack?¡± Another voice asked.

    Dorian turned the questioner and replied solemnly, ¡°unfortunately, all of the guards convoying us are tragically killed. I could terminate most of them, but I couldn¡¯t catch anyone alive because I was also gravely wounded. If not for my consort, I won¡¯t be standing here today.¡±

    Lucius did not expect Dorian to suddenly mention him and was flustered a little when all the attention of the journalists shifted toward him.

    ¡°Consort Julian, how do you feel about living in Eternia?¡±

    ¡°Are you worried about your safety?¡±

    ¡°Do you still consider yourself ¡®the angel of God¡¯ since you broke your vow?¡±

    ¡°Will you consider turning into a vampire?¡±

    A barrage of questions bombed him from every direction, and Lucius couldn¡¯t even hear them clearly. He maintained his smile and replied as loud as possible, ¡°I am still God¡¯s servant in my heart, but Prince Dorian has been very attentive, patient, and considerate with me. I am truly grateful for it.¡±

    ¡°What do you want to say to the Churches, your King, and your parents?¡± Another one asked.

    Lucius didn¡¯t flinch, ¡°I want them to know, do not worry about me. I will try my best not to let them down.¡±

    Dorian nced at Lucius, wondering if there was ayer of sarcasm under Lucius¡¯s calm tone. However, he had to admit Lucius¡¯s performance in front of the cameras exceeded his expectations. His version of Julian was innocent but charming, and the smile was preprocessing and disarming even by vampire standards.

    He wondered how Lucius really felt about being sent here in his brother¡¯s ce because he was not as precious and important. Was he angry? Despair? Despondent? Jealous? Did he hate his parents and Julian? If so, why was he still trying so hard?

    And how his parents, the Churches and the King would feel when they heard about the miracle Lucius performed for the young werewolf man?

    Was that even a real miracle? Why wasn¡¯t Lucius happy about the oue?

    The guards began to disburse the media and led them to the main house.

    The whole Durchville family came out to wee them. Lord Durchville looked in histe thirties, spruce and dapper like a gentleman from an older time. He was greatly relieved upon seeing a mostly unscathed Dorian, as he would have been in great trouble if the court decided to me the Crown Prince¡¯s disappearance on him.

    Dorian wanted a private discussion about the new alliance and their strategy in the negotiation right away, so Lucius was left with Lady Lilian Durchville. She was a beautiful woman with chestnut, long wavy hair, and cerulean eyes.

    She gave Lucius a tour of the manor, giving him a brief introduction to the family estate¡¯s history. Durchville family was one of the oldest houses in Eternia, and their bloodline was pure and stayed true to their Elder, Hecate the Witch, and rarely mixed their blood with other elder lines. Sions in their line were often talented in witchcraft, like casting curses and hexes or reading the fortune through a medium.

    Lilian was the very definition of a witch. Beautiful, stylish, and confident, always carrying a seductive aura. She stole many nces from Lucius during the tour, curious about the first human consort in Eternia¡¯s history.

    ¡°I heard that you performed a miracle for The Guardians. Is it true?¡± She asked as they strolled into the forest.

    ¡°Words travel fast.¡± Lucius said dryly, covering his uneasiness with modesty, ¡°I suppose I did.¡±

    ¡°So you can really hear God talking to you?¡±

    ¡°Sometimes. When he chooses to.¡±

    ¡°What does he sound like?¡±

    Lucius smiled gently at her and repeated his brother¡¯s words, ¡°I can¡¯t describe, but it was the most beautiful sound I¡¯ve ever heard.¡±

    ¡°How do you know it is not your own imagination? Many schizophrenia patients also hear voices.¡±

    Lucius chuckled. That was exactly the same thought he had about his brother. Turns out the vampires were much better critical thinkers.

    s, he was his brother now, ¡°because I couldn¡¯t have been able to imagine a voice like that. You can¡¯t imagine something beyond yourprehension, can you?¡±

    Lilian bit her lips flirtatiously, ¡°very interesting argument, your holiness.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t call me that. I¡¯m no longer the High Priest of Anthor.¡±

    ¡°Well, your God doesn¡¯t seem to agree.¡±

    Presently theye to the end of the leaves-covered path, and a moss-dappled cliff was erected in front of them. A cataract hung over it like a long, shimmering white silk, pouring into the emerald pond. A heavy, solemn, and desting-looking arch door was etched into the cliff next to the fall, and the only ess was several big and t rocks protruding from the pond.

    ¡°Where is that door leading to?¡± Lucius asked curiously.

    ¡°That is the only ce you shouldn¡¯t go near in this estate. None of us gets too close to the Sleeping Chamber.¡°Lilian warned, ¡°the door won¡¯t open anyway. It has been sealed and can only be opened with a certain ritual.¡±

    ¡°Why? What¡¯s in there?¡±

    ¡°The Sleeping Ones.¡°Lilian answered in a boding tune, ¡°Durchville family has been living here for a very, very long time, and before us, some ancestors decided that they¡¯ve lived long enough, and they entered it, sealed the door, and never came out again.¡±

    ¡°Are they dead?¡±

    ¡°Probably not. They are just sleeping. We don¡¯t know how many Durchville ancestors are sleeping in there. Some of them could be as old as the First Generation.¡±

    ¡°And what happens if someone wakes them up?¡±

    ¡°Who knows. Vampires who have been sleeping for too long cannot differentiate dreams from reality and often be unpredictable and dangerous, and because the older a vampire is, the more powerful they be, who knows what kind of hell the Sleeping Ones will unleash? I heard about a vampire king who slept for a thousand years, and when he was woken up by some devotees who worshiped him as a god, he went mad and blood-bathed a city overnight, and the only survivor was a little human girl. She was also scared into madness and kept telling the same horror story about that night over and over for decades until she died in an asylum.¡±

    ¡°So...they are like timed bombs?¡± Lucius remarked astonishingly, ¡°if they don¡¯t want to live anymore, why didn¡¯t they just...end themselves?¡±

    ¡°Tsk tsk, are you advocating for suicide? I thought it is a sin for you God-fearing believers.¡±

    ¡°But vampires are not believers, are you?¡±

    ¡°Well, I guess sleeping forever is a bit different than non-existence. Thetter cannot be reversed. Also, ording to your Scripture, we damned ones won¡¯t be going anywhere pleasant after death. Some of us are superstitious, and we try our best to postpone our inevitable fall into perdition.¡±

    ¡°But what if this ce falls into the wrong people¡¯s hands?¡±

    ¡°Then the enemy will pay the price. Wouldn¡¯t that be good?¡°Lilian winked at him.

    Lucius gave one more nce at the heavy stone doors. ording to the intelligence of Anthor, the First Generation are the ones who were turned by the Elders personally. Hence, they have the strongest connection to the Elders.

    If he could find one First Generation, he might discover more clues leading him to the Elders.

    Lilian led him to the suit prepared for him and Dorian. The living room and bedroom were thoughtfully warm, higher than the coolness vampires used to. The bed was enormous with four stately poles, big enough for four people to sleep on.

    Lilian presented the bed and grinned yfully, ¡°I personally chose the bedding. They are all incensed with rose and musk oil that can add more excitement to your...private entertainments.¡±

    Lucius faked embarrassment and bashfulness by averting his eyes and stuttering a little, ¡°um...thank you.¡±

    ¡°You must be exhausted after the whole werewolf mishap. Gosh, I can¡¯t imagine how dreadful to be trapped with those beasts.¡±

    ¡°It was actually not bad. They were quite hospitable once they knew we were not enemies.¡±

    ¡°Still, I will leave you to rest. Let the valet or any servant know if you need anything.¡°She paused at the door and added, ¡°oh and try not to go to the dungeons, and don¡¯t mind if you hear some noises. We often feed meat to some orge hordes there.¡±

    Not long after she left, Lucius heard the ¡°noise.¡± A long, ear-piercing scream, full of horror and agony. Itsted for about five minutes and gradually died off.

    How ironic. Lucius had no doubt the term ¡°meat¡± meant some human ves. He was supposed to be ¡°safe¡± now. He started to wonder if it was better to stay with the werewolves...at least they seemed to only eat humans on rare and special asions...

    Why are humans so weakpared to all these supposedly ¡°damned ones¡±? If they are truly loved by God, then why are they the helpless prey of all the devils¡¯ progenies?

    He was sick of such a feeling. Weak, under the mercy of some stronger, more powerful beings, cannot even walk the hallway without worrying about being attacked by a random passerby.

    Perhaps what the Churches and the King told him before he departed for Eternia were right. The only way for humans to live without fear was to bring all of them down. To make them as weak and helpless as all humans.

    But then what? Would humans be better than them, given the power?

 Chapter 19 A Gift

    ¡°How did you two meet?¡± Lucius asked.

    He was lying on one side of the bed and Dorian on the other, back facing back. The space between them was enough for two more adults lyingfortably.

    Dorian didn¡¯t say anything, and Lucius almost thought he was asleep.

    ¡°Why do you want to know?¡±

    ¡°Because I¡¯m your consort. I think I have a right to know about my husband¡¯s past love affairs.¡±

    ¡°It was not a love affair. And I¡¯m not ready to talk about him with you.¡±

    That exasperated Lucius to no end. He brooded silently for a few minutes before opening his mouth again, ¡°what¡¯s the end game then?¡±

    ¡°End game?¡±

    ¡°Yes. What do you want from these alliances? Do you really just want peace? And what do you n to do with me after you get what you want? I don¡¯t suppose you really want to keep me as your consort.¡±

    Dorian was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, ¡°why don¡¯t I want to keep you?¡±

    ¡°Because I¡¯m not Julian but only an imposter and a painful reminder. I don¡¯t suppose you want to pretend this rtionship for your whole life? Besides, I¡¯m unable to give you an heir.¡±

    ¡°Pretending is the essence of a political marriage. As for the heir, I can have it with a concubine in the future.¡±

    ¡°Ah, so it¡¯s just a marriage in name. If that¡¯s the case, I guess you don¡¯t mind me taking other lovers?¡±

    ¡°You need to wait until I be the King. Now is not a good time to break the pretense. I can promise you that I won¡¯t take a concubine before that as well, if that helps.¡°Dorian¡¯s tune was so dispassionate that it felt like talking about business rather than their marriage.

    Lucius was getting increasingly frustrated, albeit he didn¡¯t want to admit his feelings, ¡°how generous of you.¡±

    Dorian sighed and sat up, looking at Lucius¡¯s back, ¡°why are you upset?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not.¡±

    ¡°Liar.¡±

    Lucius pulled the cover over his head.

    Dorian rolled his eyes, ¡°you are acting like a child.¡±

    ¡°And you are annoying!¡±

    After another moment of silence, Dorian nudged Lucius¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°What?!¡± Lucius snapped.

    ¡°How long since you¡¯ve watched a sunrise?¡±

    Lucius pulled the cover off and turned to look at the vampire prince nonplused, ¡°like...forever?¡±

    Dorian got out of bed, e on, put on some clothes.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    Dorian nced at him while buttoning his shirt, ¡°I can¡¯t sleep, and you can¡¯t either. Would you rather waste your time lying on the bed with eyes wide open?¡±

    ¡°You want to go watch the sunrise?¡± Lucius chuckled amusingly, ¡°but you are a vampire. You suppose to hate the sun even if you are an apostle.¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°It¡¯s not good for my skin, but luckily I am immortal, and my cell regeneration speed is 100 times faster than humans.¡±

    Lucius blinked. Did Dorian really just make a joke?

    As Lucius dressed himself, Dorian pulled the curtain open, and the first beam of sunlight poured into the darkness-dominated realm like molten gold. Lucius was so unused to it after more than two months of vampire-style life that he couldn¡¯t keep his eyes open.

    ¡°Ah! So bright!¡±

    ¡°I thought I am the vampire in this marriage.¡± Dorian bantered and slid the tall arched window open. The early breeze from the valley carried the refreshing scent of dew and primrose swept into the room.

    Dorian extended his hand toward Lucius, e on, let¡¯s take a walk.¡±

    The golden sunlight trickled over the prince¡¯s golden skin, warm and radiating, framing him in an ethereal and eternal mor. Lucius was enamored, and he wasn¡¯t trying much to resist. He took his nominal husband¡¯s hand and let that strong arm hold him tight. The dark, powerful wings spread in the wind, and suddenly they were in the air, and the grand manor quickly receded below their feet.

    Lucius gasped and clutched at Dorian¡¯s shirt, but the tight support around his waist soon ayed his flutter. And he was quickly distracted by the breathtaking scenery surrounding him. The morning mist was not fully disbursed yet and floated over some distant forest like a mirage of a fairyke while the effulgent sunlight mantled the other half of the woods. All kinds of colors of this corporeal world came alive with the day, everything new and bright as if full of hope for another day in another life.

    Doriannded on the top of a precipice and let Lucius go. In front of them, nothing was blocking their sight, and the forest undted like an emerald sea. The manor stood afar, surrounded by gleaming water. And at the horizon, the mountains could no longer shield the sun rays, and the indomitable red was tinting half of the sky into a brilliant painting of rose, purple and crimson.

    Lucius was dazzled by such beauty. He sat down on a mossy boulder, letting the gentle warmth caress his face.

    ¡°This is unreal. Like a shot in a movie.¡±

    Dorian sat next to him, and his gaze went somewhere far, far away, ¡°I found this spot when I came here to visit when I was younger. I took my mother here one time. She didn¡¯t want to leave.¡±

    It was the first time Dorian mentioned histe mother. Lucius turned to look at him, ¡°do you miss her?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Every day.¡± Dorian answered quietly.

    ¡°How did she die?¡±

    ¡°She was caught by humans when Anthor upied Silverkeep, where we were exiled to, and then they tortured her for days before burning her into ashes and scattered her into the dirt all over the city. I couldn¡¯t save a piece of her.¡±

    Lucius silently gasped. He knew about Queen Mitra Ani¡¯s death since it was in the news for days when the whole Anthor was celebrating ¡°liberating Silverkeep from the damned ones.¡± But the media never mentioned any details and implied that she deserved to die since she was the queen of those bloodthirst monsters. Lucius had always known that humans were also capable of cruel things given the power and the situation, but hearing it from such a direct source was still shocking.

    He didn¡¯t know what to say. Should he apologize to Anthor? Would that make anything better?

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. ¡°Dorian paused for a few seconds and chuckled, ¡°I think I matured much more in these six years after her death than my previous hundred years of life. You probably won¡¯t believe this, but I wanted to be a musician rather than being the Crown Prince.¡±

    ¡°No way!¡°Luciusughed, ¡°are you serious?¡±

    ¡°Do I not look like the artistic type?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that. It¡¯s just...after watching you do all those badass ninja-killing moves, it¡¯s hard to rte you to that aspect. What instrument do you y?¡±

    ¡°Cello and piano. I alsoposed some pieces.¡±

    Lucius chuckled, ¡°I would love to hear you y sometime.¡±

    ¡°What about you? What do you do before all of these?¡°Dorian turned to him and asked. And the question caught Lucius off-guard. Dorian had never asked about his past. He thought the prince was not interested in him enough to want to know.

    ¡°Well, promise you won¡¯tugh, and I will tell you.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯tugh.¡±

    Lucius brushed his flying front hair behind his ear, appearing bashful, ¡°I...uh...I used to drawics and post them online. It was about a demon who got bullied a lot in hell because he was too nice. It was not very sessful, though.¡±

    Dorian blinked and then burst into sonorousughter, ¡°I would never have thought!¡±

    ¡°You promised you won¡¯tugh!¡±

    ¡°Sorry, it was just hrious.¡± Dorian took out his phone a tad too quickly, ¡°where can I read it? What¡¯s your name online?¡±

    ¡°I am absolutely not going to tell you.¡± Lucius tried to appear annoyed but failed as a grain climbed his face.

    ¡°Rest assured, I will find it.¡± Dorian couldn¡¯t stop chuckling. Lucius had never seen himugh in such a simple and genuine way, which was so bright and infectious. Lucius was mesmerized by the prince¡¯s beauty, and he didn¡¯t realize that he was staring.

    Dorian¡¯s chuckle gradually transmuted into a smile, ¡°you stare a lot, you know that?¡±

    Lucius cleared his throat embarrassingly, yet not wanting to show his sheepishness, ¡°what? I only stare at pretty faces. You should feel honored.¡±

    ¡°Then I shall congratte you for your good taste.¡±

    Their eyes locked, and for a few seconds, none of them spoke. The breeze and sunlight awoke an ineffable connection, pulling them closer and closer. Lucius¡¯sshes fluttered, and his eyes were half closed as he could feel they were about to kiss. But just at thest moment, Dorian pulled away.

    The magic was broken, and a rush of disappointment poured over Lucius¡¯s heart when Dorian turned his head to the other direction.

    ¡°We should go back.¡± Dorian said, ¡°Before anyone notices we are missing.¡±

    ¡°Ok.¡± Lucius concurred quietly.

    The next day Dorian was about to set out to Aetherfort for the negotiation. Lord Durchville and several generals went along with him.

    Before leaving, Lucius and Lady Durchville came out of the house to bid them farewell. Dorian came before Lucius and held his hand, performing his part as an affectionate husband. He said in the voice only the two could hear: ¡°try not to leave our room unless necessary. Keep the windows and doors locked.¡±

    Lucius nodded, ¡°try not to get yourself killed.¡±

    And then Dorian was gone.

    As Lucius watched the car disappear in the distance, a cloud of unsettledness overcast his heart. He looked around, catching some malevolent leers among the servants and guards. He suddenly realized that he was very alone and defenseless. He quickly excused himself and went straight back to their suite.

    On the third day of Dorian¡¯s absence, a servant came to deliver Lady Durchville¡¯s invitation for a small party at midnight. She expressed concern that he hadn¡¯t left his suite much since Dorian left. Not wanting to be rude or draw attention or suspicion, Lucius epted it. He let the valet dress him in a silver embroidered white shirt and white pants, fitting for his usual personal. He looked at himself in the mirror and wondered when he would be able to wear other colors again. He was so sick of white by now.

    Two guards escorted him to the party, which was held in a luxury and exotic pavilion on the bank of the river, surrounded by willow and flowers. Laughter and music mixed with the sweetness of honey and wine roaming among theyers of flowy, diaphanous curtains.

    As the curtain was lifted, Lucius paused in astonishment.

    Party was probably not an urate description of what he saw. An orgy was a more befitting term.

    There were vampires, but most were beautiful, half-naked, resplendent jewelry-bedecked human sex ves. Some were dancing, and some wereying on the cushions or daybeds, letting their masters have their way with them. Wine and milk were poured over the lustrous skin, and the vampires were licking them off the yielding bodies, nipping small amounts of blood here and there like tasting desserts.

    Among them was Lady Durchville, surrounded by the most beautiful men and women like a queen. She beckoned at Lucius, e, your highness. You wear way too many clothes!¡±

    Many eyes were following Lucius¡¯s move. He carefully crossed the room, trying his best not to step on any sprawling body. He stood before Lilian, trying to appear embarrassed and ufortable, ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting this kind of party.¡±

    Lilian chuckled amusingly and seductively, ¡°I thought I¡¯d loosen you up a little now that our husbands are both away.¡±

    ¡°I hardly think this will loosen me up, mydy,¡± Lucius said in a sarcastic tone.

    ¡°Come on. Dorian won¡¯t mind! You can pick anyone you like, and I will give them to you. It is well known that my sex ves are the best in the county. They are good-looking, smart and eager to please.¡± As she spoke, a young man with blond hair was licking her private part under her heavilyyered dress.

    Lucius roved around the pavilion, observing all the human ves. They all looked pliant and eager, as if they were all enjoying it. But was it real? He heard about some sex ve trainers brainwashing all these humans with spells and psychological tricks, making them think they loved their masters with all of their heart and soul, that some ves even killed themselves in grief when Anthor took over Silverkeep and executed their masters.

    Lucius saw no more soul or self-awareness in all these ves¡¯ eyes. The only thing left was a desire for their masters. It made him sad.

    A young man with dark hair and baby-blue eyes touched his chest and breathed into his ear, ¡°let me serve you, your highness.¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯m ok.¡± Lucius flinched away, holding his feigned personality.

    ¡°At least try some wine. These are from your country. You must be missing the taste of home.¡± Lilian passed him a ss of dark red liquid.

    As Lucius reluctantly epted it, some distantmotion outside the pavilion caught his attention. Someone was cursing, and there was the sound of a whip cracking. Lucius lifted the closest curtain and saw a guard was whipping someone kneeling on the ground violently. With so much force, the pain must be excruciating, yet that kneeling figure wasn¡¯t making much sound.

    ¡°He used to be my favorite, but he was never properly broken.¡°Lilian leaned on the column next to Lucius, observing the cruel getion, ¡°I guess that was why I favored him, like making love to an untamable beast. But he tried to escape yesterday, killed some of my orges and wounded several guards. I suppose I will have to feed him to my orges after this since it is too dangerous to keep him. What a waste. He has such a perfect body, handsome face, and one of the biggest cock I¡¯ve seen on a human¡¯s body.¡°Lilian tsked her tongue regretfully.

    Lucius watched the whipping continue. It had been going for a while, but the man hadn¡¯t cried or moaned. The ve¡¯s broad back was covered in blood, and yet Lucius could discern the powerful muscle mass and the kind of body built only soldiers or warriors would have.

    ¡°You said I can have any ve I want?¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course.¡±

    Lucius pointed at the ve being whipped and said, ¡°I want him.¡±

 Chapter 20 Florian

    The ve was dragged in front of Lucius and forced to kneel. The skin and flesh on his back split and gushed open, yet his back was still straight like a spruce. He looked older than Lucius, in his early thirties, with brte hair, sunkissed skin and mature, attractive lineaments. Unlike vampires, he had stubbles on his chin and hair on his thick, muscr chest, apletely different kind of crude, masculine charm than Dorian¡¯s more sophisticated beauty.

    The ve fixed his eyes on his new master. Surprise flit across the brown irises. However, Lucius saw no reverence or excitement that believers usually had when seeing his face.

    Lucius asked, ¡°what is your name?¡±

    Before the ve could answer, one of the guards said, ¡°he is Buck.¡±

    ¡°Buck, do you want toe with me?¡±

    Lilian chortled next to him, ¡°oh my dear, you really need to get used to the concept of ¡®ves.¡¯ What they want doesn¡¯t matter because they shouldn¡¯t want anything.¡±

    Lucius sighed and turned to her, ¡°can you please let someone treat his wound? I don¡¯t want him to be dead in a few days.¡±

    ¡°Of course. I will also get him cleaned up and prepared for your enjoyment. But are you sure you don¡¯t want a more tamed one? This one can be dangerous. The moment you thought you¡¯d broken him, he would surprise you with some rebellion..¡± Lilian licked her lips while ncing at Buck, ¡°not that I don¡¯t know about the charm of a dangerous prey, but I don¡¯t want you to get injured.¡±

    ¡°I will be careful.¡± Lucius insisted.

    After Buck was taken away, Lucius quickly found an excuse and left the orgy. Within a couple hours, someone knocked at his door.

    ¡°Buck is ready for your service.¡± Said the guard.

    All the blood and dirt on the man had been washed off, revealing even more defined muscle lines hiding under a thinyer of fabric. His short hair was also cleaned, groomed, and styled, appearing rich and lustrous with some elegant waves. He looked almost like a knight from ssic literature if not for the ve brand visibly etched on his neck.

    ¡°He has the newest Pulse5.3 chip imnted on his cerebral cortex.¡± The ve trainer, who was a short neophyte, said fawningly as he present a pamphlet to Lucius, ¡°here is the manual including all the verbalmands that can trigger different functions of the imnt,pelling him to perform various duties. The mostmonly used ones are these.¡± He showed the punishment section to Lucius, which listed numerous types of punishment, including burning pain,ceration pain, shock, immobility, etc., each came with five intensity levels, all can be triggered by mere words.

    ¡°However, the pleasure section cane in very handy if you want to train him to repeat certain behavior patterns more often. It¡¯s basically like training a dog. They usually react even better with positive reinforcements.¡± He flipped the page and pointed at another list of ¡°rewards,¡± including rxing, euphoria, climax, positive hallucination, etc. Lucius gaped at the manual. He heard rumors about the ve chips that vampires installed in human ves but had never imagined that it came with a manual, as if the ve was some sort of robot.

    This was bat shit crazy...to haveplete power over another being, dictating not only how they act but also how they feel and think...

    Buck fixed his eyes on the floor, but Lucius could see shame and anger tinged his face and his hands clenched into fists as if he wanted to punch someone.

    ¡°Does your highness have any questions about how to use him?¡± The trainer inquired tteringly, ¡°do you want me to show you how to get him to perform certain tasks?¡±

    Lucius shook his head, ¡°no, it¡¯s ok. I like to discover things by myself.¡±

    ¡°Very well, enjoy.¡± The trainer left, and Lucius closed the door.

    Buck didn¡¯t move even though they were alone in the suite, and physically he was much stronger than Lucius and could have easily overpowered him.

    Lucius looked back at him semi-nervously.

    ¡°So...what¡¯s your real name?¡±

    Buck answered mechanically, ¡°Florian Edelstein.¡±

    ¡°Nice name. I think I will call you Florian privately.¡±

    Buck, or Florian, raised his head and saw Lucius smiling. Such a tender and amiable smile reminded him of the ssic paintings in cathedrals, simple and bright, devoid of evil or ill-intentions.

    However, the man was not dazzled as easily as other human ves Lucius had met. He lowered his head again and said coldly with a hint of sarcasm, ¡°yes, master.¡±

    ¡°Where did youe from?¡± Lucius went to the bar table andid out two sses.

    Florian replied, ¡°Utharia.¡±

    Utharia, one of the smaller human countries trampled by Eternia¡¯s ruthless force in the past few years. Their prime minister and many government dignitaries were executed publicly, and their people were ughtered or sold as ves. Some luckier ones escaped into Anthor as refugees.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Lucius said as he passed a ss of scotch to Florian.

    Florian hesitated for a moment but took the ss.

    ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± Lucius sat on the sofa, crossing his legs.

    Florian said nonchntly, ¡°you were one of the High Priests of Anthor, Julian Rosenfield, the one who spoke to God. But now you are just another ything for the vamps, even though you are not branded.¡±

    ¡°They are not lying when they say you are not tamed.¡± Lucius chuckled, ¡°how long have you been here?¡±

    ¡°Three years.¡±

    ¡°And yet you are still not broken. I am impressed.¡±

    The man didn¡¯t speak. He merely took a big gulp from the ss and then began unbuttoning his shirt, ¡°how do you want me to serve you?¡±

    Lucius was unfazed. He leaned back on the couch and said, ¡°I don¡¯t need a sex ve.¡±

    Florian frowned, ¡°then why did you ask for me?¡±

    ¡°As you said, I¡¯m not exactly in a higher position than you. Even though I am not branded as a ve, many vampires still see me as one. They just don¡¯t dare to touch me when the crown prince still shows interest in me.¡± Lucius inhaled deeply, ¡°I need someone I know won¡¯t see me as prey, someone I may be able to trust, to protect me.¡±

    Florian looked at him with mild curiosity, ¡°that woman Lilian put this imnt in my head. Anyone can disarm me with mere verbalmands. Besides, how do you know I am even capable of protecting you?¡±

    ¡°The special agent who killed more than ten apostle vampires before getting caught surely wouldn¡¯t mind protecting a helpless priest.¡± Lucius smiled smugly, ¡°it isn¡¯t hard to do some online research and find out that after the fall of Utharia, the famous Lady Durchville went into a bidding war for one of the most deadly vampire hunters, which is you, Special Agent Edelstein.¡±

    ¡°Then why did you even ask my name?¡±

    ¡°Thought I¡¯d let you introduce yourself.¡± Lucius shrugged and continued, ¡°as for the imnt, we can think of something when we return to Emberton. As for now, you can just be my servant in front of others. What do you say?¡±

    Florian scoffed, ¡°anything is better than being that crazy campdy¡¯s bitch.¡±

    ¡°Fabulous.¡°Lucius yarned and stood up, ¡°I¡¯m going to bed. You can take this couch or the daybed. It¡¯s up to you. If you are hungry, there are pastries and fruits on the kitchen counter. Good night.¡± He then went into the bedroom, feeling Florian¡¯s gaze stuck to his back.

    Lucius wasn¡¯t very concerned that Florian would attack him after he fell asleep, as it would do him no good. Lucius was the only reason he was still alive and his only ticket to leave here.

    And to Lucius, it felt less lonely knowing another human was right outside of his room. It was like finding arade in the middle of a battlefield.

    More importantly, Florian had been here for three years. He probably knew more about the Sleeping Ones. The ves were everywhere and often ignored when conversations ensued, and they would definitely talk among themselves.

    Lucius only hoped Dorian wouldn¡¯t be against it.

    ¡°How was your night?¡± Lady Durchville grinned at Lucius as he and Florian entered the dining room for breakfast.

    ¡°Quite nice. I had some interesting conversations with Buck. Oh, if it¡¯s not too much trouble, could you please find some servant garment for him? I don¡¯t have anything that fits his size, and I think his current attire is a bit too flimsy for servant duties.¡±

    Lilian rose her brows, ¡°you are going to make him a servant?¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Yes. And thank you for your generosity, mydy. It¡¯s nice to have a humanpanion.¡± Lucius smiled politely.

    Lilian signed with regret, ¡°what a waste. Well, he is yours now. It¡¯s your call.¡±

    For the next two days, Lucius emerged from his suite more often and took Florian everywhere. The man was not very good at serving people, though. He was rather too rough when helping Lucius dress in the morning and horrible at mixing drinks. Even the coffee he made was as nd as water.

    ¡°How did you survive without coffee before you were caught and sold?¡± Lucius looked at the man incredulously as he scrunched his face from the bad taste.

    ¡°I don¡¯t make them like this.¡± Florian shrugged, ¡°I usually just make some instant coffee or buy them from coffee shops.¡±

    Lucius signed and gave him detailed instructions on using the coffee machine, how much ground coffee was needed for one cup, and how much milk he liked. Luckily, Florian was a quick learner, so the next cup of coffee was perfect to his liking.

    It was much earlier than the vampires¡¯ usual wake-up time, and Lucius only slept four hours and woke up at around 11 am. He rubbed his eyes and tried to blink away the sleepiness.

    ¡°Why do you get up so early ?¡°Florian asked.

    ¡°I want to walk outside when there are not many vampires around.¡± Lucius stood up and peeked outside of the window, observing the quietude in the garden, ¡°let¡¯s leave now.¡±

    They glided across the silent corridors and passed the still garden. The sun was high in the sky, and it was bright and warm. The smell of summer began to rise from beneath the earth and emit from the new leaves. Butterflies and bees danced over the flowers.

    It had been a while since Florian had any chance to bask in the real morning light. The only thing close to sunlight he got in the past two years was when Lilian kept him in a tanning bed every few days to maintain his darker skin tone. He wasn¡¯t used to the brightness at first but soon was mesmerized by the beauty of the world under the sun.

    Lucius noticed the genuine smile lingered on the man¡¯s lip corners, and he returned the same kind of delightfulness, ¡°it¡¯s nice, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡±

    They strolled into the forest, seemingly having a leisurely walk with little direction. Lucius stole one or two nces at Florian from time to time and waited for thetter to rx before asking, ¡°do you still have any families, Florian?¡±

    ¡°My father passed away about seven years ago. My mother died in the war.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that.¡±

    ¡°No. It¡¯s better that way. At least she wasn¡¯t sold as a ve or meat.¡±

    Lucius sighed sympathetically, ¡°she is in a better ce now, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    Florian let out a scoff at thatment. Lucius turned to look at him, ¡°you don¡¯t think so?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to offend you.¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t.¡±

    Florian seemed slightly annoyed by his series of questions, ¡°first of all, I doubt there is anything after death, even the ghosts are merely echoes of something no longer exists. And even if your God exists, he surely has no interest in having a sinner whomitted suicide.¡± Florian paused briefly, ¡°she took her own life before those bastards had a chance to touch her. And if that means she should go to hell, then I think hell must be a better ce.¡±

    Lucius suddenly liked this guy better.

    They came to the waterfall, and Lucius stood on a rock extending into the pond. He noticed the man¡¯s continence was clouded with concern and hesitation.

    Lucius beckoned Florian toe near him and asked, ¡°have you heard about ¡®the Sleeping Ones?¡¯¡±

    Florian nced at him with some misgiving, ¡°I did. The ves have all kinds of horror stories about the Sleeping Chamber. They say the Sleeping Ones sometimes sleepwalk in the deepest darkness. And anyone who entered that door has never emerged again.¡±

    ¡°So people entered it before?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Florian said solemnly, ¡°I saw the vamps push five ves into it when I was brought here. They do that every three years in May like some sort of ritual. They would leave that door open for five days, but those ves never came back.¡±

    ¡°Every three years...then this ritual should happen soon. How did they open those doors?¡±

    ¡°Some magic or witchcraft. Otherwise, it is fully sealed.¡°Florian frowned rmingly, ¡°why do you want to know about the Sleeping Chamber?¡±

    Lucius regarded the forbidding door pensively and said, ¡°because I may need to get in there.¡±

 Chapter 21 The Plan

    Florian gaped at Lucius as if not sure he heard him right, ¡°are you mad?¡±

    ¡°I wish I am.¡± Lucius mumbled, ¡°but I am not.¡±

    ¡°Why the hell do you need to do that? Are you trying to crucify them in their sleep or something?¡±

    Lucius said: ¡°no. I need to find a First Generation, and I need their blood. This is my best shot. Most of them are almost impossible to trace.¡±

    ¡°...And why do you need the blood?¡±

    Lucius leered at him, ¡°why do you have so many questions? All you need to decide is if you are going to help me.¡±

    ¡°This is suicidal.¡±

    ¡°Maybe, but this is important for all of us, and whether youe or not, I have to do it.¡°Lucius stared severely into Florian¡¯s dark eyes, ¡°but I need you to dig more information from other ves in this house, especially those who have been here for a long time. I need to know when the ritual will take ce, what¡¯s the purpose of it, and which spell opens the door. You owe me this since I saved your life.¡±

    Florian studied him with a slightly different expression, ¡°you are not just here to marry the Crown Prince, are you?¡±

    ¡°You made the getting married part sound easy.¡°Lucius scoffed and turned back to theing way.

    The negotiation went on longer than everyone anticipated, and not much news came back from Aetherfort. Lucius could tell Lady Durchville began to be nervous about something, as they were only one week til the end of May.

    ¡°Time to get up,¡± Florian said as he pulled the curtain wide open, letting the bright sunlight ssh over the sleeping figure on the bed.

    Lucius groaned as he writhed underneath the cover and mumbled, ¡°just five more minutes....¡±

    ¡°You told me to drag you out of bed by nine.¡±

    Lucius answered by pulling the cover over his head and turning in the other direction. Florian sighed and peeled theforter entirely off the bed, revealing Lucius in his nightshirt.

    Lucius yelped and sat up grumpily, still rubbing his face, ¡°you are such an insubordinate servant.¡±

    ¡°I am simply obeying your order fromst night.¡± Florian opened the door to the washroom, ¡°and we have much to cover about how to deal with hibernating vampires before the ritual, which will take ce in two days.¡±

    ¡°Two days? Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Yes. They took five ves from the penst night. The woman who had been here for more than ten years was sure they were selected for the ritual, and it usually takes two days to prepare them and ¡®detox¡¯ their blood.¡±

    Five days after the ritual the door would be open with minimum security since no one in their right mind would get anywhere close to it. That was the best time for Lucius to get in.

    And it didn¡¯t make Lucius happy at all. Instead, a cold fear grabbed his heart.

    For the past two days, Florian had imparted to him much valuable information, not only about the ritual but also experiences from years of hunting vampires before his country fell.

    ¡°A hibernating vampire is very different from a sleeping vampire. Hibernated ones often fall into it involuntarily. They appear to be dead in every way except not rotting. Given enough blood, their state can reverse with time, though it may take years to revive them. Therefore, it is the best chance to kill a neophyte or apostle when they are hibernating.

    ¡°The sleeping vampires mostly choose to stay in dreams for a long time. They can store their energy for up to three years without feeding, and they are much easier to wake up than the hibernated ones. However, if a vampire sleeps longer than three years without ingesting more fresh blood, their sleeping state can deteriorate into hibernation.¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Florian pointed at the two pictures of a sleeping vampire and a hibernating vampire on the webpage below the paragraphs and said, ¡°without proper training, it is challenging to differentiate these two states from their look. No heartbeat, no breath, appearing dead but won¡¯t rot. Many hunters got killed because they mistook a sleeping vampire for a hibernating one.¡±

    They were browsing a hidden dar website where vampire hunters often share information. Only certified hunters with unique verifying codes could enter.

    ¡°Are there still many vampire hunters?¡± Lucius browsed the long list of vampire names, ages, elder bloodlines, and gifts astonishingly, ¡°I mean...wouldn¡¯t there be too many vampires to hunt nowadays?¡±

    ¡°We only go after the dangerous ones outside Eternia. Including those higher-ss vamps capable of massive destruction and monitoring the hibernating old vamps. But most of the time our targets are the out-of-control orge hordes infesting city sewage systems or underground infrastructures.¡°As Florian spoke, a tinge of sadness shadowed his mien, ¡°Ultharia used to have the biggest hunter department in the human world, every agent was a well-trained hunter. But now, I don¡¯t know if there is anyone who survived other than myself..¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure there are. We can try to find them when my status is more solid.¡± Lucius said with firm resolution, and that earned some strange looks from Florian.

    Lucius ignored those looks and continued, ¡°so you suspect the Sleeping Ones, as the name suggests, are only sleeping, and are easy to wake up? Why send all the ves into the chamber every three years? Are they trying to prevent some old vampire from hibernating? But how do they consume the meat if they are sleeping?¡±

    Florian exined, ¡°The sleeping vamps can sleepwalk. Their consciousness is still dormant, but their body can perform some simple, instinctual, and primal tasks, like sensing blood and attacking prey. They always cut the ves on their arms before they send them into the chamber, it will easily trigger the predatory reaction.¡±

    ¡°So if I¡¯m not cut in anyce and quiet enough, is it possible that I can get past them without stirring anything?¡±

    ¡°Theoretically, yes.¡°Florian shrugged, ¡°but even we hunters don¡¯t want to risk waking up a full nest of old vampires, so no one tested it.¡±

    ¡°And...is it possible to collect blood from a vampire without waking them up?¡±

    ¡°It is difficult but possible. You need to ward yourself with spells and runes. The needle you use should also be warded and so sharp that if you use it to pierce your finger, you won¡¯t feel a thing. You also need to move quickly and hide if the vampire stirs, and pray that they won¡¯t fully wake up and smell your presence.¡±

    Lucius leaned back into the chair, ¡°what¡¯s the chance of my survival if I¡¯m doing it?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t give you an exact number, but I¡¯d say less than 50%.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s...very encouraging...¡°Lucius rubbed his face stressfully, ¡°if they don¡¯t want these ancestors to wake up, why don¡¯t they just starve them and make them hibernate? Would have made this a lot easier for me.¡±

    ¡°Because vampires have a thing called bloodline. Unlike humans, each vampire is closely connected to their maker and ancestors, which all trace back to their Elders. The stronger their ancestors or elders are, the stronger they will be. And hibernation will put a big damper on their bloodline. I imagine the house of Durchville wouldn¡¯t want to be weakened, so they kept feeding the Sleeping Ones¡¯ a minimum amount of blood to keep them from hibernation.¡±

    Lucius inhaled deeply, trying to stay calm. He stood up and strolled to the window, looking out into the sunlit garden and contemting all the information.

    Florian regarded him with mild bemusement, ¡°you don¡¯t have to do it, you know. There may be other chances to find a First Generation.¡±

    ¡°I know. But who knows when the next chance presents itself. We have the best ce and timing right now, which is almost too good to be true.¡± Lucius muttered pensively, ¡°I just want to get this over with.¡±

    **********

    One day before the ritual, Lucius was awakened by noises andmotion outside the window and in the hallway. People were running around and yelling something. He sat up grumpily and checked the clock. It was seven in the morning.

    ¡°Florian!¡± Lucius called impatiently, ¡°what¡¯s so loud!¡±

    The bedroom door opened, and Florian poked his head in, ¡°your husband is back.¡±

    Lucius blinked. And the next moment, he jumped out of bed and rushed toward the door, not noticing he was only wearing a nightshirt.

    Just as he was about to pull at the doorknob, the door opened by itself. Dorian stood before him with a mild surprise. In the fresh morning light, Lucius was in the white cotton nightshirt that was probably one or two sizes too big for him, red-tinged blonde hair all disheveled and unkempt. And Dorian found he looked exceptionally...cute.

    The vampire prince didn¡¯t even notice the delightfulness undting in his chest. It all came fast and naturally. His surprise soon morphed into a gentle smile.

    Lucius stared at him for a brief moment. He didn¡¯t understand why his heart was pounding loudly in excitement. Dorian¡¯s return would only impede their n, yet all he felt was relief and joy as heid eyes on the unharmed prince. He returned an artless smile.

    They just stood at the door for a long while and stared at each other as if they had forgotten everything else¡¯s existence until Florian emerged quietly from the bedroom and stood several steps behind Lucius. Doiran broke whatever was exchanged between them and studied the other man in the room.

    ¡°So the rumor is true.¡± Dorian frowned, ¡°you epted a sex ve.¡±

    ¡°Buck is just my servant. I couldn¡¯t turn down Lady Durchville¡¯s hospitality.¡°Lucius snapped out of the moment, mildly disappointed that the first thing Dorian said to him was a query about Florian.

    Dorian wasn¡¯t satisfied with the answer, but he decided not to show it in front of a stranger ve. He leaned in and pressed a quick kiss on Lucius¡¯s cheek to brandish his affection toward his consort. Though it felt much less intimate than the staring contest they had a moment ago.

    ¡°How was the negotiation?¡± Lucius asked, ¡°why did it take so long?¡±

    ¡°We reached an agreement. You probably will hear all about it in the news in the next few days.¡± Dorian said curtly and entered the room, letting the footman bring in his luggage. Lucius sensed the warmth in the prince¡¯s eyes subsided since he had noticed Florian, reced by a subtle offishness. And as Florian bowed to him, he didn¡¯t even bother to nod back as he usually did.

    Dorian was obviously not very happy about Florian¡¯s presence. However, Lucius was sure it was noting from jealousy, as the prince had made it very clear that he didn¡¯t care if he found a lover sometime in the future. He was probably just worried that the rumor would distort the fact, and people would say his consort got a sex ve within six months of their marriage, which would not look good.

    But Lucius needed someone like Florian for his mission. There was no way he could achieve the unattainable all by himself. He was mildly annoyed by Dorian¡¯s attitude but decided not to let it show.

    As the servants finished unpacking everything and left the suite, Dorian left a short ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower¡± and disappeared into the washroom. As the door closed, Florian said quietly, ¡°you know this will hinder the n, right? How do you n to sneak into the Sleeping Chamber without rming your husband?¡±

    Lucius pondered his options and said, ¡°I¡¯m sure there will be a dinner party with all the local notability after the ritual to celebrate the sess of the negotiation. I will try to get him drunk.¡±

    ¡°Do you know how hard it is to get a vampire drunk? They can hold triple the amount of liquor than humans.¡±

    ¡°Then we will have to encourage Lady Durchville to host an exceptionally bhanalian dinner party.¡± Lucius said resolutely, ¡°and get every single vampire in this manor to pass out by six am.¡±

 Chapter 22 The Feeding Ritual

    As predicted, an invitation for a dinner party arrived at 3 pm the next day when Dorian and Lucius were having breakfast in the suite. They were also weed to observe the ¡°Ancestor Worshiping Ceremony.¡±

    Lucius pretended that he knew nothing about the whole feeding ritual and asked as he was buttering his biscuit, ¡°what is this ¡®Ancestor Worshiping Ceremony¡¯?¡±

    ¡°Something that the pure blood families like to do. We don¡¯t have to go.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be rude to refuse it since they have been hosting us for this long?¡±

    ¡°That ceremony involves throwing five ves into a chamber full of sleeping vampires.¡± Dorian used the napkin to dab away the blood on his lips while ncing at him, ¡°are you sure you want to witness that?¡±

    Lucius paused for a moment to feign the initial shock briefly before rejoining: ¡°they will still die no matter if I attend it or not. I¡¯m not so faint-hearted.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been sshed my whole face with another man¡¯s blood, haven¡¯t I?¡± Lucius returned a wry smile to the concerned prince.

    Dorian mulled over it for several seconds and nodded, ¡°then we shall attend both.¡±

    As he spoke, Florian brought in a cup of freshly brewed coffee with the exact amount of milk to Lucius¡¯s liking. Heid it in front of Lucius and asked, ¡°is there anything else I can bring you, your highness?¡±

    ¡°No, this is all. Thank you. You can go get yourself some food now. I¡¯ve told the butler that I would appreciate it if he could give you regr servant food rather than the disgusting gruel they feed their ves.¡±

    ¡°Much appreciated for your kindness, your highness.¡± Florian bowed slightly and left.

    Dorian looked unimpressed, ¡°did you allow him to stay in the suite with you all the time when I was away?¡±

    ¡°Yes? Since he has been given to me, I don¡¯t think it is suitable for him to continue living in the pens.¡±

    ¡°Did you sleep with him?¡±

    Lucius leered at Dorian as anger started to rise, ¡°so what if I slept with him? I thought we are not in any kind of monogamous rtionship.¡±

    ¡°You will harm the image of our marriage and weaken our position in the court,¡± Dorian berated severely, and the darkness in his eyes grewrger as if the sky before a thunderstorm, ¡°I told you to wait! Are you really this...lustful?¡±

    ¡°Of course I DIDN¡¯T sleep with him! What do you think of me? A sex-crazed airhead?!¡°Lucius snapped.

    It was probably a legit concern since Dorian knew about Lucius¡¯s previous reputation. But he¡¯d thought after all these days, Dorian would have known him better.

    And what upset Lucius, even more, was the misgiving look Dorian gave him, obviously doubting the truthfulness of his words. He probably deserved that, too, as there were so many lies and subreptions between them. But why was Lucius still hurt by it?

    Dorian studied him coldly for a while and stood up, leaving the conversation, ¡°just don¡¯t do anything like this without discussing it with me first in the future. We still have a facade to maintain.¡±

    And then there was only Lucius, fuming alone.

    What¡¯s with all these attitudes since Dorian came back?

    The ritual started at 11 pm. Almost every vampire in the house gathered in front of the chamber, and even the servants joined as they believed they could share a fragment of the ancestor¡¯s benison.

    The ves were locked into their pens during the ceremony, except for one.

    No one paid attention to Florian¡¯s whereabouts.

    Albeit the space before the pond and waterfall were crowded with people, no one was making a sound. Each vampire wore a red ceremonial hooded cloak and held a white candle. Flickering mes shone on many solemn faces.

    Lucius quietly stood next to Dorian, wearing the same cloak and holding the same candle, blending into the crowd as much as he could, yet he was still one of the most prominent attention spots as he was the first human who had attended such a sacred ceremony in at least a century.

    The silence was broken by the ves¡¯ cries and struggling sounds. Five human ves were chained together and dragged before Lord Durchville and Lady Durchville. Three men and two women, some of them old, others young. They were howling, begging, but deep in their heart, they knew there was no escape from the doom.

    Lady Durchville chanted something as she walked around the ves hurdling in the middle of a magic circle painted with bone ashes. Every time any one of them tried to stand up, a guard would use one of the oralmands to shock them, forcing them to kneel back. They held each other and wailed in despair; the fear was so strong that it shook Lucius to his core, even though he was observing in the distance.

    Lady Durchville took out a curved ritual knife, and she walked up to the first woman nearest to her. Lilian kept chanting, her voice was melodious, yet her action was merciless. She shed the knife across the woman¡¯s upper arm, letting blood trickle down her sleeve. It was not a very deep cut, but it would not heal soon without proper treatment.

    She continued tocerate each ve¡¯s right arm, and after thest one, the chant ended. Her alluring eyes glided over the reverent crowd and proimed, ¡°our beloved ancestor, please ept our sacrifice and bless us with power and strength!¡±

    Her sonorous voice echoed in the night air, and the runes and engraves on the sealed chamber door began to glow. With a long, rumbling noise, the unbreachable darkness behind it spilled out as if it was something tangible and alive.

    The ves weremanded to go across the pound and enter the chamber, and as none of them were eager to die, they didn¡¯t obey immediately. Several guards began to bark punishment phrases to trigger a wide spectrum of excruciating experiences, including the pain of being burned alive, electronic shock, being skinned by a thousand knives, and so forth. The ear-piercing scream filled Lucius¡¯s ear, making his head hurt. The scene made his stomach churn, yet he didn¡¯t close his eyes. He had to remember the scream, brutality, and suffering of those unfortunate souls so that he would not hesitate about his mission. So that he would have the courage to do something stupid and dangerous several hourster and believe his action could make some difference one day.

    The ves stumbled toward the gaping darkness since it was their only escape from the torture. Eventually, all of them disappeared into the ck void. Two guards would stay outside the chamber for another five days to ensure the ves didn¡¯te out.

    Lady Durchville smiled brightly and announced the dinner party would be held in the ballroom, and she even invited a popr band to entertain the guests. The ves were released from the pens and herded into the ballroom like a flock of sheep. Some vampires lunged at the meat and drank them until they bled out thest drop of blood and dropped dead on the ground, shriveling and shrinking like a mummy. Others enjoyed drinking and fucking the sex ves simultaneously.

    One day before the dinner party, Lucius implied that he had never seen Dorian drunk before and suspected he couldn¡¯t get drunk. Lady Lilian immediately took the challenge, promising that her vast and exquisite brandy collection surely could achieve it.

    As Lucius hoped, the dinner party grew wilder and wilder as time passed. More performers and escorts entered the ballroom, creating another wave of excitement among the guests, and most vampires were half drunk by 2 am.

    Many people came to propose toasts to Dorian, and Lucius had been very cautious about his drinking, pouring the brandy into the nearest pot nts any chance he got. Dorian was distracted by all the eager local notability who lined up to congratte him and didn¡¯t notice his consort¡¯s strange act.

    Florian quietly appeared next to Lucius.

    ¡°Everything is ready,¡± Florian whispered.

    Lucius nodded as perspiration covered his palm.

    It all became too real. In fact, this could be thest few hours of his time on earth. The thought dawned on him, making him shiver in fear.

    Why was he even doing this? For the future of humanity? It¡¯s all bullshit...

    More like trying to impress his father and mother, who had never believed he could aplish anything and only saw him as the shadow of Julian.

    But wasn¡¯t it stupid? They wouldn¡¯t even care and were less likely to regret sending him here. He was just a regr young man who wanted to be aic artist, neither strong nor brave. Why was he trying so hard to do somethingpletely out of his league?

    Perhaps he shouldn¡¯t do this entirely sober.

    Lucius took several big gulps from the ss, letting the pungent liquid burn the back of his throat and the giddiness rocketed to his head. Comfortable and mild dizziness melted away some of his anxiety, and his nerves finally rxed.

    The effulgent light in the grand hall suddenly dimed and was reced by shy, colorful lights, and the music shifted into dance music with strong rhythms, mixed by a famous DJ Lady Durchville invited. The crowd eximed in excitement and swarmed into the dance floor with drinks in their hands, dancing, jumping, and grinding with each other.

    It was obvious that dinner time had just passed, and party time had started. As people began to enter the half-drunk stage, Dorian was finally freed from the siege of local dignitaries. He looked relieved, though a dash of crimson darkened his cheeks.

    Lucius chuckled, ¡°congrats, you survived the first wave of the onught.¡±

    ¡°I swear to elders, if one more persones and mentions the word ¡®negotiation,¡¯ I will p their face,¡± Dorian mumbled as he slumped into the nearest chair.

    Luciusughed, took up the bottle of blood-mixed brandy, filling up Dorian¡¯s ss while bantered, ¡°you were so nice and charming to them, though. If only you were half that nice to me, I would have fallen in love with you.¡±

    Dorian raised one side of his brows, and a hint of grin perched on his lips, ¡°haven¡¯t you fallen in love with me already?¡±

    Lucius knew then that Dorian was half drunk. A sober Dorian would never have said such things with such a flirtatious demeanor. He sat on the table, passing that ss to Dorian, and curled up one side of his mouth, ¡°don¡¯t tter yourself. You have been hot and cold and unpredictable and sometimes even mean to me. You are lucky that you are pretty.¡±

    Dorian tilted his head slightly, then leaned forward, keeping his eyes on Lucius, ¡°you think I¡¯m pretty?¡±

    ¡°Well, I have eyes. So I can¡¯t deny the objective fact.¡±

    Dorian epted the ss, though his fingers wrapped over Lucius¡¯s hand and didn¡¯t let him go while he lowered his head and took a sip.

    Lucius replied calmly, ¡°are you flirting with me?¡±

    ¡°Maybe. I am a little drunk, am I? I guess I haven¡¯t drunk this much since...¡± His word trailed off as if wanting to avoid mentioning something heavy.

    The light-hearted air was slightly damped, and Lucius wanted to change a topic. Coincidentally the music changed, and Lucius¡¯s eyes lit up when he heard the song.

    ¡°This is one of my favorites! Come! Let¡¯s dance!¡±

    Dorian frowned, ¡°I don¡¯t like dancing. ¡±

    ¡°Bullshit, everyone likes dancing! Come on, it¡¯s not hard. Just move your body however you want, and remember, no one is looking. They are too drunk to know who is next to them.¡°Lucius grinned and grabbed Dorian¡¯s arm, pulling him into the dance floor.

    With the cover of the obscure light and the anonymity in a crowd full of drunk and high vampires, Lucius doffed off his Julian personality temporarily and swayed with the music. His moves were fluent, effortless, and even a bit seductive, and his smile was infectious that before Dorian realized it, he was dancing with Lucius.

    In a few minutes, both of them forgot about all their secrets and plots and were inundated by the loud, catchy music and a sense of letting go. Their moves clicked as if they had been dancing together many, many times.

    Dorian didn¡¯t notice that he stared at Lucius¡¯s slightly parted lips and gleaming hazel eyes for a long time as if he was mesmerized by them. As the music went slower, Lucius danced closer and closer, until their bodies were only less than an inch apart.

    ¡°See, you dance well.¡± Lucius grinned. A dimple showed on one side of his cheek. And that was something Julian didn¡¯t have.

    Dorian brushed some sweat-soaked hair away from Lucius¡¯s face, and as if enchanted by some unknown but powerful spell, he leaned in and caught Lucius¡¯s lips.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 23 The Heart Wants What It Wants

    Lucius didn¡¯t know how and when they left the ballroom and stole into the quiet reading room, but as his mind caught up with the present, they kissed fiercely as he was pushed against a giant desk. He vaguely thought, why could they only have sex when drunk? They were married! They should be allowed to do this anytime they want!?

    ¡°Bite me!¡± Lucius whispered into Dorian¡¯s ear, and it was the sweetestmand in the world. Dorian growled in excitement. He grabbed the back of Lucius¡¯s neck, holding him in ce, and sank his fangs into Lucius¡¯s neck. The rush of pleasure from the venom almost sent Lucius to climax immediately.

    Dorian paused for a second, pulled Lucius¡¯s pants down, and unzipped his own, then he lifted the smaller man and put him on the desk, not caring that the papers and books fell to the ground. Lucius curled his legs around Dorian¡¯s waist and pulled him closer, baring his neck for easy ess.

    The drunken prince had less self-restraint thanst time and didn¡¯t have much patience for preparation. Luckily Lucius was already turned on and hard as stone. As Dorian¡¯s cock prated Lucius¡¯s entrance, his teeth also bit down on his consort¡¯s neck once more. It was the craziest sensation Lucius had ever experienced, and his toes all curled up. He moaned in euphoria and didn¡¯t care if anyone heard them.

    Neither of them noticed that the door quietly cracked open.

    Florian had been keeping an eye on Lucius. When he saw that the royal couple had moved away from the crowd, he furtively followed, ensuring the shadow and crowd hid him so no guests would bother him. It took him some time to find the reading room, and that moan caught his attention. Wasn¡¯t sure if Lucius was in any kind of pain, he surreptitiously peeked into the room.

    And then the erotic scene disyed before his eyes. Dorian¡¯s half-clothed, sculptural body was like the image of the greek sun god. The dancing firelight from the firece zed ayer of golden honey hue to his dewy shoulder. His powerful waist kept pounding forward, shattering the smaller, slimmer body beneath him.

    And Lucius (or Julian in Florian¡¯s mind), the supposedly angelic and chaste high priest, was now blooming like a flower of sin. A delicious rosy color tinged his ivory skin, and his long legs twined around the prince like white snakes, and his head leaned backward, presenting himself like a meal, and yet the expression on his face was...utterly licentious and yet beautiful.

    Florian gulped. He knew he should have closed the door and left them the couple to their enjoyment, but he couldn¡¯t turn his eyes.

    Dorian paused for a second. And as Florian worried that the vampire heard him, Dorian lifted Lucius up and threw both of them onto the couch. This time, Lucius sat on top of Dorian. He gave Dorian a passionate kiss and guided the crown prince¡¯s huge slick cock with his hand, prating himself back on that huge spear with a loud cry. Then Lucius began to ride Dorian¡¯s cock with such enthusiasm. Though nder, he still had a decent amount of muscle and stamina. His plump butt cheeks shook every time he sank down.

    Dorian stared at the shameless, lecherous, and breathtaking creature dancing on him like an incubus. His mind was nk for the first time in a long time to the point that he couldn¡¯t recall his own name. And as the pleasure built up to a point, Lucius¡¯s speed couldn¡¯t push it further, so he turned them over abruptly and pounded frantically as if he wanted to break Lucius. But Lucius loved it. He opened his legs wider to encourage it.

    However, just as they both were mounting up to the culmination, Dorian said one word. And it broke everything into pieces for Lucius.

    ¡°Julian!¡± Dorian shouted as he ejacted into Lucius¡¯s body.

    A single word was like a full load of icy water spilling over Lucius¡¯s fiery body, and almost immediately, his cock went limp.

    Dorian copsed on Lucius, panting heavily, oblivious of what he had just eximed in passion. And Luciusy there, frozen in shock and humiliation.

    ¡°Who did you think you were fucking?¡°Lucius asked quietly after a long silence.

    But Dorian was already half-asleep. He mumbled something indecipherable and probably didn¡¯t even register Lucius¡¯s question.

    A pang reverberated in Lucius¡¯s chest, and a pungent sensation rushed to his eyes. He blinked forcefully while taking deep breaths, trying to blink the wetness away, though unsessful.

    <i>What did you think, Lucius? Of course Dorian had always been thinking about Julian! That was why he only had sex with you when he drank!</i>

    Why was he expecting Dorian would for once like him for who he really was? Why does he believe anyone would like him for who he really is?

    He should have epted that he would only ever be the shadow. The cheap substitute.

    He wiped this face with the back of his hand and skillfully extracted himself from under Dorian¡¯s body without waking him up. And by the time he stood up and began to dress, his expression was cold as stone, just like his heart.

    Lucius pulled the door open and found Florian waiting outside, observing him with a peculiar look. Lucius didn¡¯t try to hide the bite wounds on his neck and corbones. At this point, he had no strength to feel shame or worry if his human servant saw what had transpired in the reading room.

    ¡°Is the party over?¡± Lucius asked.

    Florian said, ¡°many had retired. Some are too drunk from all the blood and brandy to return to their room. Even the guards are half drunk.¡±

    ¡°Good. I will go back to do some preparation and then I will leave for the chamber.¡± Lucius said evenly, albeit his throat was rough from all the moaning and crying.

    He took a shower first and put on some dark clothes that could hide him better. Then he patched the wounds on his neck. It was a bad idea to let Dorian bite him, for the Sleeping Ones may smell the blood. But then, again, he wasn¡¯t really thinking.

    When the ritual was undergoing, and most of the vampires were outside, Florian sneaked into the treasure room, where many family heirlooms were disyed, stole several important items that could help Lucius¡¯s mission, and stashed them under the bed.

    ¡°Only vampires have the best weapon to kill or harm other vampires because they know all their own weaknesses,¡± Florian told him during one of their training sessions.

    The props Florian brought included an antique knife with some runic engraves and a dried human finger cut off from a hanged man. The former would be used to draw blood, and thetter was used as a lucky charm to ward off evil historically, and it also had the power to make the wearer invisible to a sleeping vampire¡¯s still acute senses.

    As he was examining them, Florian entered the room.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have let him bite you.¡± The former hunter said.

    Lucius was startled. He didn¡¯t hear Florian at all. The man was stealthy like a feline.

    ¡°I¡¯ve patched them up. Will they still smell it?¡±

    ¡°We need to do better than this.¡± Florian drew nearer and studied the wounds closely. He went into the bathroom and took out the bandages, rubbing alcohol, and antibiotic ointment. He carefully peeled off the two bandages Lucius put on and cleaned the wounds gingerly.

    ¡°How much did he drink?¡± Florian kept inquiring, ¡°are you feeling dizzy?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. He didn¡¯t drink too much since he had been drinking the blood-mixed brandy the whole night. ¡± Lucius answered, feeling slightly awkward when the other man treated him with such care and gentleness. With another nce, he noticed Florian was carrying a long sword on his back.

    ¡°Did you steal that from the disy room, too?¡°Lucius asked, ¡°why? Are you nning to try to run away again after I leave?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not stealing if it¡¯s mine.¡±

    ¡°Yours?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my sword until they captured me and sold me as a ve. Lilian bought it with me as her trophy.¡± Florian said nonchntly as he covered the wound with the ointment, ¡°and no, I didn¡¯t take it back to run away. I¡¯ming with you.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Florian carefully put on the bandage and then looked into Lucius¡¯s eyes, ¡°my duty is to protect you. I can¡¯t let you do something so stupid all by yourself.¡±

    ¡°But you may die,¡± Lucius said cautiously, didn¡¯t dare to believe it.

    ¡°If I can somehow kill an ancient monster before I die, then it¡¯s worth it.¡± Florian quirked a smile.

    ¡°You can¡¯t kill them with just a silver sword!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not ¡®just¡¯ a silver sword. It was made by one of my strongest ancestors. To give it the ability to kill vampires, she jumped into the melted silver pound as a sacrifice. It cuts orges and neophytes like cheese, and apostles hurt by it cannot heal for a long time, and with enough damage, it can send an apostle directly into hibernation. The downside is that vampires can sense it if I unsheath it, so to avoid waking up all the vampires in that chamber, let¡¯s try not to use it.¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Lucius gaped at the man in disbelief, ¡°so you are reallying.¡±

    Florian seemed amused by his incredulity, ¡°do I look like the joking type?¡±

    ¡°No...it¡¯s just...¡°Lucius wanted to say he couldn¡¯t believe someone was willing to die for him, but it was a bit too cheesy.

    It was an unbelievably lucky development. With a strong and experienced hunter like Florian by his side, his survival chance was drastically boosted.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move. I will put a spell on your bandage to neutralize the blood smell. Hopefully, the old vamps won¡¯t sense it.¡± Florian tilted his chin higher, pressing the hanged man¡¯s finger over the bandage, and began chanting quietly. Lucius noticed a ring of gold light shing deep in his irises. But soon, Florian yelped in pain and doubled down as if someone had punched him in the gut.

    ¡°Hey! What¡¯s happening? Are you alright?¡°Lucius flusteredly grabbed Florian¡¯s shoulder, trying to find the reason for his pain. But the hunter only shook his head, ¡°it¡¯s ok. The chip in my head will punish me every time I try to use spells. I¡¯ve built some tolerance over it, but I¡¯ve been acting as if I¡¯m in immense pain when I try to use magic so they won¡¯t suspect.¡±

    Of course, a professional state-hired vampire hunter would know some arcane arts. But Lucius was still astonished, ¡°you know magic?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I thought humans cannot use magic!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s only your Churchs¡¯ stiption, condaming arcane force as something unclean and evil. It¡¯s a pity. Because humans can do a lot more than you think.¡± Florian stood up as if nothing had happened a moment ago. He looked at the still-dark sky outside the window and said, ¡°the sun will rise in an hour. We should move now.¡±

    The next hour everything seemed to go their way. Not many vampires were still sober. And most of the ves were also passed out, some from losing too much blood, others from the exhaustion of serving multiple guests the whole night. Only one woman veying under a snoring vampire saw them passing, but after Florian put a finger to his mouth, she nodded quietly.

    Many meat bodies were scattered and piled on the floor,pletely drained of even thest drop of blood. The grueling scene made Lucius¡¯s heart shudder in horror and guilty. They were dying there, ughtered like pigs, while he was enjoying being fucked brains out by one of the worst enemies.

    The guards guarding the chamber were two neophytes who were affected by the sun much more substantially than the apostles. And as the first ray of sun burst out of the horizon, they began to yawn and tried to find some umbrage to hide. And as the dawn arrived with full force, they began to doze off.

    ¡°Why did they let neophytes guard the chamber, knowing they can¡¯t handle the sunlight as well as apostles? Such a stupid decision.¡± Lucius mumbled as they skulked in the tickets, waiting for the guards to fall asleep.

    Florian said, ¡°because the apostles are too important and precious to undertake such a low-level job. Vampires have even more ridiculous ss-rted social norms than humans. Also, I suppose normally no person is stupid enough to approach the chamber.¡±

    Lucius red at the hunter, and thetter winked at him before moving, e on, those two are already deep in dreams.¡±

    They crossed the pound by the stepping stones without much trouble, and the Sleeping Chamber stood before them in silent menace. An ominous dank smell blew out from the endless void. It smelled like rotten corpses.

    Florian said, st chance to turn back.¡±

    Lucius gazed into the abyss for a second, then turned his head to regard the beautiful and colorful morning sky. He took a deep breath, and stepped into the shadow.

 Chapter 24 The Durchville Witch

    Lucius turned on the shlight, and the light beam cut through the congealed darkness. Before them, stone stairs descended into the unknown, and nothing else was in sight.

    Florian also turned on his shlight and said, ¡°I will walk in the front. You follow. Try not to make too many sounds..¡±

    Lucius noddedpliantly.

    The descendingsted for a while and ended at a doorless gateway prised of two giant weeping angels statues and a tall arch. On the arch was a sentence etched in Latin: Don¡¯t Wake the Past.

    Behind the gate was an extensive round-shaped chamber. The walls were covered by faded frescos and were evenly separated by three passages (not including the gate). Each entrance was adorned with different arches and ornaments.

    Florian shone the shlight on the floor and revealed a trail of footsteps and blood drops, likely from the five sacrificed ves. He moved the light further, and suddenly it fell on a distorted face with hollowed eye sockets and a huge gaping mouth.

    The sudden revealing elicited a sharp and short cry from Lucius, ¡°what the hell is that?!¡±

    Florian took a few steps closer to examine the macabre corpse, ¡°a mummified body.¡±

    It was someone who died a long time ago, possibly a ve from a previous ritual. Florian moved his light beam alongside the wall into the further distance, and more mummified bodies leached out of the sepulchral murkiness. One after another, covering almost half of the floor.

    Such a horrendous scene petrified Lucius. He almost dropped his shlight.

    Florian was eerily calm. He carefully examined several corpses and said, ¡°they were all drained. Probably were trying to run away from something chasing them.¡±

    Lucius asked shakily, ¡°why are they all looking up?¡±

    Indeed. Many of the corpses kept their eyeballless sockets fixed at something overhead, and their facial features were distorted in extreme fear. Their jaws froze at an unnaturally wide angle as if they were screaming.

    An uncanny premonition seized both men, and they hesitantly pointed their shlights upward. And their eyes widened in fear.

    There were legs. Countless dangling half-rotten legs serried together. The upper bodies seemed somehow being pulled into the granite ceiling and merged with the stone.

    Several legs were still ¡°fresh¡± looking, and no sign of putrification or mummification yet, likely belonging to three of the previous five sacrificed ves. Blood covered their lower body, and their intestines dangled from where the waists met the granite.

    Lucius muttered, ¡°what happened to them...¡±

    Apprehension overcast Florian¡¯s face, ¡°I should have known...this is the catb for those witch vampires. They have slept here for so long that their power corrupted the earth and rock around them.¡±

    ¡°And what does that mean?¡±

    ¡°Witches can harness and twist the power of nature. They canmunicate with animals, trees, and even rocks and dirt. These old Durchville vamps probably had transformed the rocks around us. They may seem like regr stones, but they are alive. We are like walking inside their guts.¡± Florian¡¯s foreboding whisper made Lucius tremble.

    ¡°What should we do?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ve just fed, and we have some talisman on us. If we are careful, maybe they won¡¯t be disturbed. However, going back is probably also a good idea.¡±

    Lucius contemted. His instinct told him to turn and run, but then what? When would he get another chance like this?

    ¡°I really need the blood.¡± Lucius implored.

    Florian didn¡¯t appear to be disappointed, ¡°ok, then we better do it quickly.¡±

    The huntermenced studying the ancient frescos, trying to identify clues for which passage led to a potential First Generation. Lucius also looked at those paintings closer.

    It seemed like a history of the Durchville family. They were heavily persecuted by humans, especially the witch hunters in the early days, as they were both witches and blood-drinking monsters. Many images portrayed their ancestors burning on wood stakes. They learned to hide among the aristocrats and thus made them more untouchable.

    Vampires had been terrorizing humans for so long that Lucius had forgotten that, a long time ago, they only existed in shadows and stories, fearing bing the target of the Churches and the hunters.

    Lucius tried to identify the timeline flow in the drawings, and after a while, even the bodies next to the wall were no longer as scary as before. He was drawn by the changing of the art style and the way the story was told through painting. And it was a wonder that these colors could be preserved for so long.

    And then he found it. The story was about the beginning of the family.

    Their ancestor was a youngdy who was a healer of a vige. She knew the power of the herbs well and saved many people¡¯s lives. But a lord saw her on his hunting trip and was enamored by her beauty and tried to make her his lover. She refused his advance, which greatly wounded the lord¡¯s pride. He told everyone, including his wife, that she tried to seduce him. And his angry and jealous wife began to spread the rumor that she was a witch.

    In the old time, being used as a witch was the worst kind of fate a woman could have faced, as little evidence was required, and the punishment was often burned to death or drowning. Her ability to heal didn¡¯t help her case, either. Worst of all, her old patients from the vige didn¡¯t speak for her. On the contrary, they turned against her, saying that she healed them with magic and med any bad luck on her ¡°curse.¡± Overnight, the whole vige turned against her, and before dawn, she would be burned to death.

    Betrayed, hurt, and desperate, she prayed to the pagan goddess Hecate, promising to give her her soul and be her servant eternally. And to her surprise, the beautiful, three-headed goddess appeared in front of her. And the next day, she disappeared from the prison.

    Three dayster, everyone who betrayed her was found dead in their bed, drained of theirst drop of blood. And the lord and his wife were mutted by an unknown attacker, and their body was hanged in front of their castle.

    ¡°I think I found her. ¡°Lucius beckoned at Florian.

    Florian studied the mural and then read the words written in ancient greek. He then nodded and pointed at the door next to the fresco, ¡°she seems a rtively young First Generation since she is probably less than a thousand years old. ording to the record on the wall, she came here to rest about five hundred years ago. Her chamber is likely in there somewhere.¡±

    Five hundred years...Lucius couldn¡¯t even fathom how long it was. How could anythingst that long without turning into dust?

    They ventured into the passage. The air became stagnant and sultry and reeked of a putrefied smell of rotten meat. They saw more bodies scattered on the side. Some of them were half melted into the wall as if, at some point, the stone wall turned into soft wax and sucked them in.

    Lucius followed Florian closely and kept his ear open to the slightest abnormal noise, but he heard nothing.

    And then they saw the first coffin standing on one side of the passage. It was a tall, ck one, heavy and forbidding and covered with ayer of dust. Lucius instantly held his breath and froze in trepidation.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok. See the dust. This one hasn¡¯t been up for a while now.¡± Florian whispered into his ear, e, we shouldn¡¯t linger.¡±

    More coffins appeared on both sides of the tunnel. They erected in two lines like silent soldiers. And yet, not every coffin was as dusty and well-sealed as the first one. asionally, Lucius noticed the lids weren¡¯t fully closed, and the tiny crack of darkness gaped at him like a toothless smile, full of maleficence and precariousness.

    ¡°I thought vampires sleeping in coffins is just some sort of stereotype... turns out it is notpletely bullshit...¡± Lucius murmured in half astonishment, ¡°why would any creature want to sleep in a coffin? Couldn¡¯t they consider a morefortable arrangement considering how long they would lie inside?¡±

    ¡°Coffins or any small space make them feel safer, allegedly.¡± Florian lightened his steps and his expression more solemn. He paused from time to time to listen as if he could detect something in the dead silence.

    The further they went, the older and more worn the coffins became. And then they saw one empty. The lid of the elm coffin was wide open, and the interior liner formed ank human shape. Old blood stains dappled everywhere.

    Lucius nced at Florian nervously, and a shriek shattered the silence before they could exchange a word. It was from a woman, one of the five ves. Florian and Lucius picked up their speed, running toward the sound.

    Ere long, they saw the source of the agonizing scream. Three humanoid figures emerged from one side of the wall as if the stone was liquid. Their upper body protruded as if newborns wereing out of ayer of the membrane. And those pale figures werenky, their hair was so long and covered in soot, and their fingernails overgrown but razor sharp. They were pulling the poor woman into the wall. Her whole right arm and shoulder were already sunk into the wall, and her spouting blood spread across the wall as ink dropped into the water and was quickly absorbed.

    Another young man crumpled to the ground,pletely overwhelmed by fear. Lucius hurriedly grabbed the woman¡¯s left hand, trying to pull her out, but it was like pulling against a mountain. Even though he gave everyst bit of his strength, the woman was still slowly dragged into the wall. And suddenly, the woman went limp. Half of her face was in the wall, and Lucius heard the sound of her skull being crushed and her brain smushed.

    Florian grabbed his wrist, forced him to let go of the woman¡¯s hand, and whispered, ¡°it¡¯s toote for her, don¡¯t wake them up.¡±

    Only then Lucius noticed that those figures¡¯ eyes were all closed. They quickly submerged back into the wall along with the remaining body of the woman, and as the ripple quickly dissipated, the stone surface returned to its natural hard and solid state.

    Lucius stared at the nk wall, panting, disorienting. Those vampires could move through stone and dirt as if they were part of them, and who knew where and when those things would reappear?

    They could all be captured and pulled into the stone at any moment. Bone crashed, blood drained, and skin dissolved, just like the woman and the other three ves before them. Each step could be theirst.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening...what¡¯s happening...what¡¯s happening...¡°The young man kept mumbling to himself, apparently in a catatonic state. Florian quickly covered his mouth and shushed him, ¡°be quiet if you don¡¯t want to end up like the others.¡±

    Lucius gathered himself and kneeled before the young man, ¡°can you still walk?¡±

    The man nodded.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Florian leaned in and whispered, ¡°we shouldn¡¯t take him. He has the wound created in the ritual. It cannot be hidden by regr spells and will attract the Sleeping Ones.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t stop him from following us, though. And I don¡¯t think he has anywhere else to go at this point.¡±

    ¡°Fine. Just...don¡¯t try to save him if they catch him. We don¡¯t have any extra talisman, and we cannot risk waking any of them.¡°Florian warned and stood up, continuing to march into the abyss.

    Lucius helped the man stand up, and just as he guessed, the man followed them like a lostmb. The wound on his arm from the ritual was still seeping blood.

    They trudged in the narrow passage for a short while, and unexpectedly, a glimmer of light hovered in the distance like a northern star. The young man eximed, ¡°light! The exit!¡± and took off before neither Lucius nor Florian could stop him.

    ¡°Is it an exit?¡± Lucius asked bemusedly, ¡°I thought there is one exit.¡±

    Florian shook his head, ¡°I doubt it. We are too deep into the ground to see any exit.¡±

    And just as Florian predicted, it was not an exit at all. The tunnel came to an abrupt end. Before them was a vast cavern. So expansive that they couldn¡¯t even see the end of it.

    The source of the light came from an enormous, leafless tree of unknown species erected in the middle of the cavern. Its extremely long and thick boughs extended to the extremes of the cavern and dug deep into the rocks. And on all the boughs and branches, numerous intricate blood veins were glowing an ominous red light. Some thicker ones twined on the main trunk, pulsing rhythmically like aortas.

    And near the base of the trunk, a woman¡¯s head protruded from the hard, ancient barks as if she grew inside the tree. Her hair was so long that it spread on the ground like a ck cascade. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful but so pale that one could see the veins underneath the translucent skin. Her eyes were closed. Hard to tell if she was alive or not or merely a statue.

    Both Lucius and the young man were speechless before such an ethereal scene. Florian regarded the tree with unmasked astonishment.

    ¡°She must be the first Durchville Witch, Marian.¡±

 Chapter 25 The Blood

    Three months ago:

    ¡°I can¡¯t do it!¡± Lucius paced around the room, ruffling his hair in distress, ¡°I¡¯m just a regr guy! Actually, I¡¯m less than a regr guy! I¡¯m a proper coward! I couldn¡¯t even kill a rabbit during the autumn hunting! Why can¡¯t you get one of your spies or agents to do it?!¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, none of them managed to be the Crown Prince Consort of Eternia.¡± Dan Emerson, one of the top agents from Division Nine, lit a cigarette and crossed his legs, ¡°bloodline is very important to vamps, and certain secrets they will only let royal family members know. The more they underestimate you, the higher chance you will seed in discovering the secrets of the Elders.¡±

    ¡°You all are unbelievable!¡± Lucius eximed angrily, ¡°isn¡¯t it enough that I¡¯m marrying the devil himself in my brother¡¯s ce?! Now I have to somehow find an Elder, of whom not even vampires knew their whereabouts or even if they still exist in this world, and steal their blood for your mad scientists. Do you know how crazy you are sounding?¡±

    ¡°We know it is a lot to ask. But this is humanity¡¯sst hope.¡± Dan exhaled a puff of smoke, his countenance unppable with a smudge of gloominess, ¡°even if you can¡¯t find an Elder, a First Generation can be helpful, too.¡±

    ¡°And I suppose those First Generation vamps are super nice people and will just let me take their blood so humans can invent some sort of bioweapon to terminate their kind?¡± Lucius gruntled sardonically.

    Lord Rosenfield put down his scotch and raised his piercing hazel eyes, staring at his son intensely. Lucius squirmed under his father¡¯s gaze as Lord Rosenfield rarely gave him full attention.

    ¡°Son, it¡¯s ok to be scared. But I know you have courage.¡± His voice was deep and sonorous as always, naturally muting all other noises in a room whenever he opened his mouth, and even the in words became profound and meaningful when he stared at you with his affirming, elegant eyes, ¡°I know you won¡¯t let the Crown down. And you won¡¯t let me down because you are my son. You are a Rosenfield.¡±

    Lucius was transfixed under the weight of those words.

    God knew how many times he had tried to impress his father, wishing to hear something like this. And now, he finally got it, but he wasn¡¯t even sure if it was sincere.

    Three monthster, when Lucius descended deep into the darkness, surrounded by ancient sleepwalking vampires, and stood in front of the Durchville Witch, the memory suddenly returned to him.

    Was all of this craziness just another pathetic attempt to impress his father?!

    ¡°Hey...Florian, are these things running in the veins of her blood?¡± Lucius took a few stealth steps and studied the tangled veins on one of the branches extended in front of him.

    Florian nodded, ¡°possibly, she seems to have integrated herself with the earth around her. Her blood is probably running across this area, protecting the entire Durchville family¡¯snd.¡±

    ¡°This is easier than I thought.¡± Lucius took out the knife and a small vial. The sharp edge broke the vascr wall easily, and some thick, almost ck syrup-like liquid oozed out, slowly filling the small vial. Lucius nced at the face on the tree trunk nervously, but her eyes were still closed.

    Before he could rx, Florian suddenly warned quietly, ¡°do not move.¡±

    Lucius looked back and saw Florian staring at something above. He followed the gaze, looked closely, and detected movement on one of the lower boughs above them.

    It was a vampire, pale andnky, just like the figures they saw, and his elongated body was barely covered by some half-rotten tatters. He crawled onto the branch and licked something red seeped out of the bark.

    Lucius looked further and saw several other vampires clutched on the boughs and branches, almost invisible at first sight. These sleeping vampires were drawn to the Durchville Witch like bees were drawn to their queen.

    The vampire close to them raised his head, and his nostrils moved as if caught something in the air. He was unconscious, yet his movements were swift and silent, like a spider moving across its web. He approached the three interlopers with rming speed, obviously drawn by the young ve man¡¯s bloody wound.

    In terror, the young man let out a desperate whimper, knowing he was doomed. And in panic, he suddenly lunged at Lucius, who was smaller than him in size, and seized him by his wrist, ripping the knife from his hand and pressing it against his throat.

    ¡°What are you doing!¡± Lucius was caught off guard.

    ¡°Give me your talisman!¡°The young man yelled loudly,cerating the silence like lightning in a dark sky. All the vampires in sight snapped their heads in their direction, and the eyelid of the face on the tree moved.

    ¡°Shit!¡± Florian put his hand on the hilt of his sword, ¡°let him go! That talisman won¡¯t be able to hide the smell of your blood!¡±

    Fear overtook the young man¡¯s mind, and he would do anything to buy himself a bit more time. He instantly dug the knife deep into Lucius¡¯s shoulder. Lucius cried in pain and disbelief as the young man pulled the knife out, and his blood sshed on the branches.

    The vampire closest to them let out a bone-chilling growl and darted toward Lucius, but before he could reach him, a silver light shed before Lucius¡¯s eyes, and the vampire¡¯s head was cut off. The head rolled on the ground, but its eyes were wide open and blinking quickly, brimmed with a crimson madness. And the headless body fell to the ground, fast crawling in its head¡¯s direction.

    Like a tower, Florian stood before him with the sword out of the sheath. He looked over his shoulder, ¡°are you ok?¡±

    Lucius could barely utter a word as the pain red across his body, ¡°I guess I¡¯m alive...for now.¡±

    Another vampire jumped off the branch with eyes wide open, and the same berserk redness glowed in her eyes. Her long hair waved in the air without wind like snakes, and she bared her teeth in blood-thirst rage. Behind her, more vampires woke up, letting out hellish shrikes that almost pierced Lucius¡¯s eardrum.

    As more vampires dashed at them, Florian¡¯s long sword morphed into a sshing web of silver lightning with his clean, swift and deadly sword dance. He was so fast that even the vampires¡¯ preternatural speed couldn¡¯t match, and the thick, ck vampire blood bloomed and sshed around him. However, despite most of these vampires being Neophytes, several were ancient Apostles and wouldn¡¯t die easily. Even if their head or limbs were cut off, they could still move their severed body pieces and put themselves back together.

    Worst of all, the Durchville Witch¡¯s eyes slowly opened, and tears of ck blood oozed out from under her long eyshes. The air in the cave shifted and vibrated with malignancy.

    Florian cursed and readied himself for a blood bath and inevitable death. However, the vampires¡¯ attention shortly shifted to somewhere else. The ve man thought Lucius¡¯s wound and themotion Florian started had created a perfect diversion for his escape, so he ran into the tunnel with all his might.

    Little did he know, to a predator, the more a prey tries to run, the more they want to chase after them. The vampires moved with lightning speed and pounced upon him like a pack of wolves besieged amb.

    The young man¡¯s scream resonated in the cavern as his limbs were torn off, half of his face was mauled off, his eyes crushed.

    It created a short respite for Lucius and Florian. However, the only exit was out of reach now. Florian inhaled deeply, and his continence was overtaken by a pugnacious determination. He said to Lucius, ¡°stay behind me. I will try my best to get you out.¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Florian wasn¡¯t prepared to hear a no under such an exigent circumstance. He looked back at the ex-priest, ¡°what?¡±

    Lucius shoved the small vial into Florian¡¯s hand and said in an exceptionally calm voice, ¡°you have a better chance than me. I will only get us both killed. Take this to Anthor and give it to Dan Emerson from Division Nine. I will try to draw them away from the exit.¡±

    Florian blinked in shock, ¡°you will die!¡±

    ¡°I will die anyway! Just promise me you will try to deliver it!¡± Lucius knew he didn¡¯t have much time left. The vampires had drunk up the ve¡¯s blood and began to turn their soulless eyes to them.

    Lucius shoved the hangman¡¯s finger into Florian¡¯s hand and dashed toward the other side of the cave. He did everything so resolutely that, several dayster, when he looked back, he still couldn¡¯t believe he had decided to die in such a short time.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    As he predicted, the ancient vampires turned to him and came like a flood as the Durchville Witch also let out a long, macabre wail, and the ground began to shake and undte as if the rock was turning into mud.

    Lucius¡¯s feet sunk into the ground, and he couldn¡¯t move anymore. He saw the Durchville Witch¡¯s ancient hollow eyes fixed on him and all her scions approaching him from every direction like an iing flood. He closed his eyes, hoping it would all end quickly.

    Everything happened so quickly, and Florian knew he should take the chance and ran since the exit was clear. But he couldn¡¯t. He knew it was toote to stop Lucius from sacrificing himself in his ce, and the best thing he could do now was to deliver the blood as Lucius beseeched, but he just...couldn¡¯t leave Lucius alone to his doom.

    He had been risking himself to save others throughout his hunter life, but it was the first time someone was willing to die for him. And it shook him to the core.

    Just as he thought it was all over and that scrawny little priest with beautiful hazel eyes and wavy red hair was going to be torn into pieces, something incredible and strange happened.

    Lucius¡¯s shadow abruptly grew behind him, longer and longer, and its shapepletely deviated from its owner¡¯s slender form. It looked like a giant humanoid form at first, but soon myriads of long, snaky tentacle shapes spread behind him like an exploding firework, and all those waving shadows eventually covered almost all of the cavern. Spontaneously the air in the cave went still and extremely sultry and hot. A smell of pungent sulfur arose from the ground.

    All the vampires froze in ce for a short while, and then they let out a horrifying scream and scattered and ran away like a mischief of rats getting spooked. Within seconds, they disappeared without a trace. And the Durchville Witch also closed her eyes once more, and the ground was no longer shifty and returned to its original hard, rocky form.

    And then the shadow dissolved as if it was never there. The sulfur smell also dissipated. Silence and stillness returned to the cavern.

    Lucius waited for his imminent death, but it never came. He tentatively opened one of his eyes and found no vampires. The only one who stood in front of him with a dumbfounded expression was Florian.

    Lucius blinked in confusion and looked around, disoriented, ¡°what happened?¡±

    Florian was wordless for a long moment and eventually squeezed three words out, ¡°a miracle, perhaps.¡±

    ¡°Stop messing with me!¡± Lucius gaped at the ex-hunter, ¡°what did you do?¡±

    ¡°That should have been my question.¡°Florian regarded him indescribably, ¡°they ran away. They seemed...scared of you.¡±

    ¡°Scared of me?!¡±

    ¡°Or your shadow.¡± Florian couldn¡¯t make sense of any of it, but he knew one thing for sure, ¡°we should get out of this damn ce first.¡±

 Chapter 26 Return to the Citadel

    It only took Lucius and Florian another one and a half hours to get out of the cave and steal back to the manor. Miraculously, none of the vampires showed up on their way back, and the whole chamber fell back to dead stillness.?

    Florian took off to return the ¡°borrowed¡± items before anyone noticed their absence from the disy room and took care of the security camera recording fromst night. Lucius didn¡¯t know exactly how Florian would do it, but given that he had been a government agent for most of his life, he should have his way.

    Lucius quickly returned to his room. To his relief, Dorian hadn¡¯t been back. He peeled off his blood-soaking shirt and examined the wound on the shoulder. It was deep and definitely needed some sewing, but luckily the knife was sharp, so the cut was neat.

    ¡°How am I supposed to hide it from Dorian...¡°Lucius grumbled in frustration as he tried his best to clean off the blood. He didn¡¯t know how to sew a wound, so he used almost all the gauges and bandages he could find to staunch the blood, making a huge mess in the bathroom. At the end of it, he was feeling dizzy and exhausted from losing blood and had to sit down for a while so he won¡¯t faint.

    Too many things had happened, and he had no time to process any of it. His mind was as nk as a piece of white paper, couldn¡¯t focus on any thought.

    ¡°I have to clean up...Dorian wille back at any time now...¡± He vaguely thought but just couldn¡¯t pick himself up from the floor. He dozed off for a short minute until a knock on the door startled him.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± It was Florian¡¯s muffled voice.

    ¡°I think I need some help.¡± Lucius struggled to get up and unlock the door. Florian was by his side at once, ruffling through the first aid kit and finding the needle and thread.

    ¡°Let me.¡±Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.

    Lucius sat on the bathtub¡¯s edge and let Florian sew his wound close. He took some painkillers beforehand, but it still hurt like hell that he had to bite his lips hard not to cry out.

    Florian saw how pale he was and tried to distract him with some conversation, ¡°so, do you y any sports?¡±

    Lucius red at him, ¡°are you serious?¡±

    ¡°I assume priests still y sports sometimes, right? Thinking of something that gives you pleasure can ease the pain. Trust me, it works.¡°Florian never stopped while talking, and Lucius hissed in pain as the needle pierced the skin again.

    ¡°Alright, um...I like climbing sometimes, but not super hardcore, just the regr gym route climbing and bouldering, that sort of stuff.¡±

    ¡°Never tried outdoor climbing?¡±

    ¡°No, never got the chance...Ouch!¡±

    ¡°You know, there is a very nice outdoor climbing site near my hometown Elkwood. The cliffs are not too high but have many interesting and challenging structures. Maybe one day we can go there, rent a cabin, have some bbq, and just have a climbing vacation.¡±

    A climbing vacation...renting a cabin in the woods...bbq...it all sounded like things from another life. Especially considering Utharia had fallen, who knew what happened to those small towns. But it was a hopeful and conforming prospect, and Lucius smiled, ¡°I sure am looking forward to it.¡±

    ¡°All done.¡± Florian cut the thread, wrapped the bandage on top of it, and then put a spell over the bandage so that it would seal the smell of the blood from vampires¡¯ acute olfactory senses, ¡°this may leave a scar.¡± He remarked after finishing everything.

    ¡°I need to find a way to exin it to Dorian...¡± Lucius scoffed tly, ¡°or just never have sex with him again.¡±

    Florian gave him a strange look, and Lucius realized that he had let too much of himself resurface, as Julian would never say the word ¡°sex¡± with such ease. Even though Florian never knew Julian well, it must be weird to hear an ex-priest talk about sex so inly. He cleared his throat and looked at his bloody shirt, ¡°how should we get rid of these?¡±

    ¡°I will handle it. You just go back to bed and rest.¡± Florian quickly gathered everything stained with blood and left the room.

    Lucius changed into a nightshirt and slipped back to bed. He was so exhausted that he fell asleep the moment he touched the pillow. The dreams that came to him were chaotic and bizarre, in which many snakes surrounded him, twisting around his naked skin, yet he wasn¡¯t bothered by their mmy slithery bodies.

    ¡°Lucius?¡±

    Someone nudged him. Lucius opened his eyes grumpily and grimaced as the pain from the shoulder wound red. He focused his groggy eyes on the person sitting on the bed next to him.

    It was Dorian.

    Lucius jolted awake immediately, ¡°hey.¡±

    ¡°You have a fever.¡± Dorian¡¯s brows furrowed in concern. For a person who just woke up from an all-night carousal, the prince still looked dashing and collected without many traces of a hangover. Perhaps one of the vampires¡¯ superior abilities?

    ¡°Probably just too much drinkst night. Just need to sleep it off. I will be fine.¡°Lucius pulled the cover higher, trying to look asposed as possible, ¡°it¡¯s just me being a human, ya know.¡±

    ¡°I never heard fever is a symptom of a hangover.¡°Dorian regarded him skeptically.

    ¡°Well, you are not a human expert, are you?¡±

    Dorian leaned in and sniffed, and that made Lucius all tensed up.

    What was he smelling? Could he sense the blood?

    ¡°Did I drink too much from youst night?¡°Worry crept up the prince¡¯s dark eyes, along with a tinge of guilt.

    ¡°No, no. It was all good. Don¡¯t worry!¡°Lucius tried to give Dorian a smile, but apparently, it was not convincing enough. Dorian looked even more apprehensive than before, ¡°I should get a doctor to give you a check.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± In a panic, Lucius snapped, and his voice went a little too harsh, ¡°can you stop fussing over me? Is this some sort of guilty reparation for calling my brother¡¯s name when you were fucking me?¡±

    And that sessively shut Dorian up. The crown prince widened his eyes in shock as if he didn¡¯t remember what happened, but then something came back to his recollection, followed by realization and mortification, ¡°I...I didn¡¯t...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t even try to deny it.¡± Lucius rolled his eyes, unsure why his supposedly pretended anger and dismay felt so real, ¡°now, just leave me alone!¡±

    Lucius turned his head to the side and shut his eyes, pulling the cover over his head. After a while, he heard some shuffling sound and a click when the bedroom door was closed. He let out a long sigh and peeked out from under the cover.

    Dorian was gone.

    Lucius sat up slowly, trying not to strain the wound. He put his face in his palms, giving himself some time to feel the bitterness biting his heart. He thought that after all the ordeals in the Sleeping Chamber, he shouldn¡¯t care about the little incident with Dorian anymore. So what Dorian called Julian when they were making love? He knew all along that Dorian didn¡¯t love him. So why was he feeling like shit?

    He needed to stop to have all these stupid expectations.

    Lucius rested in bed for another two days before they had to return to Emberton. Dorian didn¡¯t try to talk to him on the ne, though Lucius could feel his lingering gaze from time to time.

    The court received them with great ovation and fanfare, though the King never showed up. Lucius suspected that Cosmos was irate with Dorian. He read about the result of the negotiation in the news in the previous two days. Apparently, Dorian admitted wrongdoing on the vampire¡¯s part and agreed to reserve ? of the Crown Council seats to werewolves in the uing election.

    Many right-wing vampires were enraged by Dorian¡¯s ¡°weakness¡± and ¡°cowardice¡± facing werewolves¡¯ threats, yet many others, including the army, were very happy about the cease-fire. They had been fighting for too long, first humans, then werewolves, and the soldiers were suffering. Too many vampires died or were wounded in the strife with werewolves, and though it looked as if in its zenith, Eternia was bleeding out slowly. Most generals had wanted to end the war for years but didn¡¯t dare to go against Cosmos¡¯s will.

    However, admitting wrongdoing means acknowledging Cosmos¡¯s mistreatment of werewolves. The diminishing Vampire King wouldn¡¯t like it at all.

    Lucius had long suspected that Dorian, in fact, resented his father for his mother¡¯s death. Perhaps now, with the support of the army, Dorian was no longerpletely under the Crown¡¯s power, and he was finally ready to shed his filial andisant veneer.

    The court was agape when hearing Lucius brought back a human sex ve, though the ve wore servants¡¯ clothes and acted like he was the same as other vampire servants. And the once timid and skittish consort returned a different man. He carried himself with much more confidence and assuredness, as if he was no longer afraid of being the vulnerable human among the predators.

    One day, three young royal members loitered in the garden when Florian passed by with a jacket for Lucius, and the three young apostles decided to mess with him. One of them knew that ves from Durchvilles were all chipped and could bepelled to do things with the right verbalmands. Though some of themands only work with the owner¡¯s voice, many of the verbalmands were open to any vampires.

    ¡°Kneel.¡± The vampire, Earl Keaton,manded. And Florian, though involuntary, kneeled before them immediately. He glowered at the three vampires with a sharp gaze that could cut diamonds.

    ¡°This is an untamed one. He looks like he wants to kill us!¡°Other vampires got excited and encouraged, ¡°try one of those punishmentmands!¡±

    ¡°You sadistic bastards.¡± Earl Keaton chuckled amusingly, ¡°alright, alright. Acid Burn!¡±

    Florian¡¯s body began to shake violently, and though he wanted to repress, a low, excruciating groan escaped his throat. He felt like a bucket of sulfuric acid was pouring over him, and his skin was melting away from his muscle and bone. Before long, he copsed to the ground and went into a spasm.

    ¡°Cease!¡± A voice broke through the vampires¡¯ughter, stopping the cruel, unprovoked torture. Lucius strode toward them seethingly. His delicate features were shadowed with a cold solemnity.

    The three vampire earls greeted him sloppily and obviously didn¡¯t see him as someone who had a higher rank in court.

    Lucius stood before them, his eyes slowly roving from one to another and fixed on Earl Keaton, who gave the verbalmand, ¡°Who gave you permission to punish MY servant?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, your highness. The ve was being insubordinate. We were just giving him a lesson.¡± Lucius didn¡¯t miss the sardonic tone when the earl addressed him.

    ¡°Insubordinate?¡± Lucius smirked, ¡°so you agree that insubordinate behavior should be punished?¡±

    ¡°Of course! These humans have to be reminded of their ce at all times.¡°Another viscount jibed and regarded Lucius smugly.

    ¡°Very well. Then tell me, what is a proper punishment for someone insubordinate?¡± Lucius squinted his eyes, ¡°I would love to put the person in question into his ce.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps fifty whips?¡°The third earl suggested yfully.

    ¡°Guards!¡± Lucius suddenly raised his voice, and two guards that Dorian arranged for him immediately came to his side.

    Lucius pointed at Keaton, ¡°whip them. Fifty times each. Start with this one.¡±

    All the noblemen and servants around them stopped talking and looked at them with curiosity. Some astonished gasps quietly dissolved into the low murmuring floating about the observing crowd.

    Earl Keaton widened his eyes in shock, ¡°you are joking, right?¡±

    ¡°You punished my servant without my permission, did not bow to me as you should, and showed me no respect. Tell me, if such behavior is not considered insubordinate, what is?¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t punish me for a worthless ve! Do you know who I am?!¡±

    ¡°I know perfectly who you are.¡± Lucius showed him an acrimonious smirk, ¡°but do you know who I am?¡±

    One of his two guards grabbed Earl Keaton¡¯s shoulder without hesitation, and the other took out the whip hung on his waist. And soon, the cracks of whipping followed by the earl¡¯s cry echoed in the courtyard. The other two noblemen ran away with tails between their legs.

    And Lucius stood there watching all fifty whips with a ss of wine in his hand. His eyes nced across the faces surrounding him, and one by one, the eyes on those faces lowered.

 Chapter 27 The Quarrels

    ¡°Have you heard about the rumor?¡± Duke of Northcester, Darius Mahmound, remarked as he entered Dorian¡¯s study. He was Dorian¡¯s cousin and shared some simr features with the Ashdown princes, though older in age, and had a refined schrly look about him.

    Duke Darius was Dorian¡¯s most important ally in the court as he was the head of the Mahmound family, one of the oldest and most powerful Bloodlines and always had intricate nuptial rtions with the Ashdown family. King Cosmo¡¯s mother was a Mahmounddy, and Darius was the King¡¯s older sister¡¯s only son.

    Dorian was still reading the daily brief sent from the cab. He raised his eyes and nced at Darius, ¡°there are hundreds of rumors flying around every day. You need to be more specific.¡±

    ¡°The one that involves your consort whipping Earl Keaton for a ve.¡°Darius leisurely sat on the chair on the other side of the desk.

    Dorian finally raised his head, ¡°what happened?¡±

    ¡°Earl Keaton and his friends decided to test some of the verbalmands on the ve and pissed your consort off majorly. He ordered his guard to whip Keaton fifty times because of his ¡¯insubordination.¡¯¡± Darius tilted his head, ¡°It has stirred up much gossip and conjectures and will reach the King¡¯s ears sooner orter. Isn¡¯t your consort a bit too fiery for a priest? You may want to consider putting a bridle on him. ¡±

    Dorian¡¯s finger tabbed on the desk a few times, and he chuckled, ¡°Sounds like Keaton deserved it.¡±

    ¡°You cannot consider condone such behavior. How will it reflect on you? A weak Crown Prince who ingratiated himself to the werewolves and couldn¡¯t even manage his own human pet.¡±

    ¡°Weak? Now I have support from both the army and werewolves. Anyone who still thinks I¡¯m weak is a fool whose opinion does not matter to me.¡°Dorian leaned back into the armchair, ¡°it¡¯s time for them to understand that Julian is my consort. They should treat him with as much respect as they show me. Anyone who offends him is offending me.¡±

    Darius chuckled, ¡°You¡¯ve grown fond of your little human pet, haven¡¯t you.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡±

    ¡°You are risking undermining your delicately bnced rtionship with your father for him. What other exnation is there?¡±

    ¡°He is my consort and thereby an extension of myself. Of course I need to defend him.¡±

    Darius tabbed his long fingers several times before shrugging, ¡°Suit yourself. Just be prepared that the King will upbraid you.¡±

    ¡°My father is getting weaker and weaker. His body is rejecting blood and starving itself. It won¡¯t be long before he falls into hibernation.¡°Dorian said slowly, and a glint of iciness shed across his eyes.

    ¡°Maybe, but he still has enough strength to amend the Edict of Session.¡°Darius leaned forward and lowered his voice, ¡°You just need to be a little more patient and wait a little longer. Don¡¯t do anything impulsive.¡±

    ¡°I am never impulsive.¡± Dorian¡¯s eyes fixed on a spot on the desk, and his thought went somewhere far and abysmal, ¡°but letting him fall into hibernation thinking that he had control over who would seed him is not what I want.¡± He paused for a second, and his voice tinted with a sinister tone, ¡°I want to take it all from him when he is conscious.¡±

    ¡°I thought we talked about this! Even if you seed, your legitimacy will be questioned!¡±

    Dorian only grinned, a smile colder and darker than the pr night sky, ¡°They will only question it if they think I am weak and they have a chance. After what I will do to my mother¡¯s murders and their bastard sons, no one will dare to question my ¡®legitimacy.¡¯¡±

    Lucius stood in front of the mirror and checked the wound on his shoulder. It was healing well under Florian¡¯s attentive and professional care, and the stitches were almost dissolved, leaving an angrily red scar behind. The redness would take some time to fade, and Lucius hadn¡¯t thought of any viable exnation.

    After that night, the chasm between him and Dorian deepened, and the prince always slept on the couch, which gave Lucius a perfect chance to hide the wound. But the strain between them upset him more than he would like to admit.

    ¡°Don¡¯t poke it.¡± Florian¡¯s voice came from behind. He just brought in tea and breakfast.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t. But it¡¯s so itchy!¡±

    Florian set everything down on the table and came near, examining the wound closer while quietly saying, ¡°What you did yesterday was too risky. I could have handled those punishments.¡±

    ¡°ording to thew, you belong to me. I can¡¯t let them step over me like that.¡°Lucius pulled his shirt up and nced at him, ¡°we should get those chips out as soon as possible. Or if it¡¯s too risky, at least disable the public verbalmands.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard any ves being unchipped before.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure it can be done. We just need to sneak out of this citadel, find a good doctor, crack your head open, and uproot those little things from your brain.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, your highness, that sounds veryforting.¡± Florian rejoined with deadpan sarcasm, which made Luciusugh a little. He then whispered, ¡°It¡¯s also our best chance to get the blood out.¡±

    Florian nodded, ¡°is there anyone who will get in touch with you?¡±

    ¡°We just need to leave the blood in a deposit box, and someone will pick it up.¡±

    ¡°Where is that deposit box?¡±

    Just then, the door opened, and Dorian stepped in. He frowned as he spotted Florian and said authoritatively, ¡°ve, leave us.¡±

    Florian bowed his head and excused himself from the room. Lucius nced at the prince and remarked, ¡°he has a name, you know.¡±

    ¡°Must you have him around you all the time?¡°Dorian sat before the table and poured himself some tea. The rich aroma of earl gray was just some nc hot water on a vampire¡¯s tongue, but he still liked to asionally savor the tiny hint of redolence.

    Lucius slowly put the cufflinks on his sleeves and said half-heartedly, ¡°you don¡¯t like him?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡°Dorian said tantly, ¡°he used to be a vampire hunter who ughtered several apostles and numerous neophytes. So pardon me if I don¡¯t want to see him in my living quarters.¡±

    ¡°He is harmless now.¡± Lucius brushed off Dorian¡¯s concern and sat down to have his breakfast as well, adding some milk to his coffee, ¡°in fact, I want to talk to you about taking out the chips in his head. ¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Some noblemen think they are entitled to other people¡¯s property, apparently. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard what happened yesterday.¡±

    ¡°I did. And I¡¯m surprised that you think I will keep indulging your whims after learning about the farce.¡±

    ¡°Farce? Do you think it is somethingughable to watch my people being tortured for no reason?¡± Lucius stared at him huffishly, ¡°it could have been me, and anyone can force me to do anything regardless of what I want.¡±

    ¡°For no reason?¡± Dorian put down his tea cup with a bit too much force. His continence darkened with acrimony, ¡°was persecuting vampires for thousands of years a reason good enough? Your Churches had tortured, burnt, drowned and crucified countless vampires throughout history, and those hunters were worse. They did experiments on us, tortured us, chased us to the end of the world and made our teeth trophies. ¡±

    ¡°If vampires didn¡¯t kill so many humans, they wouldn¡¯t have hunted them, would they?! Those vampires could have restrained themselves before it was toote or just fed on animals!¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    ¡°It¡¯s easy for you to say! You are not the one tortured by starvation all the time and the overwhelming urge! Can you ask all your human fellows to be vegetarians? How about the animals¡¯ rights?¡±

    ¡°At least we don¡¯t fuck our animals!¡°Lucius paused for a second and added bluntly, ¡°well, most of us don¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m impressed you just lowered your species to the same level of animals. ¡± Dorian jibed and stood up abruptly, ¡°and you know what, humans would have persecuted us with the same maliciousness even if we were all vegetarians and only drank animal blood. My mother was a vegetarian and never took a single human life her whole life, and look what they did to her!¡±

    Then the Crown Prince stormed out of the room and mmed the door shut behind him.

    Lucius cursed himself silently. Why did he say those things? Why couldn¡¯t he control his own temper whenever Dorian was close? Aggravation would only damage his rtionship with Dorian, on whom he fully depended.

    After breakfast and during thete afternoon, Lucius was tasked to visit Concubine Devina like other consorts, concubines anddies in the court. On the way there, he also had to stop asionally to have brief conversations with any approaching royal family member. Not many lords ordies would approach him in the early days after the wedding, and they even ignored him asionally. Lady Devina also usually dismissed him fairly quickly after a simple greeting. However, today he had to stop every few steps to return greetings and engage in conversations, and people¡¯s manners toward him noticeably improved.

    ¡°Julian!¡°A maic voice caught his attention when he exchanged trivial words about the weather with a countess. He turned and saw Silvan approaching him quickly. A charming smile perched on his elegant lips.

    Lucius hadn¡¯t seen the prince, who was also his husband¡¯s biggest threat to the crown, since he was back from Durchville¡¯s manor. He stered a restrained but polite smile, ¡°Prince Silvan. It¡¯s been a while.¡±

    ¡°It is indeed.¡± Silvan¡¯s eyes scanned him from head to toe and remarked caringly, ¡°I worried about you when I heard that werewolves attacked you. Elder bless that you are unscathed.¡±

    ¡°It was a thrilling experience for sure. I thank you for your solicitude.¡±

    ¡°Are you going to see my mother? We can walk together.¡±

    It was impossible to refuse a man as courteous and charismatic as Silvan, so Lucius acquiesced. On their way there, Silvan inquired more about what had happened when they were with The Guardians and the well-spread tale about the miracle. Lucius rted everything in the most simplified way.

    ¡°You are truly a wonder!¡± Silvan looked at him intensively as if he were a precious being, which was especially disarming to someone like him. Lucius couldn¡¯t help but feel ttered, even though that so-called ¡°miracle¡± unnerved him. He tittered, ¡°You are too kind.¡±

    ¡°And I heard you also received an unusual gift from Lady Durchville.¡± The prince nced at Florian, who followed quietly behind Lucius and grinned, ¡°Seems like you have adapted to vampire¡¯s more... sensual lifestyle?¡±

    Luciusughed, ¡°Buck is only my servant.¡±

    ¡°Really? Too bad, I thought you and Dorian are having a more open arrangement now.¡±

    ¡°How is that too bad?¡±

    ¡°Well.¡± As they stood before the door to Lady Devina¡¯s chamber, Silvan¡¯s gaze lingered on Lucius with non-dissimted desire: ¡°When I see someone possesses a beautiful gem but hasn¡¯t been taking good care of it. I would like to borrow it some time and give it some proper care myself.¡±

    And before Lucius could fullyprehend the meaning behind the metaphor, the page announced their arrival. Silvan winked at him and entered first.

    Lucius blinked...Did Silvan just hit on him?

    And how did he know Dorian and Lucius were not as enthusiastic about each other as they presented themselves before the public?

    The room was already half-full. King Cosmo had two other concubines, Lady Anastasia and Lord Mathias, who were both present. Several other courtdies and lords wereughing over something Lord Mathias had just said, and all of them ceasedughing as Lucius entered the room.

    ¡°Good evening, mydy.¡°Lucius bowed to Devina.

    The famous concubine smiled at him alluringly, ¡°Julian! We were just talking about how you gave Earl Keaton a memorable lesson yesterday. Bravo!¡±

    Silvan stood next to his mother and chimed, ¡°It¡¯s about time someone did something about Earl Keaton¡¯s questionable behaviors. Marquis Keaton had spoiled him.¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Lady Anastasia agreed, ¡°That little bastard didn¡¯t even bow to me when he saw me, and the other day, he killed Earl Louis¡¯s favorite ve when he decided to have some fun with that poor thing without Louis¡¯s permission. He didn¡¯t even apologize about it!¡±

    Lucius smirked, ¡°Happy to be your services, mydies and lords.¡± He felt relieved that the court received his audacious move rtively well, and he was lucky that Earl Keaton happened to be a notorious brat. It was almost like a windfall to him when he needed to establish his authority in court.

    They proceeded to chat about rumors and news around the court. From some fragmental talks, Lucius pieced together that the King was suffering some ailments, which had caused him to be unable to attend many engagements, though no one mentioned anything specific. Silvan seemed to get to see him regrly, possibly even more frequently than Dorian.

    ¡°Julian, your birthday is approaching, isn¡¯t it?¡± Silvan suddenly remarked in between the topics, ¡°Has Dorian prepared anything special for the day?¡±

    And that shifted all the attention back to Lucius, making him feel like a deer caught in the headlights.

    ¡°Um...we haven¡¯t discussed it yet.¡± Lucius tried to y it off casually, ¡°and I don¡¯t really celebrate birthdays since I was no longer a child.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense! Birthday celebrations are not just for children.¡± Silvan fixed his captivating eyes on his brother-inw, ¡°it is a chance for us to appreciate the people we care about, showering them with love.¡±

    Birthday...Lucius never liked it. He never had a birthday that belonged to him alone since he and Julian were twins and shared the same birthday, and Lord and Lady Rosenfield often set everything to Julian¡¯s liking. Since childhood, he always felt like an outsider at their birthday parties, and he stopped celebrating it once Julian entered the seminary.

    Interestingly, Lucius¡¯s father and mother also seemed to forget about the whole birthday celebration traditions after Julian left home. They often just sent Lucius a curt ¡°happy birthday¡± message, and that was about it.

    <i>¡°It is a chance for us to appreciate the people we care about, showering them with love.¡±</i>

    Obviously, Lucius¡¯s father and mother didn¡¯t feel the need to shower him with anything. And he doubted Dorian would feel anything as well.

    And so Lucius forced a wide smile on his face and said as cheerfully and lightheartedly as possible, ¡°I¡¯m sure Dorian has something in mind. He likes to surprise me.¡±

 Chapter 28 To The Beach

    The Head Steward, Harold Sherriden, stood so rigidly straight that Lucius couldn¡¯t help but straighten himself as he sat on the couch. The neophyte vampire had served two kings and was one of the oldest vampires living in the citadel, and meeting him always made Lucius nervous.

    ¡°Good evening, Your Highness,¡± Sherriden said courteously as he bowed at a perfect angle.

    ¡°Good evening, Mr. Sherriden.¡± Lucius smiled, ¡°would you like some tea?¡±

    ¡°Oh, that won¡¯t be necessary. Thank you for your kindness.¡± Sherriden gave him an extremely fast sh of a smile and continued, ¡°Ie to confirm with you, how do you want to celebrate your twenty-sixth birthday?¡±

    Lucius blinked several times, ¡°I was thinking not to celebrate it. I don¡¯t really like making a big deal about it.¡±

    Sherriden seemed a little surprised. He contemted it for a second and said, ¡°it is your first birthday in Eternia. Many lords anddies are looking forward to sending you their regards. If you don¡¯t mind, may I suggest something?¡±

    The Head Steward then gave him a detailed run-down about various royal family members¡¯ birthday celebration traditions, which included expensive parties, gift receiving, and a massive ve hunt in which dozens of ves would be released into the forest, and the royal family members and guests could do anything to them should they get caught.

    Lucius listened calmly, and at the end of it, he took a sip of the coffee and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve made up my mind.¡±

    ¡°Very well, Your Highness. What can we do for you?¡±

    Lucius leaned forward and said, ¡°I want to give a day off to all the human ves in Vermilion Citadel. On that day, none of them will be subject to any form ofbor or punishment.¡±

    All the servants in the room and Mr. Sherriden gaped at him as if they weren¡¯t sure they had heard him right. Ere long, the Head Steward managed to blurt out, ¡°That is a very unusual request.¡±

    ¡°Unusual? Really?¡± Lucius smiled, though the smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes, ¡°I am a human, Mr. Sherriden. Surely you can understand that I do not enjoy watching my kind being ughtered in my name. If the lords anddies want to send me regards, just leave their ves alone for that day, and I will be much obliged.¡±

    Mr. Sherriden appeared to want to say something else, but on second thought, he didn¡¯t. He excused himself and exited the room. Lucius also dismissed all other servants except Florian.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be another brow-raising rumor about you,¡± Florian said after thest servant left the chamber, ¡°don¡¯t you worry that you are drawing too much attention? Some right-wing vamps have already seen you as a threat.¡±

    ¡°At my position, one can¡¯t avoid drawing attention.¡± Lucius shrugged, ¡°I may as well embrace it.¡±

    Before dinner, Lucius spent an hour in the private gym to work out. It was one of the few hours in a day he had a chance to bepletely alone without servants or bodyguards, and he came to like the sweaty solidarity. He finished showering and was putting his shirt on when a familiar voice broke the tranquility of the locker room.

    ¡°What were you thinking?¡±

    Lucius jumped a little, startled by the sudden voice. He glowered at the intruder. Dorian leaned against a locker, and repressed, cold anger shadowed his countenance.

    Lucius sighed exasperatedly, ¡°what did I do wrong this time?¡±

    ¡°A day off for all the ves?¡±

    ¡°Not all the ves, only the ves in the Citadel. And it¡¯s only for one day.¡±

    ¡°Eighty percent of thebor works around the Citadel are done by the ves. How can the vampire servants handle all that extra work in that one day? And you gave them less than three days to prepare for it.¡±

    ¡°Then maybe you should consider giving more duties to the vampire servants. Since they are paid handsomely and only do 20% of the work. Again it¡¯s only for one day. I¡¯m sure even the most incapable royal family members can do things themselves for one day.¡± Lucius rolled his eyes while buttoning up his shirt.

    ¡°Moreover, you asked all noblemen to do the same. You know how many people you are pissing off?¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t have to! I¡¯m just saying they don¡¯t need to buy me an extravagant gift or anything. If they really want to send me regards, just leave their ves alone for a day. Is that so hard?¡±

    ¡°You are asking something you don¡¯t have the right to ask!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t?! I am a human! If anyone has a right to ask such a thing, it is me!¡±

    Days of bickering and tension between them had umted to the point that it got on Dorian¡¯s nerves. The Crown Prince strode toward his contrary consort with such intimidation that Lucius couldn¡¯t help but take a few steps back until his back hit one of the lockers, making a loud ng sound.

    Dorian gazed down at him intensely and ground his teeth, ¡°why can¡¯t you just celebrate your damn birthday like everyone else? Have a stupid party, say thanks for the gifts, eat a cake, and call it a day! I have my hands full already! I can¡¯t clean your mess all the time!¡±

    Lucius stared Dorian back with his big wide eyes.

    This was the first time Dorian mentioned his birthday to him in a whole week. Lucius didn¡¯t really expect anything from his husband, but this?

    Was it so wrong that he just wanted to give a break to all the people trapped in thisnd of animosity and a forsaken fate like him?

    Lucius took a deep breath, pressing down the vulnerable feeling as much as possible, and blurted out with a bit of hurt in his voice, ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to! I fucking hate birthdays! And I¡¯m tired of all these fightings! I won¡¯t change my mind, so unless you n to divorce me, leave me alone!¡±

    For a while, Lucius thought Dorian was going to punch him. However, the prince merely stepped back, glowered at him, barely holding back his tempers, and left.

    Lucius slid down to the floor exhaustingly. What had happened between them? For a while, he thought this might work, that their marriage might not be so bad after all. But then everything just went to shit since that night...

    During that night¡¯s dinner, everyone in the room could feel the distance between the Crown Prince and his consort. They barely met each other¡¯s eyes and never exchanged a single word. Lucius was sure the next day, another rumor about their strained marriage would spread like wildfire.

    Although Lucius said he didn¡¯t want any gifts, many nobles still sent them to his room. Lucius did his diligence by replying to every present with a handwritten thanks note. Each letter was tailored specifically for the sender to show his appreciation and then delivered by his personal valets.

    ¡°Prince Silvan is trying to impress you.¡± Florian was helping him unwrapping all the gifts, and he showed the item lying in a red velvet box. It was a Sacred Eye rosary with gold chain and ga beads, and the iris was a giant, dazzling ruby.

    Lucius raised his brows slightly and touched the perfectly cut surface of the ruby. Should he be a pious believer like his brother, such a gift would have been more impressive and made more sense.

    ¡°Do we always want what our siblings have?¡± Lucius chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s like, if we don¡¯t have it, it feels like we are losing in thepetition.¡±

    ¡°It depends on what kind of parents you had, I suppose.¡± Florian shrugged, ¡°I never felt that way with my little sister. I wanted all the best for her.¡±

    ¡°You have a sister? Where is she?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I sent her on an evacuation flight, and never heard from her again.¡± Florian lowered his eyes, seemed a bit tense and tried to change the topic, ¡°So, are you going to give some special thanks to Silvan?¡±

    ¡°I should. It is a very thoughtful gift.¡± Lucius stood up from his desk and stretched, ¡°But I can do it tomorrow. You can take off early today. Tomorrow is your day off.¡±

    Florian hesitated a little and then asked, ¡°What will you do tomorrow? It is your birthday.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe just like every other day.¡± Lucius said nonchntly, ¡°Perhaps read a book, work out, watch a movie. The usual.¡±

    ¡°I can stay with you.¡± Florian¡¯s voice was slightly different from his usual matter-of-fact style.

    Luciusughed, ¡°I¡¯m perfectly ok to make coffee myself. You just get some rest. I bet you haven¡¯t had a day off for years.¡±

    After Florian left, Lucius poured himself a ss of wine and sauntered to the balcony. The night breeze brought a whiff of the early summer scent, rippling and dancing with the water-like moonlight. The capital city that expanded before him was lit up by a sea of resplendent neon lights, like a colorful milky way pouring down from the ck velvet firmament.

    All the noises of the city sounded like a damped and distant ambient sound, making the serenity around him more prominent. Lucius seeped the bloodless wine from his ss and closed his eyes, trying to calm the swirling thoughts and turmoils in his head.

    He needed to find a way to send the blood out as soon as possible. If anyone discovered it in his possession, he would be in big trouble. But how to leave the citadel without causing too much attention? Unchiping Florian could be a good excuse and chance, but if Dorian weren¡¯t on board, he would have to find someone else to help him do some necessary arrangements, and it would be too risky.

    Someone opened the door to the balcony. Lucius knew who was behind him without even looking. Dorian always had an aura about him that epassed everything and everyone in his vicinity, like a ck hole drowning all the lights, yet eerily enigmatic and attractive.

    Dorian stood on his left side, resting his arms on the railing and looked out in the same direction as Lucius. They stood side by side in silence for a long while, and it was an ineffablyfortable reticence, and both of them hesitated to break it.

    ¡°Why do you hate your birthday?¡± Dorian eventually asked, ¡°Humans can only have so many birthdays, and I heard most of you celebrate it with close families and friends. It sounded fun.¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Lucius chuckled, ¡°You know who I share my birthday with, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course. You are twins.¡±

    ¡°When I was little, before our birthday, my mother would ask us what cake we wanted, what present we wanted, or who we should invite. And we always got the key lime cake or blueberry cake and a book or a pen as presents. And guess what? I never liked key lime cake. It is Julian¡¯s favorite vor.¡±

    Dorian turned to look at him, ¡°then what did you want?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted a ck forest cake, the most regr sort, with a ton of chocte sprinkles stuck on the side. And for gifts, I wanted video games, a bike or even those transformable robot toys that were super popr at the time. I mean, which eight years old boy would want a friggin book as a birthday present? Julian was just too...weird.¡±

    Dorian chuckled, ¡°I can¡¯t even remember my eighth year¡¯s birthday. But it does sound like a peculiar choice.¡±

    Lucius looked down and snickered, ¡°I used to think Julian was just a pretentious little shit who wanted all the attention of my parents. ¡®Oh! Look at me! I¡¯m so special and smart that I don¡¯t even like what normal kids like!¡¯¡±

    Dorian couldn¡¯t help butugh at Lucius¡¯s Julian impression. Lucius rxed a little. He was mildly worried that Dorian wouldn¡¯t tolerate anyone speaking ill of his true love, even though it was when they were kids.

    ¡°Anyway. It was all very childish. But you know, all our fucked-ups can be traced back to childhood. And I never could have a birthday that belonged to me, so I grew to hate it.¡± Lucius shrugged it off, feeling a bit sheepish and embarrassed.

    Lucius wasn¡¯t sure if it was an illusion, but Dorian¡¯s gaze was softer and gentler in the night light. The vampire prince then asked, ¡°if you can have a birthday exactly as you want, what will it be like? What do you want to do on that day?¡±

    Lucius blinked several times. It was the first time someone had asked him that, and he had to think about it for a moment, recalling all the disappointments and regrets from the distant past.

    ¡°I guess I¡¯ve always wanted to go to the beach and have fish and chips there.¡± Lucius smiled yearningly as he imagined the golden beach, the sand castles, the blue sea with white fringes, the fishy smell of seaweed and crispy fried cod dipping in tangy tartar sauce.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Dorian regarded him with a smudge of a smirk in his eyes, ¡°let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Go where? ¡°Lucius asked bemusedly.

    ¡°To the beach, of course.¡± The prince replied as if it was the most obvious answer.

 Chapter 29 Do You Trust Me?

    Lucius felt like he was in a peculiar dream as Dorian and he went to the garage, picked a most humble car that was easy to blend into the street, and drove it past the gate. Dorian cast an illusory spell over everyone they encountered, taking advantage of the fact that none of them were on guard of being fooled by their Crown Prince. As a result, the servants, guards, and even the Head Steward didn¡¯t try to stop them or inquire where they were going and why there were no bodyguards following them. By the time they return, they probably wouldn¡¯t even notice their absence.

    After several turns on the street, Lucius finally realized that for the first time since he arrived at Eternia, he was out of the golden cage of aristocrats, servants and guards. He rxed a little and chortled in excitement, ¡°I can¡¯t believe we actually did it!¡±

    Dorian, who was driving, pulled his lip corners up, ¡°I used to do this a lot with Silvan when I was younger. My illusory arts improved greatly because of our sneaking out routine.¡±

    ¡°With Silvan? I thought you two were sworn enemies.¡±

    Dorian¡¯s taciturnitysted for a few moments, and before Lucius started questioning if he asked an inappropriate question, he said, ¡°we are brothers, and before my mother and I were exiled, we used to be good friends as well. But then everything happened, and it changed our rtionship.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, tell me aboutplicated sibling rtionships...¡± Lucius leaned his head against the window and took in the fanciful nightlife of the ancient city. It looked almost identical to the streets of Tranta, the capital of Anthor, but with a bit more character and taste.

    They arrived at the seashore at around 10:30 pm. Many shops and restaurants were decorated with splendid lights, pushing the darkness of the night away from the district. To vampires, it was like mid-day. Many people strolled on the silver beach, ying beach volleyball or frisbees, swimming, sailing, and little vampires ran around screaming like regr human kids.

    ¡°What if someone recognizes us?¡± Lucius asked as Dorian found a parking spot.

    ¡°They won¡¯t,¡± Dorian replied confidently.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you are going to hypnotize the whole beach of people.¡±

    ¡°No, but since no one expects to see us, I can just put a simple spell on ourselves, and most people won¡¯t be able to associate us with the faces they saw on the news or the inte.¡°Dorian opened his palm, ¡°give me your hand.¡±

    Lucius did as he was told. Dorian inteced their fingers as he stared profoundly into Lucius¡¯s eyes. His dark irises glistened a mesmerizing red hue, drawing Lucius into an alluring trance.

    ¡°Ok, done.¡± Dorian¡¯s words finally snapped Lucius out of it, and he felt a bit bashful as he was just lost in Dorian¡¯s gaze like a schoolgirl. Lucius quickly withdrew his hand and got off the car.

    The night was clear, and the moon was full like a silver te. The endless ocean undted like ck silk, and the dapples of light were thousands of diamond shards. The sand was white as snow under the caress of the moonlight, scattered with shells and seaweeds.

    Lucius stood on the water¡¯s edge, where the sea foams rushed up to the wet sand wave after wave. He looked into the horizon, the starry sky, and the sleeping sea and let the fishy and salty smell fill his body and mind. He couldn¡¯t help but smell and took off his shoes, letting the warm water brush against his feet.

    ¡°Do you know how to swim?¡± Dorian asked.

    ¡°Yes, I love swimming. But I¡¯ve never swum in the sea before.¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Dorian took off his shoes and started unbuttoning his shirt. Lucius goggled at him, ¡°but I didn¡¯t bring my swim shorts!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t either.¡± Dorian left his shirt and jacket on the beach with only a pair of pants on. The neo-light and moonlight danced along the contours of his muscles as if they were part of him. He took a few steps into the water and looked back at a hesitating Lucius, e on. I will show you something.¡±

    Lucius decided that not swimming when he finally had a chance toe to the beach was just stupid, so he quickly took off his top clothes and ventured forward, letting the salty water soak his pants.

    As the seawater slowly enclosed his body, a strong upward force pushed his body up. He spread his arms, kicked his legs, and swam through theing waves. Dorian was right in front of him, leading them away from the shore. After a while, when they were further than most other vampires in the water, they paused, rose and fell with the tide like two rootless kelps. The buzz from the beach muffled into a white noise, and the lights from the shops blurred into a colorful mist. The moon was on top of their head, and around them was only water. It felt as if they were the only two people in the whole wide world.

    Lucius thrust out of the water, squirted a mouthful of water on Dorian¡¯s face, and thenughed loudly. But hisughter was interrupted by a much more powerful full-face water bomb attack.

    ¡°What was that!¡± Lucius eximed, ¡°is your mouth a cannon or something?!¡±

    Dorian smirked, ¡°vampire super strength.¡±Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    ¡°That is so unfair,¡± Luciusined lightheartedly. He looked up at the sky while a rare feeling of calm and peace washed over him, and suddenly he was at a younger age again, with a simple and easily satisfied heart.

    ¡°Do you want to dive?¡± Dorian suddenly asked.

    ¡°Dive? You mean like this?¡°Lucius asked incredulously, ¡°No way! I can¡¯t dive into an ocean without any proper equipment and training.¡±

    ¡°Well, all you need is me,¡± Dorian replied smugly. His iris glowed again, and Lucius felt something intangible pass through him, simr to when one stays in a sealed room for a long time and suddenly enters the outside world. The air changed and yet not changed.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lucius asked with a tiny bit of skepticism.

    ¡°I just created a tiny realm around us, slightly bent some rules of reality.¡°Dorian said cryptically, ¡°do you trust me, Lucius?¡±

    ¡°Um...I guess?¡±

    ¡°You guess?¡± Dorian rose one of his brows.

    ¡°I mean, you did leave me alone in that forest for a really long time when we were attacked.¡±

    ¡°I was busy fighting werewolf assassins!¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright. I trust you, happy?¡±

    Dorian scantily epted Lucius¡¯s amendment and continued, ¡°now, try to take a breath underwater.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?! Are you nning to murder your consort?¡±

    Dorian swam closer to him, and his voice rich and soft like ck velvet, ¡°I thought you said you trusted me. You won¡¯t drown, I promise.¡±

    Lucius began to suspect that Dorian put some sort of enchantment on him because he felt like he couldn¡¯t say no. He gave in, took a deep breath, and sank below the water. He was supposed to breathe underwater, but instinctual fear prevented him from opening his eyes, let alone breathing in the salty seawater and letting it fill his lungs.

    Azrael¡¯s bloodline has some powerful vampires who could create a realm in which they had full control and could even alter the rules of reality, and he also saw Dorian use it when fighting that werewolf criminal, but he had never experienced it firsthand. Was it even possible to make water breathable?

    But then, for some unknown reason, he exhaled the breath he stored in his chest and breathed in.

    He didn¡¯t choke, didn¡¯t drown. The water rushed into his body, and he felt...nothing. He felt as if he was breathing in the air.

    He opened his eyes abruptly in disbelief, and it was notplete darkness before him. He could see clearly each floating tiny alga, rising bubbles, and even a hint of the pattern of the water¡¯s movement. Moonlight danced and rippled likeyers of silver chiffon. Not far away, a school of small fish was hovering and twirling around, and right below him, two jellyfish ruffled their skirts like the spirits of the ocean.

    It was a dream-like scene, and Lucius opened his mouth in astonishment, only realizing that he could hear his own exmation. His voice traveled in water just as it traveled through the air.

    ¡°Beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± Dorian¡¯s voice whiffed into Lucius¡¯s ear. He was floating behind him with such ease that one could mistake him for a merman.

    ¡°This is amazing!¡± Lucius cried out aloud, ¡°we are like fishes!¡±

    The smile in Lucius¡¯s eyes was brightly ingenuous, and the dimple looked almost childish. Before the vampire even realized it, he wished that he could put that smile on Lucius¡¯s face more frequently, and a warm sensation of aplishment and satisfaction brimmed Dorian¡¯s chest.

    ¡°Come on, let me show you the coral reef.¡±

    They flew through the water like two soaring birds, and the coral reef sat like an ind on the bottom of the ocean. The giant kelps were the forest, and the florid anemones were the flowers. As they passed, the soft tendrils of those sea flowers gently caressed their skin as if they didn¡¯t want them to leave. Many small fishes with bright colors and little crabs flew out of the bushes and drifted around them curiously.

    Lucius couldn¡¯t stop making a silly tourist-like gasping sound as he took in all the little wonders hidden from the world by the ocean. They quietly existed in the warm darkness, not caring about anything above them.

    Suddenly a long, profound, and beautiful singing rippled through the water and caught their attention. They raised their heads and saw three orcas approaching from afar, singing to each other in some conversation that was oblivious to men.

    Lucius had always been fascinated by orcas and knew well that though given the scary nickname ¡°killer whale,¡± they never harmed any human if unprovoked. In fact, they were especially friendly to humans for some unknown reason. Therefore he was not spooked when the orcas discovered them and headed in their direction. They drew nearer gingerly, circling around them with curiosity and making all sorts of cute noises.

    Dorian said, ¡°they are discussing between themselves if we are dead or not since we don¡¯t usually appear underwater.¡±

    Lucius widened his eyes, ¡°you can understand them?!¡±

    ¡°I can sense animals¡¯ thoughts and emotions pretty easily. Soul magic.¡±

    ¡°You are like a Wisney princess! Do you also have magic hair or something?¡± Lucius bantered with jealousy, ¡°what else are they saying?¡±

    ¡°They are debating if they should rescue us. One argues we are alive since we are making sounds. The other says it could be just some reflex.¡±

    ¡°Well, we must reassure them that we are fine then.¡± Lucius extended his hand toward one of the orca tentatively, and that one studied him for a while, then swam even closer, using its slim mouth tip gently nudging his palm.

    Lucius was so excited that his mouth opened into an ¡°o.¡± He couldn¡¯t believe he was touching an orca!

    ¡°This is the best birthday of my life!!!¡± He eximed.

    Dorian smiled softly as he saw the artless happiness in Lucius¡¯s eyes. He found those hazel eyes so beautiful when they were filled with joyful glistening, and he couldn¡¯t look away. A strange yet overwhelming feeling rose from the bottom of his heart, and he ventured forward, gently tilted Lucicus¡¯s face toward him, and pressed a tender kiss on Lucius¡¯s lips.

    It was their first kiss without pretension or the effect of alcohol. And it was so slow and delicate. Their arms slowly wrapped around each other¡¯s bodies as faint moonlight showered and orcas swirled around them, and it was perfect.

    ¡°Perhaps not a good idea,¡± thought Lcuius faintly. But at this moment, he really didn¡¯t care anymore. He had to admit an obvious fact that he had denied to himself for a long time.

    He was falling in love with his vampire prince.

 Chapter 30 The Kings Summon

    Lucius and Dorian had to rush into a clothing store and buy two pairs of overly colorful beach shorts to change into. Then they went to the fish-n-chip store and bought two giant super-valuebos, and carried them to the beach to eat. The cod meat was so tender and juicy, the golden crust and the fries were perfectly crispy, and the c was so big that Lucius had to run to the washroom two times.

    They finished all the food as they watched some younger vampires ying football. Dorian excused himself for about fifteen minutes. Lucius sat there by himself, watching the moon climbing to the zenith. And suddenly, someone tapped on his shoulder.

    Lucius turned around, and Dorian was there, a piece of ck forest chocte cake with white cream on the top and ck cherry in the middle, and the outer side was loaded with chocte sprinkles. A candle stood on the top, already lit.

    ¡°It¡¯s toote to order a full cake, but luckily the cafe there has thest piece of the ck forest,¡± Dorian exined and put the cake in front of Lucius.

    Lucius stared at that cake for a long time, and mixed feelings swirled in his heart. He grinned eventually and said, ¡°it¡¯s exactly as I imagined.¡±

    Somewhere in the city, the clock on an old bell tower rang profoundly. Twelve o¡¯clock, the end and the beginning of a day. In the fuzzy light of the dancing me, Dorian smiled at him, ¡°happy birthday.¡±

    Lucius closed his eyes and made a wish before he blew out the me, and then he took the paper cake box and scooped a big chunk of the cake into his mouth. It was the best thing he had ever eaten.

    ¡°Thank you, Dorian,¡± Lucius said quietly. Suddenly a feeling of shame embittered the back of his throat, especially when he remembered the blood he had to send back to Anthor.

    He didn¡¯t deserve all of these, for he was about to betray the only person who bought him the ck forest cake.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Dorian asked.

    ¡°Nothing. I just...didn¡¯t want today...yesterday to end.¡± Lucius took a deep breath, ¡°thest few hours were the best time I¡¯ve had in...forever.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to end. We cane here in the future if you want.¡±

    Lucius chuckled and savored the sweetness of the ck cherry, deciding to push those darker thoughts to the back of his mind.

    They returned to the citadel before dinner. Lucius had been nervous for the whole morning as bedtime approached, wondering if the kiss under the sea somewhat changed their rtionship and perhaps they could sleep on the same bed again...and possibly more. However, to Lucius¡¯s dismay, Dorian received a summon from the King before bedtime.

    ¡°Don¡¯t wait for me.¡± Dorian said as he prepared to leave, and he paused before opening the door, looking back and said to Lucius, ¡°I can find a doctor to remove the chip in your ve¡¯s head if you still want it to be done.¡±

    Lucicus widened his eyes, ¡°really?¡±

    ¡°We just have to do it secretly. It won¡¯t sit well with the court.¡± Dorian then left the room.

    King Cosmo reclined on the daybed, appearing to be pale and weary, reduced to a mere shadow of his past himself.

    He had ruled Eternia with an iron fist for three centuries and conquered almost all the human countries in south Eleth, expanding Eternia from one shore to another and making the vampire kingdom thergest country on the continent and the secondrgest in the world. He was proud of his aplishment, believing that he had achieved more than any of his predecessors.

    And now, one of the few but most mysterious diseases that a vampire could catch had corrupted his once strong and beautiful body, depriving him of all the nutrition he needed from blood. Even if he killed and drank dozens of meat for a meal, it was still not enough. He was so emaciated that all his ribs were protruding, and he had to putyers of clothes on to hide how thin he had be whenever he had to appear in front of the public.

    Lady Devina was also in the room when Dorian entered. She was mixing some medicine into a ss of fresh blood. Dorian stood in front of his father with his head slightly bowed.

    ¡°Father, you want to see me?¡±

    Cosmo lifted his eyelidsnguidly, and a piercing light flickered in those deep, dark eyes. He said in a stern, harsh tone,¡°I want you to divorce your consort.¡±

    Dorian raised his head in surprise, ¡°what? Why?¡±

    ¡°Now that you¡¯ve settled the strife with the werewolves by ingratiating yourself to them, we no longer need to worry about our eastern side. So now I decide to back on track with the initial n to take down Anthor, and cleanse thisnd of humanity and their stupid religion.¡°Cosmo coughed a little, ¡°I wish to finish this work before I go to sleep.¡±

    Dorian gaped at his father incredulously, too many thoughts raging in his mind, and for a moment, he couldn¡¯t find his words.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t bear to be apart from your human pet?¡°Cosmo berated coldly, ¡°he had been stirring up the pot a lottely.¡±

    Lady Devina said gently, ¡°I¡¯m sure the Crown Prince is just too busy with his duties to care about trivial rumors in the court.¡±

    ¡°If you are referring to his request of one day off for the ves, I agreed to that.¡°Dorian replied calmly, ¡°all his actions were with my approval, including geting Earl Keaton.¡±

    ¡°Then you are more pathetic than I thought, being enthralled and yed by a little sheep. You disappoint me!¡± Cosmo chided severely, ¡°I should have known. You are like your mother, too soft and naive for your own good and have a stupid sympathy toward humans. Look what good it did her. Her beloved humans burned her alive!¡±

    Dorian¡¯s hand clenched into a tight fist behind his back, but his expression was still calm andisant, ¡°forgive me, father, but I cannot divorce him now. It will jeopardize our rtionship with the werewolves, especially our alliance with Chieftain Volke. Julian saved his nephew by performing a healing miracle, and Volke regarded him highly because of it. ¡±

    ¡°Then find a fault. Say he cheated on you or that he is a spy of Anthor. There are millions of ways to do it.¡°Cosmos took the ss of blood from Devina and guzzled down voraciously, losing his usual grace. No matter how much blood he drank, the hunger only got worse. He then put down the ss and regarded his eldest son firmly, ¡°get rid of him and destroy the treaty. I want it to be done by next month. You havepleted much more difficult tasks with much less time than this. I trust you will prove yourself to be worthy of my throne one more time.¡±

    Dorian held his gaze for a long, tacit moment, and then he said slowly, ¡°no, I won¡¯t do it.¡±

    Cosmo didn¡¯t expect such tant defiance that he was bewildered, ¡°what did you say?¡±

    ¡°I said I won¡¯t divorce Julian Rosenfield.¡°Dorian¡¯s demeanor subtly shifted, and he stood straighter and taller as if doffing off some oppressive dust from his shoulder, and his deep-set eyes gleamed in the orange light, ¡°he is my consort, and I respect him. He has done nothing wrong.¡±

    ¡°Dorian...don¡¯t say anything you can¡¯t take back.¡± Lady Devina quickly approached Dorian¡¯s side and whispered, ¡°a human pet is not worth bickering with your father.¡±

    ¡°He is not a pet. He is my consort, and we exchanged blood in the presence of Azrael and Asmodian. Doesn¡¯t the vow of fidelity mean anything to you, father?¡±

    Dorian¡¯s sardonic tone instantly infuriated the king, ¡°How dare you talk to me like this?! Have you forgotten your ce?! Do you think you have the support of the House of Mahmound and the werewolves, so your position is secure now?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve done everything you asked for the past six years. I¡¯ve reached the moon for you as long as you wanted it. But this. This marriage is something I want.¡± Dorian took one step toward his father, and suddenly, Cosmo realized how strong and powerful Dorian had be and how withered and gaunt he was. The contrast was so stark that it stunned the king unexpectedly.

    Just then, the door opened, and Silvan came inside. He paused as he sensed the tension in the chamber. He quietly stood next to his mother and inquired quietly, ¡°what happened?¡±

    Lady Devina whispered something into his ear.

    ¡°Silvan, you will take over the High Commander position of the Royal Army from now on,¡± Cosmo said sternly as he still glowered at Dorian.

    Silvan widened his eyes as if he didn¡¯t expect such development at all, ¡°me? What about Dorian?¡±

    ¡°He has proved that he doesn¡¯t deserve such honor.¡°Cosmo sneered at Dorian and said spitefully, ¡°and Silvan, remember, don¡¯t take it for granted. I can give it to you, and I can also take it back anytime.¡±

    Dorian didn¡¯t flinch, though smothering resentment zed behind his veneer. He said disinterestedly, ¡°if this is all, may I take my leave?¡±

    ¡°Get out of my sight!¡± Cosmo bellowed.

    Lucius didn¡¯t see Dorian for the rest of that morning. And as he woke up in the afternoon, the news about Dorian losing the High Commander position had spread through the whole country. Huge, sshy titles of ¡°Crown Prince Dorian Losing The King¡¯s Favour¡± had taken over every media¡¯s front page.

    Lucius stood up abruptly as he read the news on his phone and almost knocked over the coffee cup. He quickly called one of his vampire valets and ordered him to go find out where Dorian was at the moment, but the valet said every servant was busy as the ves were having a day off. Lucius cursed under his breath and decided to go find Dorian himself.

    He felt the different attitudes of the servants and other noblemen in court immediately. Not everyone would salute or bow to him as before anymore, and the moment he turned his back, he could hear the gloating jeer and snickers among the groups.

    He asked around, but no one knew where Dorian had gone. After about two hours, he eventually gave up and sat exhaustingly on a bench in the long, grand gallery outside of the State¡¯s Room, ignoring all the curious or nderous gazesing from all the passers-by.

    He rarely came to this branch of the Citedal, as it was considered a public quarter and many Eternia government personnel came and went daily. Sometimes they were even open to the public, and tourists were allowed to enter certain areas. It was considered inappropriate for a royal house family member to loiter around this area without reason.

    ¡°Your Highness, what a surprise to find you here.¡±

    Lucius looked up and saw Duke Darius Mahmound pausing on his way to his office. He only met Darius in various formal events, and they had never spoken except for some short, courtesy exchanges. Lucius knew Darius was Dorian¡¯s most important ally and had been given many study materials about him by Division Nine before he came, but suddenly seeing him on a different asion still made him slightly nervous.

    ¡°Duke, nice to see you here.¡± Lucius stood up.

    ¡°What are you doing here? And all alone nheless.¡± Darius frowned.

    ¡°Do you know where Dorian is?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t heard from him since ourst call at around 6 am.¡°Darius ushered Lucius to a quieter space behind some columns and said, ¡°You shouldn¡¯te to the public quarter alone. It is too dangerous for a human.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was just worried about him. What happenedst night?¡±

    ¡°He didn¡¯t tell you?¡±

    ¡°No. The King called him away, and he never came back.¡±

    ¡°I have some faint idea where he could be. He often needs some solitary time in the old chapel if something like this happens.¡°Darius sighed and nced at Lucius with a subtly censorious look.

    ¡°What?! What happened? Did he have a fight with the King?¡°Lucius asked confoundedly.

    ¡°Yes, he refused to follow the King¡¯s order.¡± Darius shook his head despondently, ¡°All these years¡¯ hard work, one night, and it¡¯s almost half gone. Your Highness, I may be speaking out of turn, but you should be more discreet about what you say and do in the court. King Cosmo has a...rather radical and headstrong personality.¡±

    ¡°Wait...¡± Lucius processed the deeper meaning of the duke¡¯s words, ¡°Do you mean...it has something to do with me?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t say more,¡± Darius replied vaguely.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 31 In to The Game

    The old chapel was tucked away by luxuriating rosy rhododendrons and a splendid purple cloud of wisteria. Lucius had to push aside the numerous tresses loaded with purple flowers to find the moss-dappled path.

    It was a beautiful ancient Persian-style chapel that King Cosmo built for his wife, Queen Mitra Ani, and it had been abandoned and slowly withered away in silence since the Queen and Dorian were exiled. The fresh green moss surreptitiously climbed up the once mboyant and delicate geometrical patterns on the wall, and the elegant turquoise dome was mottled by the sun, rain, and snow. Yet it still possesses a dested, mncholy beauty.

    The chapel was dedicated to Queen Mitra¡¯s Elder, Asmodian the Serpent. And as the Ani family lost power and position in Eternia with the queen, the Elder also lost many worshipers. However, many vampires believed that Asmodian was the most fearful Elder. One of the most revered and trustworthy vampire prophet¡¯sst prophecies, before shemitted suicide in fear, was that one day, Asmodian would unleash hell on earth and revenge everyone who believed in God or who didn¡¯t believe in him. And by then, the world would be burning in hellfire, and none, be it vampires, humans, or werewolves, could escape the impending doom.

    Lucius found the door nestled under an arch was ajar, and he knew Dorian was inside. He gingerly stepped in. The hallway wasn¡¯t long, and the dim light of candles revealed a statue erected under the dome. It was a beautiful, smiling man shrouded in a ck cloak, and yet behind him was a thousand withering snakes, their head pointing into all directions as if a blooming chrysanthemum, and their ruby eyes glistened in the dancing me.

    That was Asmodian, the Serpent and one of the seven devils, the greatest seducer of believers, and the king of demons, jinn, and all degenerate souls.

    The image of the Elder gave Lucius an eerily familiar feeling, and it chilled him to the bone. He shuddered, seized by acute fear, and couldn¡¯t take another step for a while. No other Elder¡¯s image ever gave him such a feeling.

    Dorian was kneeling before the statue and smelled Lucius¡¯s blood before thetter even entered the chapel. He said without turning around, ¡°how did you find me?¡±

    ¡°Duke Darius.¡±

    ¡°Ah.¡± He remarked curtly.

    Lucius tentatively took a few more steps and stood beside Dorian, but before he could say anything, Dorian opened his lips again, ¡°it is strange that my mother belongs to Asmodian¡¯s purest bloodline. Her heart is too gentle to inherit such dark blood. And maybe that is why she didn¡¯t pass any of her gifts to me.¡±

    ¡°Did shee here often?¡± Lucius asked.

    ¡°Yes. This is the only ce in the citadel she could worship her Elder. She took me here every Thursday, and I often watched her sacrifice goats to him. I told her that other people sacrificed human ves to their Elders, but she told me that the sacrifice was only symbolic, so killing a soul for it was too excessive.¡±

    ¡°She sounded nicer than most of the humans I knew,¡± Lucius remarked.

    ¡°And yet, she died at the hands of humans anyway.¡± Dorian scoffed.

    Lucius kneeled next to him, and after a short while of silence, he inquired quietly, ¡°why did you disobey your father when he asked you to divorce me?¡±

    Dorian nced at him, slightly surprised and irked, ¡°did Darius tell you that?¡±

    ¡°No. He didn¡¯t. But I have my own way.¡°Lucius considered it for a moment and decided to divulge a bit more. Considering their situation, they needed to trust each other more, ¡°there are ves everywhere in the Citadel. They move quietly in the tunnels between walls and floors, and they often see and hear a lot more than the guards and ve masters believed. And, as you can imagine, they believe I am their savior.¡±

    Dorian studied him as if looking at him in a new light, and a new understanding quickly formed in his head, ¡°and Buck can be the liaison between you and all human ves.¡±

    Lucius nodded, ¡°that is one of the major reasons I took him in. I needed someone loyal to me. Someone strong and charismatic enough to be the leader among all human ves in the citadel.¡±

    Dorian had always known that Lucius was different from Julian in many ways, but after almost half a year, he realized he still knew very little about his consort and perhaps had greatly underestimated him.

    ¡°Why did you choose me over the Royal Army?¡± Lucius examined Dorian¡¯s expression closely and added with a hint of yfulness, ¡°I assume it was not because you love me too much.¡±

    Dorian scoffed, wasn¡¯t sure how he should feel about this new revtion about how calcting Lucius could be. He said, ¡°my father is not a good king. He is a headstrong warmonger who only cares about his ambition and legacy and disregards his country¡¯s reality. Eternia has been at war for almost a decade. He is overdrawing our economy and strength to fulfill his vanity. Now he wants to restart the war with Anthor to unify all Eleth. I cannot condone such foolishness anymore.¡±

    Lucius was exceptionally calm as he heard the King wanted to break the peace treaty, ¡°but now your brother gets what he and his mother had always wanted. I suppose he won¡¯t hesitate to do your father¡¯s bidding.¡±

    ¡°He may have the name of the High Commander, but he doesn¡¯t have the soldiers¡¯ respect and loyalty. You have to earn those in battles.¡±

    Lucius nodded and asked, ¡°so, what¡¯s our n?¡±

    ¡°Our n?¡±

    ¡°Surely you don¡¯t want to lose your position. You¡¯ve sacrificed too much for it. And I don¡¯t want my country to suffer from war. I can help you.¡± Lucius put a hand on Dorian¡¯s shoulder and said earnestly.

    Dorian regarded him with an unreadable expression, ¡°are you asking me to trust you?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve proven that I trust you with my life when I breathe underwater, haven¡¯t I? Now it¡¯s your turn.¡± Lucius said solemnly, ¡°I know you want to avenge your mother, even though you act like a filial son to your father. And I know you have been waiting for a chance. Now, your father is sick and weak, and Lady Devina has been whispering nderous words against you in his ear. The King has had his suspicion about your loyalty. You must act fast before he decides to get rid of youpletely.¡±Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    ¡°What you just said is enough to get yourself executed.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m talking to you, and it¡¯s just us. So can you please stop putting on your enigmatic facade and just talk to me?¡°Lucius was getting irked, ¡°we are in the same boat. I am not your enemy!¡±

    Dorian contemted everything Lucius had just said, and after a while, he stood up and looked at the enticing smile on Asmodian¡¯s face.

    ¡°Of the four generals in the Royal Army, I am confident General Howell is loyal to me regardless of the King¡¯s order. But unfortunately, the strongest general is Marquis Keaton, and you already met his son.¡±

    No wonder why that brat Earl Keaton screamed, ¡°do you know who I am¡± when Lucius ordered him to be whipped...Lucius cursed under his breath and grimaced, ¡°sorry...¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ok. Everyone knows Marquis Keaton ingratiates himself to Devina like a dog. But to this end, gaining full control over the Royal Army is hard without another strong general¡¯s support. And should I decide to take Emberton by force, everything needs to move lighting-fast. I won¡¯t have time to summon Durchville and the Werewolves¡¯ reinforcements, and Mahnound¡¯s mainforce is also not here. The Royal Army is my best bet.¡±

    ¡°So we have to find another General as strong as Keaton. Do you have someone in mind?¡±

    Dorian nodded slightly, ¡°Lord Kurt Osman. His attitude is always ambiguous as he is a tacit man. Though he had served my father for almost a century, and no one doubted his loyalty.¡±

    ¡°But you think he can be persuaded?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps. His son died in the war against Utharia, which almost broke him. Though he didn¡¯t utter a single word against my father because of it, since I know the pain he went through so well, I know he is not as solid as he appears to be. ¡±

    Lucius heard about Lord Osman and saw him once at his wedding banquet. It was a big, burly vampire with a severe look, and he didn¡¯t remember the vampire ever smiling at anyone.

    ¡°So this Lord Osman, does he have any weakness? Like excessive drinking, gambling, drug addiction, that sort of thing.¡±

    Dorian snorted, ¡°he doesn¡¯t even mix blood with wine. When I was younger, Silvan and I often joked that he had a giant broomstick up in his ass.¡±

    Lucius chuckled and said, ¡°alright, but he must have some weakness. Or maybe there is something that triggers him? Something he cares a lot about.¡±

    Dorian hesitatingly said, ¡°Well, the only weakness he has is probably his daughter Emel, as she is his only child now.¡±

    ¡°Emel, I think I saw her once in Devina¡¯s chamber. She seems like a lovely girl, just passed her majorityst year and will have her debutante ball soon. Perhaps I can try to befriend her.¡±

    Dorian shook his head, ¡°now is not a good time to make any obvious move. I just lost the Royal Army, and everyone is waiting for me to show signs of disgruntlement. If they see me still trying to maintain a rtionship with the eldest general of the Royal Army, the gossip will ensue, and Devina will use it against me. For the next several weeks, we need to be very careful and appear as harmless and dissolute as possible and give them no excuse to incriminate us.¡±

    Lucius found himself liking the word ¡°us,¡± especially when it came from Dorian.

    The crown prince then continued, ¡°However, it is a good idea for you to attend more engagements and show yourself more frequently in front of the public. I will take you to tomorrow¡¯s opera premiere, next week¡¯s college speech, and the G at Euthania Gallery.¡±

    ¡°So, y dumb and harmless. Basically business as usual for me.¡± Lucius smirked.

    For the next few weeks, Lucius often found himself making appearances on various major media after his several attendances at diplomatic events with Dorian. People talked about his demeanor, how he dressed, and how he smiled and spoke in great detail. Somements were positive, while others were rather trashy and mean.

    Lucius then, to the whole court¡¯s shock, opened a personal ount on Vibe, a major socialwork app for people to share photos, reels, short videos and even chat with each other. He posted on it asionally about his breakfast, how he liked his coffee, the beautiful sceneries he saw, some jogging or workout videos, and even his praying scene, in which a streak of sunlight lit up his contour, giving him an ethereal aura. Some of those photos were taken by professional photographers that one of Dorian¡¯s advisors found him, and many of the seemingly artless, leisure posts were carefully designed with the advice of a team to create an appealing image.

    Within a day, he got millions of followers. Apparently, most vampires in Eternia were deadly curious about the mystic royal family routines, not to mention the life of the first human Crown Prince Consort. His poprity among the general public was boosted phenomenally, and the effect even spread to the aristocratic society among the younger generation. He started to receive more invitations from other royal families, though he only carefully selected some of them to attend and brought many bodyguards, iming that it was for safety concerns while making his presence more desired and precious, almost like a gift.

    Lucius never realized that he was rather good at this game of manipting people¡¯s opinion about him.

    And then, a monthter, he received an invitation to Lady Emel Osman¡¯s debutante ball.

 Chapter 32 A Proposal of Alliance

    One week before the ball, King Cosmo suddenly ordered Dorian to visit another vampire realm, Rovania, an ind country in east Eton and an ocean away from Eternia. Thend was governed by three Oracles, and recently they just elected a new Oracle, and since King Cosmo couldn¡¯t travel, the duty fell to Dorian.

    ¡°It¡¯s another Devina¡¯s idea.¡± Lucius crossed his arms peevishly, ¡°she doesn¡¯t want you to have any chance or excuse to talk to Lord Osman.¡±

    Dorian seeped at the blood in his ss, ¡°of course she doesn¡¯t. And I¡¯m sure Silvan will be present, and perhaps he will spend the whole night dancing with Emel, since she is of age now, and he hasn¡¯t gotten a consort yet.¡±

    ¡°I will make sure that won¡¯t happen. I will dance with her myself if it¡¯s necessary.¡± Lucius firmly imed, ¡°I was told I can be quite charming with thedies.¡±

    Dorian smirked, ¡°be careful. I don¡¯t want you to take another lover.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®another¡¯?! I have none! And for a thousand times, Buck is just a servant!¡±

    ¡°If you say so.¡±

    ¡°Be Careful, I may think you are jealous.¡°Lucius smiled yfully.

    The ball was held in St. Agathon Hotel, one of the most luxurious institutions in Emberton. Almost half of Eternia¡¯s notabilities were invited that night. Other simr-aged girls from slightly lower-rank noble families would alsoe out to this ball. All the youngdies dressed up in their finest gowns and jewelry, like a full garden of flowers in full bloom andpeting with each other in a pageant of spring.

    A ck limo stopped before the red carpet, and a human ve dressed in a ck suit that bodyguards usually wore got off the car first. He casually buttoned and straightened his jacket in a natural and elegant way, and carried a confident andposed demeanor different from most other ves onsite. He went to the other side of the car and pulled the rare door open, and in a fanatic wave of camera shes, Crown Prince Consort Julian Rosenfield made his appearance.

    He was in an unobtrusive but still well-tailored ck silk cloqu¨¦ tuxedo, slightly different from his usual white clothing selection. Most of the other male guests also wore ck that night so they wouldn¡¯t steal the spotlight from the debutantes and set off thedies¡¯ colorful dresses.

    Lucius shed his well-practiced smile to the cameras and crowds and paused on the carpet asionally to give the journalists a better chance to take his photo. Halfway in, he heard another wave of gasp and cameras clicking sound, and as he looked back, finding Silvan got out of his snazzy sports car and catching up to him.

    ¡°Here hees,¡± Lucius grunted under his breath, but the smile on his face hadn¡¯t faltered.

    Silvan came directly at him with a captivating smile, ¡°Good evening, Julian.¡±

    ¡°Good evening.¡± Julian returned a smile, ¡°didn¡¯t bring anypanions?¡±

    ¡°Sadly, no.¡°Silvan smirked, ¡°I was hoping to find one tonight.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure many youngdies are looking forward to having a dance with you.¡±

    ¡°Well, I can be a bit particr about my dancing partners.¡± Silvan shed a wink at him, ¡°How about you? It¡¯s a shame that Dorian couldn¡¯te.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine with enjoying some good food and admiring some beauties by myself.¡±

    The ballroom was filled with people, and upon their entrance, many came to chat with Silvan and Lucius. Several bodyguards and Florian were always close in case any vampire had too much to drink and tried to attack Lucius.

    As one of the major guests, Lord Osman soon came to greet Lucius and Silvan. The general looked to be in his early thirties, though he was over three hundred years old. He held a dignified and austere deportment, quite distinct from most vampire noblemen Lucius had seen.

    Suddenly, the light in the ballroom dimmed, except for one spotlight shone on the top of the winding stairs. And then the cynosure of the night showed up next to the banister. Emel Osman stood in a whitece dress, her braided rich ck hair decorated with hundreds of tiny pearls, with two dangling wavy strands framing her diamond-shaped dainty face. People began pping as she descended the stairs, and other girls from lower aristocratic ranks followed her.

    ¡°Emel is stunning tonight.¡°Silvanplimented earnestly.

    Lord Osman smiled proudly at his daughter, and the joy and happiness in his eyes were exactly the same as Lucius¡¯s parents when they witnessed Julian being ordained as the High Priest. Lucius couldn¡¯t help but envy the closeness between the father and the daughter.

    Emel came to her father¡¯s side and was introduced to Lucius and Silvan. She curtsied to them, and if not for the two fangs showing when she smiled, Lucius couldn¡¯t even imagine such a bashful ingenue was a blood-sucking vampire. He could imagine in older days, countless men would have fallen into her trap of innocence.

    The music began to y, and it was the tradition for the debutantes to start the dancing. Lucius noticed that Silvan was about to say something, so he decided to beat him to it.

    ¡°May I have the honor of the first dance, mydy?¡± Lucius extended his hand to Emel gracefully.

    Emel smiled coyly, ¡°of course.¡±

    Lucius¡¯s dancing skill from many years of dissolute lifestyle finally found its usefulness. He knew how to guide and encourage his female partner to make some impressive spinning or even jumping moves, and since Emel had a very lissom stature, he could easily hold her and carry her weight, making her shine like a star. They soon earned cheers and sps from the crowd, and Lord Osmen was pleased.

    As more and more other couples joined the floor, their dancing became slower and more casual. Emel was excited about their previous dance, and she warmed up to Lucius quickly and gave him a sweet smile.

    However, to Lucius¡¯s surprise, she asked many questions about Dorian, like what he was like in person, what color he liked, what blood type he preferred, and what he did for fun when he was not performing his duties. Lucius answered as much as he knew and saw it fit but was also amused by how curious the girl was.

    Eventually, their dance ended, and Silvan had the second dance. Lucius took a ss of champagne from a waiter when Lord Osman approached him.

    ¡°May I speak with you privately, your highness?¡±

    Lucius was not foreseeing such development. He was hoping that he could catch Lord Osman alone sometime today, and now the opportunity presented itself.

    He followed Osman into a lounge room adjacent to the ballroom, and before entering, he decided to leave all the bodyguards, as well as Florian, outside.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Florian asked quietly.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure Lord Osman will not suddenly go mad and attack me. An apostle has at least this much self-control.¡± Lucius said jokingly.

    Two ves closed the door for them, and Lucius was alone with the general. He couldn¡¯t predict what Osman wanted to talk to him about, but he had to seize the chance and try to persuade him to side with Dorian when the time came.

    He took another drink from his ss, trying to organize his words, but Osman spoke first.

    ¡°I hope you will forgive my audacity, your highness. I am a military man and can be overly forthright.¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°No need to apologize. I¡¯m tired of those circumlocutory courtnguage as well.¡± Lucius smiled heartily, ¡°what do you want to talk to me about?¡±

    Osman sat straight on the couch, appearing slightly nervous, ¡°As you see, my daughter is of age, and after my wife decided to go to sleep, she is my only immediate family left, and I want her to be happy.¡±

    ¡°By happy, do you mean you want to marry her to someone suitable?¡± Lucius tried to guess the meaning between Osman¡¯s words, though he wasn¡¯t sure why Lord Osman mentioned it to him, ¡°does she have someone in mind?¡±

    ¡°She does. In fact, she has set her eyes on someone for a couple of years now.¡± Osman hesitated.

    ¡°But?¡± Lucius encouraged, almost getting impatient. He sincerely hoped the youngdy was not having a crush on Silvan.

    ¡°But that someone is already married.¡±

    ¡°Oh...¡°Lucius chuckled dryly. At least he can rest assured it was not Silvan that Emel had eyes on, ¡°but I heard for vampire marriage it¡¯s not necessarily monogamy?¡±

    ¡°Yes, and she is willing to be a concubine. ¡±

    An uneasy thought started to creep into Lucius¡¯s mind, ¡°And...why are you talking to me about it?¡±

    Osman momentarily contemted his choice of words, and decided to be candid and dropped the bomb on Lucius, ¡°Emel is in love with the Crown Prince. She had been since she was introduced to him at an Eternia Day celebration two years ago.¡±

    Lucius blinked several times, ¡°excuse me?¡±

    ¡°I know this is highly unusual, and you may feel offended. But I propose this without malignant intention.¡± Osman continued as if the floodgate was opened, ¡°Everyone knows Prince Dorian loves and respects your Highness very much. But as the future king, he will need an heir to secure his position. Osman family is one of the purest Morrigan bloodlines. Strength and power run in our blood. Thebining of the Morrigan and Azreal bloodlines strengthens both houses. Meanwhile, I will do everything I can to ensure the Crown Prince, Your Highness, as well as my daughter¡¯s welfare.¡å

    It was a great deal. epting Emel as Dorian¡¯s concubine and the Royal Army would be theirs. But Lucius felt like something stuck in his throat, making him angry.

    Osman was threatening him.

    ¡°And if I refuse, will you betray your future king?¡± Lucius said coldly.

    ¡°That is not what I meant. I am and always will be loyal to the crown.¡± Osman replied scrupulously, unfazed by Lucius¡¯s threatening inquisition.

    Now it all made sense why Emel had so many questions about Dorian.

    Lucius put down his ss and stood up. He managed to keep hisposure and rejoined courteously, ¡°I will consider your proposal carefully and discuss it with Dorian.¡±

    The rest of the night, Lucius couldn¡¯t focus and was operated on autopilot. He didn¡¯t even have the heart to say no when Silvan asked him for a dance and barely registered what the younger prince said. Before midnight, he found an excuse and flet the ball.

    ¡°What did Osman say to you? You have been distracted since the talk.¡± Sitting on the seat facing him, Florian asked with a little frown, seemingly worried.

    Lucius shook his head at first, but then, he scoffed as if it was something hrious, ¡°Lord Osman wants Dorian to take his daughter as a concubine.¡±

    Florian studied Lucius¡¯s expression, ¡°Are you going to agree to it?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Sooner orter, he will need an heir to carry his blood.¡±

    ¡°I know. I just...didn¡¯t expect it to happen so early.¡±

    Florian was tacit for a while, and then he leaned in slightly, asking with a muffled, careful voice, ¡°Are you in love with him?¡±

    As if being poked at a painful spot, Lucius retorted exasperatedly, ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡±

    ¡°You are, aren¡¯t you.¡°Florian¡¯s expression was unreadable in the shing neon light.

    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business,¡± Lucius said stubbornly.

    Florian didn¡¯t say anything more, but Lucius could practically see his thoughts from the way he looked at him, and it unnerved him gravely.

    Would he be capable of carrying out the n if he had lost his heart?

    ¡°It won¡¯t change anything for us,¡± Lucius said solemnly eventually.

 Chapter 33 A Decision

    Dorian returned from Rovania three dayster. It was a sessful trip. The new Oracle was readily charmed by Dorian, and he renewed the trade pact with some amendments beneficial to Eternia.

    Dorian arrived at Vermilion Citadel in a good mood, as if there was something...or someone he looked forward to returning to, and he didn¡¯t bother to report to his father but went directly back to Lucius and his apartment.

    The ve opened the door for him as Lucius was still sleeping. He gestured for Buck to keep quiet and soundlessly entered the bedroom. Lucius liked to roll all the covers around himself and curl into a giant shrimp while sleeping, with only a tiny opening revealing his face. His lips were slightly open, and he snored lightly like a cat purring.

    Unsure what had gotten into him, Dorian crouched down next to the bed and watched Lucius¡¯s sleeping face with a delightful and amused look in his eyes, which he was unaware of.

    As if he felt something, Lucius¡¯s breath rhythm changed and began to stir. His eyshes fluttered several times, and those big, dreamy eyes fixed on Dorian¡¯s face. For the first several seconds, he seemed a bit confused, and then anguid but artless grin bloomed on his sleepy face.

    ¡°Oh hey, it¡¯s you,¡± Lucius mumbled, still half-asleep. An unfettered joy filled his heart as he saw the prince¡¯s gentle eyes.

    ¡°You snored.¡±

    ¡°What? No way! I never snore.¡±

    ¡°You did. I recorded it.¡± Dorian waved his phone and smirked, ¡°want to hear it?¡±

    ¡°You are so annoying.¡°Lucius rolled his eyes and made no attempt to untangle himself from the ¡°spring roll¡± he had created with theforter.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think you should be more enthusiastic about your husband¡¯s return?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s seven in the morning! I only slept two hours! Must you always return at such ungodly hours?¡±

    ¡°Nothing in this country is ¡¯godly.¡¯¡°Dorian stood up, removed his jacket, andy on the bed¡¯s other side, stretching his wearisome body from the trip.

    ¡°How was Rovania?¡°Lucius turned to look at him.

    ¡°Very beautiful.¡±

    ¡°The scenery or the Oracles?¡±

    Dorian chuckled, ¡°both. Perhaps we should have gone there for our honeymoon.¡±

    ¡°Oh, we had a honeymoon? Howe I was not informed?¡°Lucius jeered.

    ¡°We can still have one. Someday.¡±

    ¡°Someday,¡± Lucius said with a streak of wistfulness. They rested infortable silence for a while longer, and then Lucius said, ¡°Osman requested to speak with me during the ball.¡±

    Dorian turned to look at him, ¡°he wanted to speak to you? For what?¡±

    ¡°Potential alliance.¡°Lucius paused for a while, and just as Dorian was about to urge him to spit it out, he said, ¡°his daughter is in love with you. She wants to be your concubine.¡±

    Dorian snorted, ¡°very funny.¡±

    Lucius didn¡¯tugh, and Dorian¡¯s amusement also gradually died down. He frowned, ¡°for real?¡±

    ¡°Yes. He said that since I can¡¯t give you an heir, you must take a concubine sooner orter. And if you marry Emel, the Osman house will fully support you.¡±

    Dorian sank into silence, and after a prolonged moment, he said, ¡°why did you tell me this?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? Of course I have to tell you.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to. If you don¡¯t want me to take another concubine, you can just pass it as a joke.¡±

    ¡°Is it a joke?¡± Lucius said tly, ¡°with his help, you can stop pretending to be a perfectly obedient son, take over Emberton and secure our throne. And once Mahmound, Durchville and the werewolves¡¯ reinforcements arrive, you can finally avenge your mother. It¡¯s a great deal.¡±

    Dorian suddenly sat up, and his countenance was hidden behind the shadow of his fallen front hair.

    ¡°It is indeed a great deal.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡°Lucius tried to maintain the calm in his voice, though he was getting bitter.

    ¡°And you don¡¯t oppose it?¡±

    Lucius shrugged, keeping his nonchnt facade, ¡°you need Osman¡¯s support, and now it is presented to you on a te. You should take it.¡±Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    ¡°How generous of you,¡± Dorianmented acerbically.

    Lucius began to rile up. He sat up and ruffled his hair peevishly, ¡°I don¡¯t understand you, Dorian. You said you needed Osman¡¯s support! I thought you¡¯d be happy to hear that there is an easy way to gain it!¡±

    ¡°It is indeed easy. But tell me.¡± Dorian turned to look at him. Indecipherable emotions flickered deep inside his irises, ¡°do you not care at all if I take a concubine?¡±

    Lucius returned him a troubled look, ¡°you really want to know what I think?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Dorian answered firmly.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Lucius blurted out without pause, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to take a concubine. Fuck, we¡¯ve only been married for half year! You are MY husband, and how dare they even ask such a thing of me?! Weren¡¯t they afraid that I was going to punch their face?! Bunch of jerks!¡±

    And to Lucius¡¯s surprise, his outburst put a tiny smile on Dorina¡¯s face. The vampire prince seemed...rxed a little for unknown reasons. And he was certainly pleased with the answer.

    ¡°I will not take a concubine,¡± said Dorian.

    Lucius was stunned, ¡°huh?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t love her and don¡¯t want to marry her. And she doesn¡¯t know me either. It¡¯s just some temporary crush. Also, I have no intention of taking a concubine in the foreseeable future. If this is the only way for Lord Osman to support me, then so be it.¡± Dorian nced at him, amused, ¡°so don¡¯t worry, my decision is not solely based on what you just said.¡±

    ¡°Then why the hell did you make me say it!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just something good to know.¡± Dorian grinned with a subdued smugness.

    Lucius, in antagonism, threw the pillow over Dorian¡¯s face. Dorian yelped in surprise, ¡°hey!¡±

    And as Lucius threw the second pillow at him, Dorian threw the first one back. And soon, it escted into a rtively violent war. In the end, Dorian had to pin Lucius down in a full bed of feathers to stop the relentless onught.

    Lucius was still struggling and thrashing like a fish in a, and even Dorian, with his preternatural power, had some difficulty holding him still. After several seconds, Dorian decided to end the war by sealing Lucius¡¯s lips with his own. Lucius let out a short whimper but soon melted into the kiss. They both closed their eyes, tititing and chasing the other¡¯s tongue and teasingly biting their lips.

    Lucius¡¯s heart was awash with ineffable satisfaction. A thirst that he didn¡¯t even realize was finally quenched. Their hands began to roam on the other one¡¯s body, feeling the heat emanating from beneath the fabric. Dorian¡¯s hand slid into Lucius¡¯s thin nightshirt, and the coolness of the amorous touch met the warmth of belly skin, making Lucius tremble and moan.

    Their bodies ground against each other, and their rhythm was so harmonious that it felt incredible. Dorian¡¯s kiss scattered on Lucius¡¯s neck and corbone, and his fingers gently pinched the tiny nipple on Lucius¡¯s breast. But as the prince¡¯s hand slipped into his consort¡¯s underwear, a memory, or to be more precise, a word, re-emerged in Lucius¡¯s mind.

    Julian.

    Lucius flinched and started to push Dorian, ¡°no, stop.¡±

    Dorian paused and looked at Lucius confusingly, ¡°what?¡±

    Lucius didn¡¯t know how to exin, but fear had washed away his erotism. What if Dorian was pretending or confused he was Julian again? What if he called Julian¡¯s name again?

    How would he know that Dorian was making love to HIM, and not, consciously or unconsciously, using him as a substitute for his twin brother?

    Lucius may be shameless for many things, but he didn¡¯t think he could take this. He had lost his heart to Dorian. It was already bad enough. He couldn¡¯t bear being a cheap alternative, scrapping for piecemeal tenderness like a beggar. Even though it was his supposed role all his life.

    He¡¯d rather not have it at all.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Dorian asked with concern.

    Lucius sat up embarrassingly, ¡°I um...I don¡¯t think we should do it.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Dorian frowned bewilderedly.

    ¡°Just...I need some time.¡± Lucius almost sounded apologetic.

    Dorian sat back as a thought dawned on him, and he flustered, ¡°if...if it¡¯s aboutst time...I¡¯m not drunk this time, and I know you are not him.¡±

    ¡°But you still love him, right?¡±

    Dorian opened his lips to say something, but no words came out. He had always been yearning for the beautiful angel who saved him from desperation and destruction for the past six years, and now...now he had a consort who was so simr and yet so different from his dream.

    Could he give up that dreampletely? Would it be fair to Lucius if he promised something he wasn¡¯t absolutely sure about?

    But Lucius read Dorian¡¯s hesitative taciturnity as a yes, and it broke his heart a little. For a little was the only amount he would allow himself to admit. He pulled a smile forcefully and said, ¡°I¡¯m sure you are tired. Let¡¯s just go to sleep.¡±

    He pulled the cover over himself andy back down. After a while, he heard some fabric ruffling sound. Dorian took off his shirt andy next to him. They were so close, and yet Lucius felt like he could never touch the prince.

    Luciusy there, struggling not to let the chaotic emotions overwhelm him. Why was he so stupid? He had no right to ask Dorian to forget about Julian, because he would betray him in the near future anyway.

    It was all a lie. A mistake. And eventually, Dorian would hate him, be disgusted by him, and would never want to see him, kiss him, or even drink from him again.

    And the very thought made Lucius tremor in consternation.

    ¡°Are you cold?¡± Dorian asked quietly.

    ¡°N...no.¡±

    After a few seconds, an arm surrounded Lucius, pulling him into a firm, broad, warm chest. The closeness almost brought wetness into Lucius¡¯s eyes, but he managed to press it down.

    ¡°Is it better?¡± Dorian asked softly behind him.

    Lucius managed to answer, ¡°yes.¡± He wanted to touch Dorian¡¯s hand, but ultimately didn¡¯t do it.

    And they fell asleep like that.

    Since Osman had be a dead end, and there were eyes everywhere in the court, monitoring Dorian and Lucius¡¯s every move, acquiring control over the Royal Army became an unattainable goal.

    Even though the King hadn¡¯t stripped Dorian¡¯s Crown Prince title, everyone expected it to happen soon. All the King and Devina needed was for Prince Silvan to make a splendid achievement, possibly in the invasion of thest stronghold of humanity on Eleth¡ªAnthor.

    Dorian and Lucius knew they were running out of time and had to act fast.

    ¡°The king is falling into hibernation, right?¡± Lucius said bluntly as he leaned back into the armchair and looked at Dorian and Darius, ¡°what are the possible ways to...elerate the process and end his suffering quicker?¡±

    Darius raised his eyebrows in astonishment, ¡°you are much bolder than I thought, your highness.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have time to y pretend, Duke Darius.¡± Lucius said tantly and nced at Dorian, ¡°my husband said you can be trusted, and I believe him.¡±

    But Dorian shook his head, ¡°I want him to be conscious when I take his throne. I need him to feel all the loss and remember what he did to my mother.¡±

    Darius sighed, ¡°why are you so stubborn about this? I told you his guilt toward your mother won¡¯tst long, and Devina will change his mind about you sooner orter. You can¡¯t keep your position if he stays conscious for too long.¡±

    ¡°Stay conscious doesn¡¯t have to mean staying in power.¡± Luciusmented and turned to Dorian, ¡°if he is as weak as the rumor said, can¡¯t you use one of your soul magic on him? Like when you get into people¡¯s minds, utilize their fear, and get a hold of their souls? I heard there was such magic that you can trap them in their own head and drive them mad.¡±

    Darius gawked at Lucius as if he was some extraterrestrial creature, ¡°are you really that pure and good saint they said you were?¡±

    ¡°Nothing is pure and good in this world, my lord,¡± Lucius smirked unapologetically and didn¡¯t bother to pretend to be Julian anymore. He was alreadymitting treason by plotting against the crown with the Crown Prince and the Duke of Northcester. What¡¯s the point of staying in character?

    Dorian said in a matter-of-fact tone, ¡°it can¡¯t be done. His body is covered with powerful protective runes created by my great-grandfather Bizan, a first-generation vampire who had died before I was born. Those runes were tattooed into his skin and hidden by his clothes, warding off any kind of magic. I am not strong enough to break those runes. None of the currently active apostles can, as far as I know. It was what made him great and powerful in the first ce, as he was believed to be invincible.¡±

    ¡°And yet he is still wasting away by a mysterious disease.¡°Lucius jeered, ¡°so there is absolutely no way to breach the protection?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps...there is a way.¡± Darius remarked cautiously, ¡°but it is very difficult, almost unachievable.¡±

 Chapter 34 The Return of A Nightmare

    ¡°Well? What is it?¡± Lucius urged.

    Darius told Dorian, ¡°your great grandfather Bizan Ashdown, the famous King of Elysium, had those runes as well. Some say it was Azreal who taught him about those protective runes so that he could escape death. And that was why he outlived most of the other first generations. However, he was still killed, meaning these runes are not invincible.¡±

    ¡°We still don¡¯t know if he was killed ormitted suicide. People only found his body parts. His death was a mystery. No one knew what happened.¡°Dorian said.

    Darius¡¯s eyes shed an eerie blue light, and a circle of air next to him began to distort bizarrely like a glitch in reality. He then shoved his hand into the circle. His hand disappeared as if submerged into an invisible hole, and when he pulled out a giant old tome.

    It was the first time Lucius saw Darius use the power inherited from his Elder, the Infinite Zorvan, a primordial deity of time and space that used to be worshiped by ancient civilizations but was defeated and condemned by God because Zorvan refused to submit to his rule. The apostles from his bloodline could bend space or time in small fractions, making it possible for them to travel great distances by creating a doorway or shortcut. Some of the most powerful scions of Zorvan were believed to be able to open portals between different worlds, but it was more like a legend.

    Darius just opened a small portal for his hand to reach back to his famously extensive and yet extremely secretive underground library. And the book looked as if it was several hundred years old.

    ¡°I procured this book a while ago. It was written about five hundred years ago by some crazy schr obsessed with the First Generations and their stories. This person managed to find more than a dozen tombs and sleeping chambers of the first generations, discovering numerous lost legends and records about our ancestors. And one is about a princess created by Azreal, namely Toren. ording to the story, she had the same runes tattooed on her skin, just like Bizan and your father.

    ¡°ording to the book, she was extremely beautiful but had been tormented by a heart disease since childhood. She feared death so much and wept every night, praying to anyone who would save her from it. And Azreal answered her prayer. He gave her eternal youth and the runes to protect her from the malice of the outside world. Soon, she became a healthy young woman, and her beauty was peerless, and many men worshiped her as a goddess.

    ¡°Unfortunately, her loveliness was what saved her but also her downfall. As more men praised and worshiped her, she grew proud and imed she was the most beautiful woman in the world when she was crowned as the queen of her kingdom, and it angered another Elder, who was also known for her ultramundane beauty and her power over men. Lilith. ¡±

    Darius leafed through the book and showed a page on which a faded painting depicted a beautiful woman with curly hair draping to her heel, extending a blood-dripping hand to a dark-haired man.

    ¡°The ten Elders apparently had a pact that they wouldn¡¯t harm each other¡¯s First Generation creation. Especially someone like Toren, who was Azreal¡¯s favorite at the time, so Lilith cannot harm her directly. The Elder turned to one of her most faithful creations, El,ter known as the Headless Knight. She fed El her blood for three days, and he became so strong and powerful that no creature of this world could stand against him. He went straight into Toren¡¯s pce, killing hundreds of men and vampires who tried to stop him, eventually reaching the queen¡¯s chamber. Toren taunted him and didn¡¯t believe he could kill her as she had Azreal¡¯s protection etched into her skin. But his power subdued the magic in those runes, and he chopped her into a thousand pieces and ended her eternal life.

    ¡°Azreal was in wroth, as you can imagine, and he cut off El¡¯s head and burnt it, breaking the pact with Lilith, and El became the headless knight and was always searching for his head. Lilith and Azreal started a war because of this, and the animosity between the two bloodlines passed down many generations until one of Azreal¡¯s scions married ady from Lilith¡¯s line. And look where it led us to.¡± Darius jeered and looked in Dorian¡¯s direction, for all knew that Devina¡¯s Ducas house was predominated by Lilith¡¯s bloodline, with minor mixed blood from other Elders.

    The Blood of an Elder...Lucius¡¯s heart skipped a beat.

    Was it fate? He already had a First Generation¡¯s blood, but an Elder¡¯s blood was much more valuable for Anthor. It was like a dreame true for all humanity on thisnd.

    ¡°So...if we can feed Dorian some Elder¡¯s blood, he can get to his father?¡±

    Darius smiled and looked at Dorian, ¡°it¡¯s much more than that. If an Elder agrees to feed you their blood, you are basically the ¡®chosen one¡¯ for all vampire nations. Your glory will overshadow even the king, and he can¡¯t depose you anymore.¡±

    ¡°Ok, sounds like a perfect n.¡± Luciusmented, ¡°But first, we need an Elder, and it¡¯s basically like me saying I will go find God and suck his blood.¡±

    Dorian agreed, ¡°It sounded unattainable. No one had seen an Elder for five centuries.¡±

    ¡°But who killed your great grandfather Bizan? The magic was from Azreal and only someone who ingested Elder Blood would have had the ability to harm him. And I never believed it was suicide. No one can dismember themselves like that.¡± Darius closed the book and said, ¡°it will be much easier to investigate a murder that happened a hundred years ago than a thousand years ago, and your great-grandfather is buried inside the Ashdown Necropolis, correct? If we can examine his remains and somehow find the murderer, whether they are alive or not, we will have a chance to trace it back to the Elder who gave the murderer blood.¡±

    Dorian pondered over the idea, ¡°it sounds like a very long shot.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say it was going to be easy.¡± Darius shrugged, ¡°but we don¡¯t need an army to do it, and if we manage to find an elder, no one can challenge you anymore. You will be as powerful and revered as the first generation.¡±

    ¡°And we have to do all of these things secretly. Devina and Silvan cannot know about it.¡± Lucius said.

    ¡°Exactly.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Dorian said determinedly and nodded to Darius, ¡°Bing the Crown Prince was also an unachievable task, but we did it. Maybe the Elders are with us on this too.¡±

    For several weeks Lucius and Dorian had been extremely careful about what they did and talked even in private apartments whenever others were present. And it all because there were eyes and ears everywhere.

    One time Lucius saw a human ve brutally beaten up by a guard because she didn¡¯t water ady¡¯s favorite flower properly, and he asked Florian to bring some medicine and disinfectants to the ve. And the very next day, Dorian was reprimanded by the King in front of several other noblemen, saying he couldn¡¯t manage his human consort and was viting the customs.

    Lucius and Dorian began to suspect some of their servants and valets might be reporting back to Devina, telling her about their conversations and daily activities so that if anything unusual happened. And if they were not careful, Devina would find more excuses for the King to dislike and suspect his eldest son.

    However, these servants didn¡¯t know that while they were monitoring Dorian and Lucius, the ves were also studying them, and a list of the moles was given to Lucius through Florian. Lucius and Dorian had been acting perfectlycent and well-behaved for those snitches and feeding them fake conversations thereafter. It also forced them to postpone their n to remove Florian¡¯s chip.

    Court life became increasingly perilous. Though everyone was smiling and appeared polite and amicable, daggers of rumors and libels infested underneath their benign veneer like squirming maggots. Lucius felt like he was walking on thin ice, and each step could be hisst. He and Dorian could only exchange some brief, meaningful words after they went to bed, whispering into each other¡¯s ear about what they should do to ward off all the invisible attacks.

    One day, Lucius went out in the garden for a jog to clear his head. He paused momentarily next to the pond full of waterlilies to catch his breath. In the silent ruffling sound of the wind brushing through the leaves, he heard steps behind him.

    ¡°I see you still like to go to ces alone.¡°A jeering voice made Lucius¡¯s heart leap to his throat. He turned around and froze.

    Archie Ashdown leaned against a tree, a cigarette between his lips, and gave him a toothy grin.

    Since he attacked and attempted to assault and kill Lucius, the King sent him away to ¡°study abroad,¡± but it was more like a semi-exile for his crime. And now, he allowed him to return without even letting Lucius and Dorian know. It announced to the whole country that Dorian had lost the King¡¯s favor.

    Fear gripped Lucius¡¯s heart like an icy w. Every hair on his arm stood straight in rm.

    ¡°When did youe back?¡±

    Archie threw the cigarette on the ground and stepped on it, and then, he began to approach Lucius slowly, ¡°this morning. How long has it been? Seven months? Eight months? You seemed...even more delicious than thest time I saw you.¡±

    ¡°Stay back!¡± Lucius took a few steps back to the edge of the water.

    Archieughed wolfishly, and he did not care about Lucius¡¯s warning at all, ¡°why so tense? Ie to apologize to you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need it, and I¡¯m not nning to forgive you,¡± Lucius said sternly.

    Archie feigned a hurtful expression, ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be so cold. We are a family. You would want to stay on our good side, wouldn¡¯t you? After all, what will you be after your husband loses his position?¡±

    ¡°You should be careful with your words, Prince Archie. The Crown Prince doesn¡¯t take groundless nders and rumors lightly.¡°Lucius tried his best to show courage.

    But Archie¡¯s face crumpled into a diabolic scowl abruptly, and he took a few aggressive struts toward Lucius. In a panic, Lucius fell back into the pound and waspletely drenched. Archie paused at the edge of the water andughed loudly, enjoying seeing the panic and fear on Lucius¡¯s face.

    ¡°There you are, still the skittish little deer. I would enjoy such lovely expressions more often, and I¡¯m sure I don¡¯t have to wait too long now.¡°He was about to take another step, but a voice interrupted.

    ¡°Prince Archie, Crown Prince Consort. I didn¡¯t know you were here.¡± Faith, the gardener, emerged from the bushes as if she was about to prune some tree branches. Her deportment was courteous and cheerful, but Lucius knew she was there to rescue him. She must have heard somemotion when he fell into the pound.

    Archie wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything too drastic if there was a witness as of yet, so he grinned at Lucius again and sauntered away shortly. Faith helped Lucius out of the pond and asked if he needed some dry clothes, but Lucius declined her kindness.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± He said quietly, still feeling a little shaken. He didn¡¯t expect himself still harbor such a strong fear of Archie even after everything he had experienced. It embarrassed him.

    Faith studied him and said gently, ¡°You need to be even more careful now, your highness. Words were going around...and some vampires may have some ideas when they see you alone without guards.¡±

    Faith was right. He should have been more careful as their situation was deteriorating fast.

    Lucius thanked her again and walked all the way back to his living quarters, fully bedraggled. As he entered their apartment, Dorian saw the state he was in and was clearly shocked. He came to his side instantly, brows tightened into a knot, ¡°what happened?¡±

    ¡°Archie is back. The King summoned him back to court.¡± Lucius said tly.

    Dorian¡¯s eyelid twitched for a short moment, ¡°...Did he do anything to you?¡±

    ¡°No. I was just startled.¡± Lucius said disconcertedly.

    Dorian took off his own jacket and wrapped it around Lucius, and he ordered Florian to prepare a warm bath. Anger zed in the Crown Prince¡¯s irises, verging on murderous.

    ¡°Are you ok?¡°Dorian pulled the jacket tight around his consort, almost like hugging him.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Lucius pulled his lips, ¡°luckily Faith was there. He didn¡¯t try anything.¡±

    ¡°I will deal with that piece of shit,¡± Dorian whispered between his clenching teeth.

    ¡°But this is a really bad sign, Dorian. Your father is practically telling the whole court that they can do anything to your consort without consequences. No one will respect us after this.¡± Lucius said apprehensively, ¡°Has Darius found anything yet?¡±

    Dorian shook his head, ¡°if things get too much, we can leave.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Lucius said firmly, ¡°You¡¯ve given too much to leave. Devina won¡¯t stop until she has you executed, otherwise, you will always be her son¡¯s threat.¡± He paused for a second, pondering his options, and then he said something that surprised him, ¡°worstes to worst, you need to divorce me.¡±

    Dorian stared at him.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    ¡°All these started because of me. If he wants to start another invasion of Anthor, he will do it anyway. With you leading the army, at least I can count on you being...more merciful. And I know you won¡¯t harm my family should Anthor fall.¡± Lucius¡¯s tone was so calm, as if he was talking about some other person¡¯s country and life, ¡°You can divorce me, make me your ve, show your father that you are still loyal to him and...¡±

    ¡°Shut up.¡°Dorian growled, interrupting Lucius¡¯s unfinished sentence. He tilted Lucius¡¯s chin up, looked intensely into Lucius¡¯s eyes and said forcefully, word by word, as if making a vow, ¡°Listen closely, Lucius. You are my consort. No one can change it. No matter what.¡±

    ¡°But...¡±

    ¡°You should have more faith in me.¡± Dorian said quietly yet confidently, ¡°I am not that easy to defeat.¡±

 Chapter 35 Seed of Betrayal

    Dorian only saw his mother use her gift when he was a vampling, and he often wondered why she never taught him her power.

    ¡°Asmodian has a much stronger connection with his scions than any other Elders, and the more we use his power, the stronger the connection is. He will slowly get a hold of your mind, control your thoughts, and it is too dangerous.¡± Mitra used to tell her curious son while holding him on herp.

    Little Dorian was confused, ¡°but isn¡¯t it a good thing? That we have a stronger connection with our Elder?¡±

    ¡°Sometimes, good or bad is not a definite thing, and something to some people is good, to others is bad.¡± Mitra said affectionately, ¡°my Elder does not like this world. He always wants to change it. By using his power, he will grow stronger and stronger, and he will be able to re-enter our world to change it to his liking and make it his possession. But mommy like this world, so to mommy, it is not a good thing.¡±

    Growing up, Dorian heard many tales about how powerful his mother used to be before she married his father. The rare Asmodian scions were known for their ability of metamorphosis. Most of Asmodian¡¯s apostles were either shapeshifters or alchemists. The former are adept at changing their own body, while thetter can transform others¡¯. But Mitra was known to be a grand master in both arts, and she could even transform herself into transcendental entities, like one of the Elders. And the transformation was not only limited to appearance. Legend said she was even able to acquire the Elder¡¯s power and abilities while assuming the form.

    But for some cryptic reason, Mitra vowed never to use her power again when she knew she was with a child. And the only time she broke her vow was when she used her power to shapeshift Dorian into a human so he could escape when the Silverkeep was breached.

    And some monthster, after Dorian met Julian and learned about Julian¡¯s prophetic ability and vision about the future, his mother¡¯s words began to make sense. And he started to understand why his mother told him never to try to use Asmodian¡¯s gift.

    Everyone thought Dorian didn¡¯t inherit his mother¡¯s ability, but the truth was he had been repressing it. By never trying to tap into the gift, he thought he had severed his connection with Asmodian.

    But what if he learned to use it? What if he could transform into an Elder temporarily like his mother did and avenge everything his father had done to his mother and him?

    Was the cost too huge to justify the end? But did this world truly deserve their bloodline¡¯s sacrifice?

    Dorian wondered as he stood forlornly in the chapel, gazing at Asmodian¡¯s smiling, lifeless eyes. Ere long, he took a few steps closer to the statue. At the bottom of the pedestal, inscribed a hymn to Asmodian in Old Persian. Dorian bit on his finger and smudged his blood on several seemingly randomly chosen cuneiforms. As he was doing it, his mother¡¯s warning came to his mind.

    ¡°Only use it when you have no other choice.¡±

    Well...his only two other choices now were to self-exile or divorce Lucius, and he wouldn¡¯t choose any of them.

    As he finished, an eerie silence befell the dpidated chapel as if time suddenly froze. The statue¡¯s eyes glowed briefly, and one of the numerous snakes behind the Elder began to move and squirm, and the stone scales transformed into obsidian scales. The ck snake sibted and slithered over the statue¡¯s shoulder, its beady eyes stared at Dorian, studying him, and for a brief second, Dorian saw recognition. And suddenly, it fell down to the ground, and the moment it touched the earth, the snake transformed into a scroll.

    No doubt, it was his mother¡¯s magic. Dorian sighed morosely as his mother¡¯s vestigial existence in this world diminished more with the magic being activated.

    It was a map and a key to the secret Ani Sanctuary, where his mother¡¯s ancestors worshiped Asmodian. Only people of the family were allowed to enter, and allegedly, Asmodian would appear in front of them if they made a sacrifice that pleased him.

    Albeit his mother had warned him about the danger of contacting Asmodian, it may be his best shot at finding an Elder at the moment.

    He picked up the scroll and left the chapel.

    ¡°Remember that honeymoon that we said we would go on someday?¡±

    Lucius looked up from his phone in surprise. He was reading a news article about some underground gambling ring opening a bet on when the king would depose the current crown prince.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Dorian closed the door behind him and said, ¡°that someday is going toe much sooner.¡±

    ¡°You want to go on a honeymoon now?¡± Lucius looked at him as if he was out of his mind, ¡°when everyone is waiting for you to make a mistake and be deposed?¡±

    ¡°Staying here is not going to help.¡± Dorian sat across from him and put the scroll on the coffee table, ¡°we are going to Esmore, thend of my mother¡¯s ancestors.¡±

    Lucius eyed the scroll with curiosity, ¡°and what is this?¡±

    ¡°This is a map to the Ani family¡¯s Sanctuary. Historically, when the family members were persecuted, it was where they went to seek for Asmodian¡¯s guidance. We will try to find it.¡±

    Lucius widened his eyes incredulously, ¡°you mean...you can contact your Elder there? Why didn¡¯t you say anything a month ago when Darius mentioned Elder blood!¡±

    ¡°I have my own reasons. I was hoping Darius could find another Elder. But we are running out of time, and with Archie returning, the situation has escted.¡± Dorian couldn¡¯t risk letting Lucius stay in a court with his more despicable stepbrother. With him losing his grip on the court, who knew what would happen to Lucius? He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Lucius being assaulted by Archie again.

    However, he didn¡¯t want to worry Lucius more than he already was.

    Lucius wasn¡¯t so sure about it, especially when he heard that they would try to contact Asmodian. For some obscure reason, the Serpent Elder made him anxious.

    But he trusted Dorian, and so, he decided to follow him wherever he went.

    ¡°Who wille with us?¡±

    ¡°I will bring several guards that I trust to apany us when we travel there. We need to keep our true purpose a secret, and only tell others that we are going for the missed Honeymoon.¡±

    ¡°Can I bring Buck?¡±

    Dorian hesitated, but eventually he nodded, ¡°we will have to unchip him first, otherwise anyone could have forced him to divulge our true destination. I will arrange for it as soon as possible.¡±

    Their chance finally presented itself on Eternia Day. The whole Royal Family would attend the ancestry worshiping ceremony, and Dorian, though his position was no longer as solid as before, would still preside over it with his father, as he was still the Crown Prince.

    However, as a human, Lucius¡¯s presence was not so essential. He let Dorian drink a considerable amount of blood, then took a long agonizing cold shower and sessfully fell ill two days prior.

    The servants dutifully reported the illness to Devina, and the news soon spread to the whole court. As his ¡°symptoms kept worsening,¡± he was allowed to stay in his apartment to rest. On Eternia Day, Dorian arranged for him to see the doctor, though he couldn¡¯t apany him due to his duties.

    They expected most of Devina and Silvan¡¯s spies would focus on Dorian¡¯s activities on that day, as they knew Lucius was very ill.

    Before leaving, Dorian cleared the room, closed the door and came to the bed, where Luciusy resting. He gently brushed away a strand of hair from his consort¡¯s hot red cheek.

    ¡°Are you sure you can do it?¡± Dorian said worriedly.

    Lucius smiled and gave him a thumbs up, ¡°I¡¯m feeling much better. This red on my face is mainly painted.¡± He chuckled a bit, ¡°luckily, you vampire men don¡¯t have the stigma of using makeup, and there is some blush readily avable in the drawer.¡±

    ¡°But your fever hasn¡¯tpletely gone yet.¡± Dorian put a hand on his forehead, ¡°don¡¯t do anything stupid, ok? If it¡¯s too much, juste back.¡±

    ¡°Just go, don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m not a fragile vase.¡°Lucius rolled his eyes as if Dorian was making a big deal out of it.

    Dorian took one of his rings off, took Lucius¡¯s left hand, and put it on Lucius¡¯s finger, ¡°I have asked an enchanter to put a protective rune on it. If something happens, and you end up alone in a crowd, it will be harder for vampires to smell your human blood.¡±

    Lucius studied the ring, which happened to be on his ring finger. A beautiful ruby glistened mystically under the dim light like blood swirling inside.

    Lucius knew vampires never had the custom of gifting rings to betrothed or spouses. But this gave him the illusion that the ring meant more than just protection. And it made his heart ache.

    ¡°Thank you. I will make sure I wear it.¡±

    Dorian¡¯s lip corners raised up a little. He squeezed Lucius¡¯s hand once more and left the room. Lucius¡¯s smile dissolved from his face when he closed the door.

    Florian soon came in and asked, ¡°I retrieved the blood from the garden. Do you want to carry it?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Give it to me.¡±

    Florian took out the small vial of Durchville Witch¡¯s blood from his pocket. Lucius held it in his palm. The cool ss felt like hot red iron that burnt his skin.

    He would betray Dorian today by sending out the vial, and there would be no turning back. After this, Dorian would never forgive him.

    ¡°Are you having second thoughts?¡± Florian asked calmly, though Lucius could hear the disapproval beneath theposure, ¡°don¡¯t forget what he has done to our people. He was the one who led the army and ughtered countless soldiers of your country.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    ¡°I know...¡± Lucius said quietly.

    But Dorian was the only person that made him felt...alive, seen and cared for. He was the only person who asked what he wanted for his birthday.

    He tied a string on the vial and hung it over his head, then got out of bed and began to dress. Lucius¡¯s body was still lethargic and sore after two days of fever, but he would have to exert it furthermore today. He avoided Florian¡¯s gaze and tried to sound confident, ¡°don¡¯t worry about my task. How are you feeling? Nervous? Regret?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to get the damn chip out of my head. Even if I¡¯m killed in the process.¡°He said with a cold ire as he helped Lucius to put on the trench coat. It was early autumn, and the wind began to feel chilly.

    Lucius took a deep breath and said, ¡°well then, let¡¯s get on with it.¡±

    Things went well and smoothly for the first part of their n. Dorian¡¯s trusted bodyguards escorted them to a private hospital, and only Florian apanied him into a royal ward. A vampire doctor, Lydia Hagan, was waiting inside. She was Dorian¡¯s personal doctor since he was fifty years old, and Dorian trusted her with his life.

    Everyone else except Dorian, Lucius and Florian believed Lydia was doing some exams on Lucius, but the truth was that she was going to perform the critical but rtively fast cerebral imnt removal surgery on Florian in the ward with the help of an AI assistant.

    Lydia quickly administered the anesthetic to Florian. Lucius saw a slight trace of nervousness flicker in the man¡¯s eyes. He silently squeezed Florian¡¯s arm to offer some, trying to give him some support andfort. Upon feeling Lucius¡¯s presence, the ex-hunter calmed down quickly and gradually fell into oblivion.

    After ensuring that Florian¡¯s vital signs were stable, Lydia told the guards outside that Lucius had some lung infection and it would take longer than they initially estimated. This would buy them enough time to finish the procedure.

    As she was focusing on Florian, Lucius excused himself into the washroom, leaving his phone, which was likely to be used to trace his location, in the washroom, and crawled out of the window. Luckily the ward was on the second floor, and Lucius, with the help of his climbing experiences, sessively and quietlynded behind some bushes. He had researched the fastest and safest route from the hospital to the post office, where the deposit box was located a day before, so he knew exactly where he had to go next.

    He took a mask out of the inner pocket of his trench coat and quickly put it on. Then he pulled up the coat cor and swiftly submerged himself into the darkness of the early night.

 Chapter 36 It All Went Wrong

    Lucius returned to the ward one hourter, and Lydia was so focused on her task that she didn¡¯t even register his long absence. Lucius sat quietly on the other side of the curtain, feeling light-headed and unreal.

    He actually did it.

    The post office was fairly busy at that hour, and no one even gave him a second look as he went to the deposit room, entered the security code and put in the vial.

    He left right away and didn¡¯t wait to see who his correspondent was. And now, his heart was still beating violently, half from the climbing he had to do moments ago and half from wishing he had never agreed to the quest.

    And now...he just wanted to forget all about it.

    After another hour, the curtain was pulled open. Florian was still immobile on the bed, looking more pallid than usual. His hair wasn¡¯t shaved off as Lydia used some nano insertion technique, which would create an almost invisible wound. An incredible technique that humanity had never been able to develop.

    Lucius shot up from the seat and quickly came to Florian¡¯s side, ¡°how is he? Is everything ok?¡±

    ¡°The procedure was very sessful,¡± Lydia said curtly in her usual speaking style. She showed him a bloody tiny piece of metal connected with several hair-thin wires lying on a te, ¡°this is the chip. I managed to disable it when I took it out. As the Crown Prince instructed, I will dispose of itter.¡±

    Lucius eyed the chip with disgust but politely said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to thank you enough, doctor. I owe you one.¡±

    ¡°He may feel dizzy and nauseated for a few days, but it shouldn¡¯t be too much. If he begins to show any other symptoms, like delirium or high fever, let me know as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°I will. When will he wake up?¡±

    ¡°Anytime from now on.¡± Lydia then went into the washroom to disinfect and dispose of her operation gown and left Lucius alone with Florian.

    In about five minutes, Florian¡¯s fingers twitched, and his eyelids flustered. He wasn¡¯t sure if he was in the middle of falling asleep or waking up. But then he heard the familiar voiceing from afar, beckoning at him, eliciting a strangely gentle and warm sensation within his frozen body, and he wanted to respond to that voice.

    ¡°Florian? Florian?¡±

    Who was the owner of that voice? It was someone special to him... someone who simultaneously made him feel safe and engendered a desire to protect.

    His eyes opened, and he saw a face hovering over him. An baster, boyish face framed by wavy reddish-golden tresses and those alluring hazel eyes filled with care and worry. Florian yearned to caress that lovely face, but his arms were too heavy to move.

    ¡°Hey, you are ok. You are awake.¡± Lucius said and gently touched his shoulder.

    As the fog slowly receded from Florian¡¯s mind, memories began to return. He blinked slowly and said, ¡°I¡¯m still alive.¡±

    Lucius chuckled and nodded, ¡°yes, and no more chip in your head. You are free, my friend.¡±

    Reality finally dawned on Florian, and yet he felt unreal.

    For the first time in six years, he was his own body¡¯s master once more. No longer forced to do things he didn¡¯t want to, no longer worried that a simple word would condemn him to the most horrible torture.

    Freedom...

    Something he thought he would never have again before he died.

    ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Lucius asked attentively, ¡°Do you want anything? The doctor said you can¡¯t eat much in the first twelve hours, but some smoothie or chicken soup may be ok.¡±

    ¡°A bit nauseating, but not much else.¡± Florian suddenly recalled something, ¡°And how about the other thing?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s done.¡±

    Florian rxed a little. He smiled from the bottom of his heart for the first time in a long time, ¡°so it all went well?¡±

    ¡°Yes. We are very lucky.¡±

    And then Lydia exited the washroom, and they ceased talking. They had to stay there for another hour for Florian to gain strength slowly, so he wouldn¡¯t appear to be someone who just went through brain surgery.

    They returned to the Citadel around three am, before most royal families. Lucius kept his weak appearance, pretending he just undergone some simple but intense treatment, and Florian looked as strong as usual.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.

    For the next two days, Lucius kept Florian close to him, ensuring he had sufficient opportunities to rest whenever they were alone. Dorian seemed slightly peevish by the fact that Florian was always around and that Lucius paid so much attention to the man but didn¡¯t say anything to protest.

    With the chip issue cleared out of their way, Dorian and Lucius started to n their trip to Esmore. They told people in court that they were thinking about a journey together since they hadn¡¯t got a chance to go on a honeymoon, and the news soon spread to the media.

    Lucius didn¡¯t expect anything to go wrong, and in the worst kind of way.

    It was a Sunday, and Lucius decided to spend histe afternoon in the swimming pool. He did his first round of freestyle, and as he thrust out of the water and brushed away wet hair from his face, a person was standing by the pool, looming over him.

    He looked up and saw Silvan¡¯s smiling face.

    ¡°Good evening, Julian.¡± The prince said. He was in his regr stylish clothes and, therefore, was noting here to swim.

    A premonition rose in Lucius¡¯s stomach. He frowned and propped himself out of the water, asking, ¡°Good to see you, Silvan. What brings you here?¡±

    ¡°Just want to spend some time with you to get to know you better,¡± Silvan said cryptically.

    An rm rang in Lucius¡¯s mind. This was not Archie; Silvan had always been charming and courteous to him. Why was he having such a bad feeling?

    Lucius pretended to be calm and nonchnt, grabbing a towel to wipe his head and face, ¡°why? What¡¯s to know about me?¡±

    He felt Silvan draw nearer from behind, and his scent quickly wrapped around him like a trap.

    ¡°I want to know, whose blood is this?¡± Silvan¡¯s beguiling voice slithered into his ear and exploded in his head like a grenade.

    Lucius turned around and was petrified as he saw the vial he had deposited two days ago now in Silvan¡¯s hand. A loud humming noise dispelled all his thoughts as panic began to set in.

    Voice stuck in Lucius¡¯s throat, and he couldn¡¯t utter a word.

    Seeing the unmasked fear on the Crown Prince Consort¡¯s face brought a rush of excitement up to Silvan¡¯s head. His smirk grew more malicious, ¡°you see, when I heard that you were so sick the other day, I was worried, so I followed you. You were very stealthy for a human, but I have Lilith¡¯s blood, and we have a much stronger sense than any other bloodline, so I knew when you left the hospital.

    ¡°I followed you from afar, watched you enter the deposit room, left this in a box and left. I figured someone should have picked it up, but maybe they noticed me. No one ever showed up. So, I went in and got it.

    ¡°It smells...old. Why were you depositing an old vampire¡¯s blood? To whom were you delivering it? Most importantly...¡°He prolonged his question and leaned closer, only an inch away from Lucius¡¯s face, ¡°Does Dorian know?¡±

    ¡°Please...¡± Lucius didn¡¯t know what he was pleading for, but he knew he was defeated and was only one step away from the destruction of himself and his country.

    ¡°Oh no no no, don¡¯t be so scared.¡± Silvan ran a finger over Lucius¡¯s lips, and his voice was gentle, but the malevolence was dark in his eyes, ¡°I haven¡¯t told anyone yet. Not even my mother.¡±

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Lucius asked quietly, his body shaking visibly like an autumn leaf.

    ¡°I want us to be friends. I thought you knew that by now.¡°Silvan shed his exceptionally white teeth and sharp fangs.

    ¡°Stop ying games with me! Tell me what I have to do.¡°Lucius tried his best not to quiver, ¡°Just...don¡¯t tell Dorian...¡±

    ¡°Well...¡± Silvan licked his lips seductively, ¡°you can probably start by letting me drink from you?¡±

    Lucius gawked at him. He had never given permission to drink from him to any vampire except Dorian, and the only time another vampire bit him was when Archie forced himself upon him.

    In vampire culture, which Lucius had mostly adapted to, giving permission to a vampire to drink and submit oneself by baring one¡¯s neck was extremely intimate and even sexually provoking. It was almost like having sex, often leading to lovemaking.

    And now, Lucius was in his swimming shorts, nearly naked and vulnerable. His lips tightened into a thin line, obviously unwilling toply.

    Silvan was not in a hurry. He tilted his head amusingly as if finding the human¡¯s resistance funny, ¡°It is only the first request, and you are already so hesitant? Maybe we are not friends after all.¡±

    ¡°Is there anything else...¡±

    ¡°Oh, there will be many other things, but this is the first step.¡± Silvan yed the vial between his fingers, ¡°It¡¯s like...pledging yourself to me, so I know you are sincere about our...friendship.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Or maybe you prefer Dorian to have this? I can go to him now.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Lucius gave in in fright, ¡°All alright, I give you permission.¡±

    ¡°Oh no, this is not the proper way of doing it.¡± Silvan pointed at the ground at his feet, shifting his tone to a more demanding, domineering manner, ¡°kneel before me, bare your neck, and beg me to drink from you.¡±

    Lucius couldn¡¯t believe his ears, yet he had no other choice. He looked around nervously, fearing anyone would see, and dragged himself to the spot Silvan pointed at, right in front of the vampire prince. He kneeled on the ground as if crumpled down and bared his neck to one side.

    ¡°Show me the side where Dorian usually bit you,¡± Silvanmanded with a cold thrill.

    Lucius reluctantly bared the other side of his neck, revealing the not fully healed bit mark Dorian left four days ago. He felt as if he was exposing a private part of himself and was so humiliated that his cheeks were burning red, and his teeth were chattering as if he was shivering from the cold.

    Silvan leered down at him as if he were his master, and he demanded imperiously, ¡°Now, say it.¡±

    Lucius¡¯s hand tightened into a fist, and he squeezed the words out of his mouth, ¡°Please drink from me...¡±

    ¡°Louder, and say my name!¡±

    Feeling losing control, Lucius closed his eyes and said loudly, ¡°Please drink from me, Silvan!¡±

    Silvan grinned diabolically, lowered to the same level as Lucius, and ran his cold fingers across the long, pale neck. Lucius flinched but kept himself in ce, letting the devil do whatever he wanted.

    The finger with the sharp nail dug into the spot where Dorian bit him, drawing blood. And the sweet, erotic scent soon woke something more dangerous and hungry in the depths of Silvan¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Tell me, how does he usually bite you? Is it before he fucks you or as he fucks you?¡±

    Lucius bit his lips and didn¡¯t want to answer. But then Silvan roughly grabbed his jaw and forced him to look up at him, ¡°Answer me.¡±

    By now, the obliging and polite veneer of the vampire prince was entirely gone, and the true color of Silvan made Lucius tremble. He said, ¡°both...¡±

    ¡°Hm.¡°Silvan studied Lucius as if trying to find a defect in an object, ¡°I wonder what makes you so special to him.¡±

    Lucius wanted tough. He wished he was someone special to Dorian, like his brother. But that was not the case.

    ¡°You know, he practically gave up his crown for you. Do you think he will still be so protective of you when he knows what treacherous little shit you are? ¡±

    ¡°You promised...¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t promise anything. I only said, as long as you keep me happy, I will have less reason to tell him the truth.¡± Silvan exined condescendingly, as if Lucius were a child, ¡°You will do anything I say from now on. Understood? You belong to me now, little sheep.¡±

    Desperation rose like a ck mist and engulfed Lucius. He waspletely under the insidious vampire prince¡¯s mercy.

    Seeing howpliant and scared Lucius was, a sadistic pleasure took hold of Silvan¡¯s mind. He grabbed Lucius¡¯s hair, pulled him into his arms, and bit down at the same spot Dorian did. His bite was nothing like Dorian¡¯s. Silvan was violent and ferocious, and he bit so hard that Lucius felt he would tear his throat open.

    As the venom entered Lucius¡¯s system, he felt the familiar tingling and heat under his skin, and he felt Silvan¡¯s hands roaming on his body, pinching at his nipple roughly, and the other hand was trying to slip into his swimming shorts. Lucius struggled and whimpered, but as blood was quickly sucked out of him, he felt dizzy and weak, as if all his strength was sucked out of him with the essence of life.

    Lucius knew he was close to his limit, but Silvan showed no sign of stopping. He just drank and drank and drank as if he never nned to stop.

    What if Silvan decided to drain him? Lucius vaguely thought.

    But just as he was about to pass out, Silvan finally let go of him. He was thrown to the floor like a ragged doll. Silvan took out a handkerchief to clean the blood on his lips elegantly, and then he straightened his own attire, making sure he still looked impable.

    ¡°Dorian will ask you who bit you, and you will not mention my name.¡± Silvan said callously, ¡°and you will tell him that you gave the permission.¡±

    Luciusy on the floor on his stomach, trying to hide his face. Wetness was rising up in his eyes, and he couldn¡¯t press them down.

    ¡°Did you hear me?¡°A more menacing tone.

    Lucius opened his lips and whispered, ¡°yes.¡±

    ¡°Too bad that I don¡¯t have more time today to go through the second part as you and Dorian did. But no matter¡±, Silvan grinned satisfactorily, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to having more friendly times with you, angel¡±, and he left, leaving a bloody and humiliated Lucius behind.

 Chapter 37 Shelter

    Lucius wasn¡¯t sure how long hey on the wet floor. He might have passed out for some time from losing too much blood, but eventually, he regained consciousness. He struggled up but had to sit back on the floor for a while as darkness enveloped his view from low blood pressure, and he felt so light-headed and cold, while a tight, burning sensation zing in his lungs, and even drawing breath was strenuous and exhausting.

    He staggered to the lounge room, grabbed a chocte bar, and shoved it into his mouth. And then he gulped down a bottle of water, trying to alleviate the dehydration symptoms. He rested for a while, endeavoring to recover from the shock and processing what had transpired.

    He did not doubt that Silvan had inferred the recipient of the blood, and though he might not know what exactly Anthor nned to use the First Generation blood on, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess it wouldn¡¯t be anything good for the vampires.

    Silvan didn¡¯t confront him right away but waited for two more days, which meant he probably had done some investigation regarding Anthor¡¯s research on vampire blood.

    But why didn¡¯t he expose him right away? Division Nine¡¯s Project Genesis targeted all vampires, not just his enemies.

    Perhaps he didn¡¯t know that much after all. Or perhaps...he was batshit crazy and didn¡¯t care if humanity was nning something huge for his kind.

    However, if Dorian knew about it, he definitely would unearth everything that Anthor had been nning, and it would be the end of all the efforts and the precious peace that his parents and his country sold him for.

    Silvan knew the stake and wouldn¡¯t want to show his hand so easily. He would grab the opportunity and coerce Lucius to work for him. Which meant Lucius was temporarily safe.

    He needn¡¯t panic yet. Perhaps it was even an opportune chance.

    Lucius found some peace as he analyzed the situation. He got up and stood before the mirror hanging above a counter. Not much blood was left on his neck as Silvan licked them clean before he let go, but two tiny punctuated holes were still visible and would be even more visible once they began to swell.

    How should he exin it to Dorian without giving out Silvan¡¯s name? Even if he covered the wounds up, the scent of vampire venom was still basically a giant signature.

    ¡°Fuck...¡± He cursed under his breath.

    Lucius took a shower longer than usual, cleaned up the wounds as much as he could, then put on his shirt and covered the bite mark with the cor. He looked almost unscathed, except a little pale.

    Dorian was still in his study when Lucius went back to their room. Florian came in to deliver the newly ironed clothes, and he instantly noticed something was not right from the way Lucius almost jumped out of the couch when he opened the door, a haunted look on his face.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Florian asked.

    ¡°Silvan knew.¡± Lucius paced to and fro, ¡°he followed me when I deposited the vial, and now he has the blood!¡±

    Florian collectively ced the folded clothes on a chair and approached the restless Lucius, ¡°Did he tell the Crown Prince or anyone?¡±

    ¡°No. He wants to use it to threaten me so that I will give him information about Dorian.¡°Lucius paused for a second and blurted out in humiliation and rage, ¡°and the son of bitch fucking bit me!¡±

    Florian¡¯sposure cracked, ¡°he what?¡±

    ¡°You heard me, don¡¯t make me say it again,¡± Lucius said tly, ¡°but that¡¯s the least worrisome part.¡±

    ¡°Let me see the wound.¡± Florian insisted.

    Lucius sighed, undid the first several buttons, and pulled the cor down, revealing the two swollen holes.

    Scolding anger shed across Florian¡¯s irises, ¡°that bastard...¡±

    ¡°Do you hunters have any knack for making it less detectable? I really don¡¯t want to exin this to Dorian.¡°Lucius inquired hopefully.

    ¡°Any ¡®knack¡¯ we have is useless in front of an apostle as powerful as your husband. Especially when he is a grand master of illusory magic.¡°Florian leaned in to examine the slightly torn wounds. Silvan was not gentle at all when biting down, and it infuriated Florian. If he still had his sword, he would have chopped the cheeky bastard¡¯s head off for this.

    He had been bitten against his will countless times by the Durchville Lady, but somehow it was less eptable when he saw someone do the same to Lucius in his mind. He had grown increasingly protective of the consort without even realizing it.

    ¡°At least...I can¡¯t let him know it¡¯s Silvan. If Dorian goes to talk to him, shit will hit the fan for real...how long will the scent of an apostle¡¯s venom wear off? I need to hide from Dorian before that.¡± Lucius mulled all his options over, ¡°I should hide in your room. No vampire nobleman will go into a human ve¡¯s room.¡±Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°It can take from two hours to two days. How do you exin your absence?¡±

    ¡°Or I can find another vampire to bite me. Maybe once their venom mixed together, Dorian cannot tell anymore.¡±

    ¡°You have already lost a lot of blood. You will die if you let another drink from you!¡°Florian wondered just how crazy his master was. He thought himself reckless sometimes, but Lucius was entirely on another level. He pulled Lucius¡¯s shirt back and buttoned it up, ¡°Alright, you can rest in my room. I will figure something out.¡±

    ¡°But what if he asks you where I am?¡°Lucius questioned worriedly.

    ¡°Without the chip, I can do a lot more things. I will stir up some chaos to upy his time,¡± Florian said confidently.

    Most of the ves in the Citadel were sleeping in the underground pens, but Florian got special treatment as Lucius insisted the Head Steward treat him like a servant. He was given a single room not too far from the ve pens and was allowed to go in and out freely, while the rest of the ves were locked in like sheep and were only allowed to exit their pens during working hours.

    Lucius followed Florian down some narrow, dark stairs, and as they passed -1 and approached -2 level, a dank, fishy, piss-like odor assailed Lucius¡¯s nostrils. He wrinkled his nose, ¡°what¡¯s that smell?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the smell of the pens,¡± Florian answered curtly.

    No noble ever descended the dank, spiral stone stairs to the underground level, for it was prescriptively considered unseemly. Therefore, the guard at the bottom of the stair was startled when they saw Lucius.

    None of these guards had seen Lucius before, and Lucius was wearing the protective ring Dorian gave him, so they mistook him for some curious vampire nobleman. They bowed to him and didn¡¯t try to stop him.

    The underground level was apletely different view from the upper levels, and it looked like a dungeon from medieval times. The floor was covered by unknown ck smut. The corroded bare stonewalls were stained with soot and mold. And the hallways were narrow and low, with minimum illumination.

    As they passed the gate to the ve pens, Lucius paused. He could hear some strange soundsing from the depth of the cell, somewhat like moaning or weeping. He realized that he hadn¡¯t got a chance to see what the ve pens were like yet, and it bothered him.

    He noticed a surveince station outside the gate, and the guard, who was leisurely drinking blood-mixed tea and watching some tv show on one of the screens, quickly stood up to greet him.

    Lucius stood in front of the station and took a good look at the real-time footage.

    The ve pens were ancient prison cells repurposed. Passing a heavily surveilled salle port were numerous tiny cells on both sides of the hallway. Six bucker beds crowded inside each cell, with a shared toilet, which was basically a filthy hole in the ground, and a washing sink. The space between beds was so tiny that a grown-up could barely turn around.

    It was during working hours, so only the very sick ves stayed behind. They curled up on the hard and cold steel cots without a nket covering their shivering bodies. They were so emaciated that for a second, Lucius thought some of them were corpses and skeletons.

    ¡°Are they still alive?¡± Lucius asked the guard. Trying to keep his tone t and uninterested, pretending to be a curious but not sympathetic young vampire noble brat.

    The guard answered smugly, ¡°they are, but probably not for long. Usually, if they can¡¯t work for more than a week, we will feed them to the orges. Keeping them longer wastes fodder, and no one wants to drink their blood.¡±

    Lucius wanted to p him in the face, and Florian noticed it.

    ¡°We should keep moving.¡± Florian reminded him quietly.

    Lucius knew that Florian was right. A vampire nobleing down to the ve pens was already unusual. It would arouse too much suspicion if he stayed here for too long.

    But the unimaginably horrible living conditions of the human ves made him sick and angry. He knew he couldn¡¯t do anything because his position was perilous, and he could be arrested and sentenced to death anytime now. But he vowed silently that one day if he managed to escape the predicament, he would change all of these.

    Florian¡¯s room belonged to one of the janitors, as all the janitors were moved to the servant quarter upstairs after theyined about their living conditions. All the adjacent rooms were empty, and normally no guards patrol this area.

    ¡°The door has a lock. And it¡¯s usually pretty quiet here.¡± Florian said as he unlocked the door, with a peculiar subtle embarrassment.¡°it¡¯s a bit...messy. I didn¡¯t expect visitors.¡±

    Lucius chuckled, ¡°you should¡¯ve seen my room back to Anthor...¡± But then he halted, suddenly realizing that he had never told Florian about his true identity.

    He had gotten sofortable with Florian that he hadpletely thrown his fake identity out of the window.

    The room was about the size of a small bachelor¡¯s apartment and was not messy at all. There was not much furniture, only a bed, a desk, a chair, and a cloth rack with two sets of servant uniforms. The bed was well made. Some small tools were scattered on the desk. And on the floor were some used milk jugs and water dispenser jugs filled with sand, and a metal bar was nailed on the washroom door frame, probably all makeshift workout or training equipment. On the floor were a basin of shirt and underwear soaking in water and a bar of soap next to it.

    Florian closed the door behind Lucius and said awkwardly, ¡°it¡¯s not much.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the cleanest guy¡¯s room I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± Lucius looked around curiously. He went ahead and tried to lift one of the sand-filled water jugs and failed miserably, ¡°damn! You can lift this?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Florian said as if it was the most natural thing. The often confident and assertive ex-hunter stood cluelessly in the middle of the room as if a stranger in his own ce, ¡°um, do you want some water?¡±

    ¡°Nah, I¡¯m fine.¡°Lucius suddenly felt a rush of dark clouds engulf his vision, possibly because he unwisely tried to lift the water jug when he had lost a considerable amount of blood. He had to steady himself by propping himself against the desk so he wouldn¡¯t faint.

    Florian was at his side immediately and guided him to the bed. He tucked Lucius into the bed and said, ¡°you should get some rest. I will bring back something for your wound.¡±

    ¡°Ok.¡±

    ¡°I will lock the door. Don¡¯t open it for anyone.¡±

    ¡°Ok.¡±

    ¡°And onest thing. Can I borrow that ring?¡± Florian pointed at the ruby ring Dorian gave Lucius, ¡°I promise I will return it without a scratch in the morning.¡±

    Lucius hesitated momentarily before pulling it off his finger and putting it into Florian¡¯s palm.

    The way Lucius noddedpliantly and looked at him with unreserved trust engendered something soft and tender in his chest, pulsating in a forgotten rhythm from a bygone time.

    Florian locked Lucius in his room, the only private ce where he could find rxation and his old self. And yet he felt strangely ok with it.

    Florian was exceptionally busy for the next few hours, setting turmoil into motion. And as the sun rose and the Citadel gradually settled back into slumberous tranquility, he finally got a chance to return to his room with a first aid kit and some food for Lucius.

    The consort was still sleeping as he opened the door. He locked the door, put things on the table soundlessly, and sat on his bed.

    He was about to wake Lucius, but his hand paused in the air. Lucius slept soundly. The long eyshes cast a faint shadow on his ivory skin, and his thin, soft, and dewy lips opened slightly. Lucius undid several buttons before falling asleep, and the pearlescent, well-defined chest rose up and down with his slow breath, and the red bite mark on his neck added a smudge of seductiveness.

    It was not the first time Florian watched Lucius sleep, but the first time he watched him sleep on his bed. At this moment, his supposed master was his and his alone,pletely under his mercy.

    And the memory of when Lucius shoved the blood into his hand and told him to run. The brilliant light in those hazel eyes when the seemingly weak young man decided to die for him...it was a sight that Florian could never get out of his mind since.

    Florian¡¯s finger lingered on Lucius¡¯s lips, and the sensation was as good as he imagined. He leaned in, closer and closer. But at thest moment, he paused and drew back, feeling ashamed.

    It was not right. He couldn¡¯t steal something that didn¡¯t belong to him. At least, not yet.

    He couldn¡¯t risk ruining the trust. This young man who married the vampire Crown Prince under a fake identity was his key to avenging everyone he had lost in the war, and possibly even nting a seed to recover the lost sovereignty.

 Chapter 38 Nothing Is What It Seems

    Dorian didn¡¯t expect half of the royal court to suddenly fall into chaos in the few hours while he was busy replying to emails, researching the Ani Sanctuary, and reading some reports from Central Intelligence Order. And not even five minutes after he set foot out of his study, a servant rushed to him, saying one of his valets, a neophyte, was caught making out with Princess Loretta by none other than Lady Devina. The Lady was infuriated that a lowly Neophyte dared dream of touching her daughter.

    Dorian had to rush to Devina¡¯s apartment to settle the matter before anyone got killed. And before that was finished, two young viscounts were provoked for trivial rumors and fought like two mad dogs in the courtyard, and since not many neophyte guards dared to intervene in the fight of two apostles, Dorian had to go out to intercede.

    Right after that, a clerk lost an important missive. And then, a secretary mistakenly sent a meeting summoning to one of the werewolf ambassadors one day earlier. Dorian had only half an hour to prepare for the misscheduled meeting and then had to spend the rest of the night in the meeting with them.

    By dawn, Dorian was so exhausted that he slept in the lounge room adjacent to his study. And right before he fell asleep, he faintly wondered if the servants and personnel in the Citadel werepetent enough to fulfill the most basic duties.

    And none suspected a ve posing as a regr vampire servant by channeling the ruby ring¡¯s magic.

    It gave Florian a surge of satisfaction watching the whole court go topsy-turvy because of him. All he did was spread some rumor with some factual basis, let the right people hear the right words at the right time, mess up some documents and change a meeting set up when the secretary left for a cup of tea. He wished Lucius could see how he yed all those blood-drinking monsters like fools.

    And just as he was about to shake Lucius awake, thetter suddenly jolted and yelped in fright, ¡°Dorian!¡±

    Lucius had a nightmare. However, it was not about Silvan nor what he did and nned to do to him.

    He dreamed of Dorian knowing about the blood and all the insidious ns behind it. The realization, the shock and the disbelief pierced Lucius¡¯s heart, but none couldpare to the hurt following after.

    ¡°How could you do this to me?¡± Dorian asked in wroth, and yet the light shattered in his eyes, and only a void remained.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m sorry...¡± Lucius kept repeating the same apologetic words over and over, but it all sounded hollow and pale.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    And the hurt gradually transmuted into desperation and then...hate. Such dark, excruciating hate and disgust that tore Lucius into a thousand pieces.

    But it didn¡¯t end there. Dorian opened his mouth again, but this time only blood came out. And as he blinked, two streams of blood tears oozed out of his eye socket and stained his sculptural cheeks.

    ¡°Are you happy now?¡± Dorian asked in a distorted voice.

    ¡°I did this to him.¡± Thought Lucius, ¡°I hurt him. I killed him.¡±

    How could he betray and hurt the man he loves?

    And that was when he woke up, screaming his husband¡¯s name. He bumped into another pair of arms, and he saw Florian¡¯s worried face.

    ¡°Shh, it¡¯s ok. You are ok.¡± Florian was holding his shoulder and speaking in a soothing tone, trying to calm him down, ¡°it¡¯s just a bad dream.¡±

    ¡°You are back.¡± Lucius collected himself, rubbing his cold sweat covered face, ¡°how was everything?¡±

    ¡°It all went as nned. The Crown Prince slept in his study after an exhausting day.¡± Florian said sardonically and put the ruby ring into Lucius¡¯s palm. He leaned in to take a better look of the wound.

    Vampire venom had healing properties, making their bite less likely to be discovered in the older times when they would be hunted like animals by hunters. After one night, the swelling had subsided for most of the part, and the wound was much less visible than the previous day, almost like two tiny cinnabar moles.

    ¡°Here, eat something. I also brought you coffee.¡±

    ¡°Thank you! I¡¯m starving.¡± Lucius took a big bite from the cheese croissant Florian bought him and burnt his tongue when gulping down the still hot coffee. Florian couldn¡¯t help butugh as Lucius panted and fanned his tongue pell-mell. He went to the kitchen counter to fill some cold water for Lucius and asked, ¡°so, what¡¯s your n? Silvan is not stupid. He will find out if you feed him outfight fake information.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have a n yet...I worry that he didn¡¯t tell me everything. He said the liaison who was supposed to pick up the blood never showed up, but how would I know if he was telling the truth?¡±

    ¡°But if he was indeed telling the truth, then Anthor must have known that you have been exposed.¡± Florian contemted, ¡°Do you think they will try to extricate you?¡±

    Lucius scoffed bitterly, ¡°they will more likely give up on me. There won¡¯t be any help. We are on our own.¡±

    Florian studied his expression curiously, ¡°you don¡¯t have much confidence in your country, do you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just being realistic,¡± Lucius replied morosely, ¡°will you be able to get more information about whether there is some new prisoner in the Raven Tower?¡±

    ¡°I will ask our people to pay more attention,¡± Florian reassured.

    Dorian smelled something off on Lucius the moment he met him at breakfast. Someone else¡¯s scent was on his consort, though it was very faint, and he couldn¡¯t discern whose scent it was.

    ¡°Did something happen yesterday?¡± Dorian asked with concern as his gaze lingered on Lucius¡¯s high-cor sweater.

    ¡°Hm...not much, why?¡± Lucius said nonchntly as he buttered his bread.

    ¡°Did someone attack you? I can smell it.¡± Dorian came around the table and reached toward Lucius¡¯s cor. But Lucius caught his wrist.

    ¡°Alright, alright. It was just a neophyte guard in the garden. He probably was exposed to the sun for too long and was fainting. I was just passing by, so I gave him some blood to make him feel better.¡± He said with the most carefree tone as if it didn¡¯t even merit attention.

    Dorian stared at him in disbelief, ¡°and you let him bite you on the neck?¡±

    ¡°Well, yeah?¡±

    Anger red in the depth of the Crown Prince¡¯s dark irises. He seemed to want to yell at Lucius but held himself back, albeit barely, ¡°you can¡¯t just go around and voluntarily be people¡¯s blood bag! How could you let him bite you? On the neck of all ces!!¡±

    Lucius seemed amazed by his temper, e on, it was just a little blood. The wound was half gone already.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not JUST a little blood! Have you learned nothing about our culture?¡± Dorian was so crossed that he had to turn to the other side, taking deep breaths to calm himself down.

    Lucius blinked several times, then chuckled amusedly, ¡°are you jealous?¡±

    Dorian¡¯s shoulder froze a little. Then his stern voice came, ¡°no I¡¯m not!¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah, you are jealous.¡± Lucius rested his chin on his hand with a big grin, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know you would feel so strongly about it.¡±

    ¡°What did you expect?! That I praise your kindness?¡±

    Lucius stood up and touched Dorian¡¯s back, rubbing gently and suggestively, ¡°I won¡¯t do it again. I promise.¡± And then he leaned in and let his lips touch Dorian¡¯s earlobe and whispered with a low, sensual voice, ¡°my neck is yours and yours only, your highness.¡±

    Lucius¡¯s words slithered into Dorian¡¯s ear, sending a shiver down the vampire¡¯s spine. He tried to keep his angry face, but the anger was already melting away. And Lucius ventured even further, letting his hand slide into Dorian¡¯s shirt and yfully brushed across one of the nipples, and Dorian¡¯s breath hitched a little.

    ¡°Do you want to bite over it? Wash it clean?¡± Lucius asked seductively.

    Dorian had the urge just to pull Lucius into his arms and erase that fading scent from him by recing it with his own scent, but he also didn¡¯t want to risk Lucius losing too much blood. He said in a husky voice, ¡°are you trying to distract me?¡±

    ¡°Am I seeding?¡°Lucius snickered.

    ¡°Perhaps a little.¡± Dorian turned his head, sniffed Lucius¡¯s skin, and purred deep in his throat like a cat, ¡°but I still have something to discuss with you about our bted honeymoon.¡±

    ¡°What about it?¡±

    ¡°Some people believe that leaving now is an act of surrender. That I am giving up my position in court.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be good for us?¡±

    ¡°Indeed. Unfortunately, some other people suspect we have some secretive agenda.¡±

    Lucius stopped his little attempt of ¡°distraction¡± and leaned against the table¡¯s edge, ¡°does Lady Devina and her sons belong to the second group?¡±

    ¡°I believe so.¡± Dorian was a little disappointed that Lucius stopped, but he continued, ¡°in the council meeting, Archie said to one of the ambassadors that I am running back to my mother¡¯s rtives for help. And then Silvan said something strange to me, too.¡±

    Lucius¡¯s heart rose to his throat, ¡°what did he say?¡±

    ¡°He was wishing me a good honeymoon, but then he said to me: regretfully, nothing is what it seems, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Lucius knew it was Silvan¡¯s way of warning him. To show him that he had his throat and could end him anytime. And it made Lucius¡¯s blood boil.

    That snake!

    Did he really think he could control Lucius so easily? Just how helpless and timid that younger prince took him to be?

    However, it was also his chance. Just as Dan used to tell him, the more they underestimated him, the easier he could win this game.

    Lucius bit his lips briefly as an idea gradually formed in his mind.

    ¡°Do you trust me, Dorian?¡± The consort asked gravely.

    Two dayster, Lucius received a message from an unknown number twenty minutes after Dorian left for a meeting after dinner. It said: the dead baron¡¯s room, 15 mins.

    The dead baron¡¯s room was a nickname people gave to King Cosmo¡¯s ex-concubine, Baron Ambrose¡¯s chamber. He was King Cosmo¡¯s favorite for over a century and was believed to be one of the capricious king¡¯s true loves, even though he was a neophyte. For some unknown reason, hemitted suicide in his chamber, burning himself alive with half of the west wing. The rest of the west wing was repaired shortly after, but King Cosmo never allowed anyone to touch that room.

    Some vampires believed the room was haunted by Baron Ambrose¡¯s ghost, and most didn¡¯t want to be anywhere close to it.

    Lucius showed up in the chamber on time. The once florid paintings on the wall and the morous gilt trims were all consumed by fire and left murky and moldy vestiges behind. And Lucius could still smell the burnt wood particles in the air.

    ¡°You should try on some color other than white. I think red suits you better.¡± A leisurely and joyful voice broke the stillness. Lucius closed his eyes, steadied himself briefly, and turned to face his tormentor.

    Silvan strolled across the room. His eyes lingered on his neck, where the bite mark was barely visible, and acent smile was on the corner of his lips.

    ¡°I will not let you do that again.¡± Lucius warned coldly, ¡°and I don¡¯t care if you decide to tell people what you think you know.¡±

    ¡°Hm, suddenly not so scared, are we?¡± Silvan smirked, ¡°then why do you bother toe?¡±

    ¡°Ie because you also don¡¯t want to expose me yet.¡±

    ¡°And why is that?¡±

    Lucius returned a sardonic smile at him, ¡°The main reason the King is displeased with Dorian now is me. If you expose that I am a threat to national security, then Dorian will have to divorce me and rescind the treaty, and guess what? He will be daddy¡¯s favorite son again.¡±

    Silvanughed loudly and sped his hands, ¡°I like you a little more every time we meet.¡±

    ¡°I, on the contrary, like you a little less every time we meet recently.¡± Lucius said dryly, ¡°anyway. I believe we can benefit each other in certain ways, which is why I came. But you need to treat me with respect, or I¡¯m out of here.¡±

    Silvan sat himself in an armchair elegantly, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it up with a match, ¡°alright, I agree to your term, only because I don¡¯t want to see your pretty little head end up on a pike. That would be a waste.¡±

    Lucius exhaled and slightly rxed. He had hidden a silver dagger in his jacket, but luckily he seemed to have no need to use it this time.

    ¡°So...¡± Silvan puffed a perfect circle of smoke into the dusty air, ¡°why are you two going to Esmore?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear? We didn¡¯t have a chance to go on a honeymoon when we married, so...¡±

    ¡°You ask me to treat you with respect, then you should do the same.¡± Silvan warned menacingly, ¡°if you are going to give me bullshit like this, I may reconsider my options.¡±

    Lucius bit on his lower lip for a long moment, but eventually, he gave in.

    ¡°He wants to go back to the Ani family¡¯s sanctuary,¡± Lucius sighed and answered in capittion, ¡°he wants to find Asmodian.¡±

 Chapter 39 Belated Honeymoon

    On the day of the departure, Lucius was on edge and expecting anything to suddenly go horribly wrong at any minute until the moment their flight took off. He exhaled in relief and slumped into the seat, never having thought that one day he would be happy on a ne.

    It felt like they were leaving all the shit behind, and they could finally breathe again.

    Dorian saw the artless rxation mingled with a fresh excitement on Lucius¡¯s face and wondered how someone could simultaneously be soplicated and ingenious. He asked, ¡°Have you been to Esmore before?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. It is illegal for Anthorian to go to any vampire-friendly countries.¡±

    ¡°I think you will like it there. It is an artistic city.¡±

    ¡°Yes! I¡¯ve always wanted to go to The Grand Athinis Gallery! Can we go? Do we have time?¡±

    ¡°We are on our honeymoon.¡± Dorian curled his lip slightly, ¡°we have all the time in the world.¡±

    Lucius grinned and turned around to Florian in the back seat, ¡°I can¡¯t believe we are going to a human country. Aren¡¯t you excited?¡±

    Florian bowed his head and answered in the formal and polite tone he often used when they were not alone, ¡°I am very looking forward to it, Your Highness.¡±

    Esmore was nine hours away from Emberton, one of the biggest cities of Aelis, one of the few multi-sapient-species countries. Humans, vampires and werewolves reached a delicate but stable harmony in these nations, and though inter-species hatred and violence still existed, some level of co-dependency was established.

    Humans were still the majority in Esmore, but most were not believers, and a unique vampire-worshiping culture was prevalent. Many people saw being bitten by an immortal and superior being as an honor. And if one was special enough, an apostle might give them their blood, sharing immortality with them.

    More conservative countries like Anthor deemed people in Esmore to be depraved and licentious sinners and traitors, but even they couldn¡¯t deny the appeal of arts, philosophies, and entertainment from these more liberal cultures.

    To Lucius¡¯s astonishment, Dorian was a well-worshiped celebrity here. The moment the cabin door was open, a sea of shlights, cheer of excitement, and various shy, love-expressing banners engulfed them. Some fan girls and boys screamed so loud that Lucius almost felt like being attacked by some sort of acoustic weapon.

    ¡°What the...¡± The Crown Prince Consort was intimidated by such fanaticism and hesitated for some seconds before the door. He had seen some crazy fans in those idol concerts but never expected to witness his kind showing the same enthusiasm toward a vampire.

    Dorian ced an arm around Lucius¡¯s waist and took him out of the door to stand on the top of the stairs, receiving the oration like a king while whispering, ¡°don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let them eat you.¡±

    ¡°Is this some sort of cult?¡°Lucius mumbled incredulously. He couldn¡¯t fathom that some humans loved vampires to such an extent.

    ¡°Perhaps. Don¡¯t I possess the charisma for a cult leader?¡± Dorian nced at him with a subtle smugness and led him downstairs, holding his hand. And somehow, Lucius felt the hand-holding was not purely for the show this time.

    They stayed in a stately resort, and for their privacy, half of the resort was closed to the public. While the fans were gathering outside, hoping to glimpse the winner of ¡°the sexiest male vampire¡± for the past three years, the elites of Ani family were also eagerly anticipating Dorian to meet with them and restore the lost family glory.

    However, little did they know Dorian and Lucius didn¡¯t really stay in that hotel. They only reserved half of the suits as a facade to divert people¡¯s attention. They stayed in a much smaller but stylish hot spring resort¡¯s honeymoon suite. Florian and their bodyguards posed as regr customers and upied every room adjacent to theirs.

    Dorian and Lucius spent the first two days wandering around in the scenic city like all other tourists, visitingndmarks, taking corny but happy photos, and eating cheap but authentic street food. In a bazaar, Lucius bought two silly bunny hats with movable ears and forced Dorian to wear them with him, and Dorian, after a weak attempt at protesting, actually obliged him. And as the stoic, poker-faced vampire wearing the overly cute bunny hat with pride and dignity while squeezing the handle to make the rabbit ear raise to point at the directions they should go, Luciusughed so hard that his side almost split.

    They also visited the Grand Athinis Gallery, and Lucius saw so many greatest paintings in history, and he was overwhelmed by the emotions conveyed through the splendid strokes and captivating colors to the extent that he shed some tears. He tried to hide it out of embarrassment, but Dorian found it especially adorable.

    Presently, they were sitting on a patio of a local bar, overlooking the tranquil turquoisegoon glistening under the moonlight.

    The jazz bar was filled with people enjoying their Saturday night. No one recognized Dorian and Lucius, for the prince cast another illusory spell over themselves like a filter, disassociating their identity with their face. They basked in the warm but pleasant night air and translucent moonlight like every other guest, as if they were just another couple having a regr night out.

    Lucius scooped a spoonful of rice pudding into his mouth and moaned ecstatically, ¡°oh man! This is so good!¡±

    A tiny reminiscent smile appeared in Dorian¡¯s eyes, ¡°it¡¯s called shir berenj. My mother used to make it for me when I was little.¡±

    ¡°What were you like when you were a child?¡± Lucius asked curiously, ¡°Were you a good mummy¡¯s boy?¡±

    ¡°I sure was,¡± Dorian recalled the distant youthful days, feeling as if it was another person¡¯s life, ¡°though I spent too much time trying to impress my father and can be a little willful when I was with her, since I know she would tolerate all my tantrums and whims.¡±

    ¡°It must be nice having a parent who loved you so much. But it must hurt like hell when you lose it. I wonder what is better, to have it and then lose it or never have it to begin with.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t believe your mother loves you?¡°Dorian asked softly.

    Lucius seeped at his sherbet and mumbled forlornly, ¡°who knows. Perhaps a little, but not enough to stop them from sending me away.¡± But then he decided not to let these mncholy thoughts dampen his good mood. He looked around and chuckled, ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m among humans.¡±

    ¡°Not all are humans. There are some neophyte vampires over there.¡± Dorian nced at a group of beautiful young peopleughing and drinking in one of the booths.

    ¡°It almost felt...like my old life. And I¡¯m just hanging out with my date.¡± Lucius¡¯s eyes roved over the whole bar and fixed on the instruments standing on the stage. There were piano, cello, and drums, and the performers hadn¡¯t started yet.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard you y before.¡± Lucius rested his chin on his palm and tilted his head slightly, ¡°do you really y the cello? I didn¡¯t even see a cello in our room.¡±

    Dorian raised his brow, ¡°why would I lie to you? I put all of those things away after I returned to Eternia.¡±

    ¡°Well then, y something for me.¡± Lucius smiled challengingly at Dorian.

    Dorian blinked and nced at the instruments on the stage, slightly nervous, ¡°now?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, now.¡± Lucius¡¯s grin was mischievous and seductive simultaneously, ¡°sing me a serenade, I dare you.¡±

    ¡°You are one demanding bride, aren¡¯t you?¡°Dorian leaned back conceitedly, ¡°so what¡¯s in it for me?¡±

    ¡°If you manage to charm me, I will...¡± Lucius leaned in and whispered something in Dorian¡¯s ear, and a light pink suffused the vampire¡¯s sun-kissed cheeks. Dorian cleared his throat, slightly straightened his outfit and stood up. He whispered something to the bartender, who was also the bar owner, and thetter nodded with an understanding smile. Dorian then walked up to the stage and sat on the chair behind the cello. Many people regarded him with curiosity, wondering what he would do.

    Dorian adjusted the endpin, plucked the strings while turning the pegs, and then positioned the cello in his embrace. He took up the bow and spoke into the microphone in a deep, rich, maic voice, ¡°this one is for my bride, Lu.¡±

    Lucius was struck by that one single syble.

    Lu.

    It was the first time Dorian spoke his real name in public. Even though they were under his spell¡¯s protection, it was still exceedingly audacious on Dorian¡¯s part. And it touched Lucius¡¯s heart in an unexpected way.

    Except for Julian, Amelda, and his mother, no others called him by the nickname. And he never told Dorian about it, either. And the way Dorian said it reminded him of all those soft, warm childhood memories and innocent dreams before reality corrupted and crushed them.

    And then, as the bow hair touched the strings, the music trickled down like a shimmering stream of the milky way, and it silenced all the din of the bar, and even the distant ambient noise of the city was somehow muted and shied away before such melody.

    It was something new, not anything ssic or popr, but it was beautiful, affectionate, and profound all together. The spotlight shone on Dorian¡¯s serene but rapt countenance and crowned his dark hair with a golden aura, and his body slightly moved with the rhythm like undting waves. His eyes nced up asionally, and each time they found Lucius urately with such ineffable emotions. It made Lucius feel like the music was a letter to him, filled with words the vampire prince couldn¡¯t say aloud.

    And those words transfixed Lucius, pierced his heart and captured his soul. He felt as if, for the first time in his life, he was...loved.

    Everyone in the bar was captivated and seduced by the music and the performer, and they sat silently with wide-opened eyes, mouths open. Some of them even wept, remembering those unforgetful loves in their lives.

    And as the music gradually faded, the melody still echoed in everyone¡¯s mind, and no one wanted to leave the dreamy state. Until Dorian put down the bow and began to stand up, the whole bar suddenly erupted in a fanatic ovation.

    Dorian bowed elegantly and then walked past the enthralled crowd and stood in front of a stunned Lucius, satisfied with the expression he put on his consort¡¯s face.

    ¡°Do you like it?¡± Dorian asked.

    Lucius stuttered, ¡°what...what song is it?¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°It¡¯s called Confession of A Fool. Iposed it not long ago, mostly in my head. Have never tried it on the cello until today.¡± Dorian curled his lips, ¡°turns out cello suits it better than piano.¡±

    ¡°Not long ago? Like...after our wedding?¡±

    ¡°I started on it after we returned from Durchville Manor, but finished it on the day after your birthday.¡°Dorian averted his eyes, seemingly a bit mortified.

    After returning from Durchville Manor...that was when they were in a cold war because of the...incident of a wrong name being called in passion. And they finally made up on Lucius¡¯s birthday...both asions were about Lucius, and he immediately grasped the underlying meaning, though in disbelief.

    Dorianposed the song for HIM! For Lucius!

    Lucius stood up slowly, his feverish gaze locked on Dorian¡¯s eyes and his throat dry and thirsty. He put a hand on Dorian¡¯s shoulder, leaned in and whispered in his ears with a rich and grinding desire, ¡°take me back to our room, now.¡±

    Dorian instantly flew them back to their hotel room, and they were already kissing like two mad men before they even hit the bed. Lucius pushed Dorian down on the bed and looked down at him with a seductive smirk as he slowly unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his velvety skin little by little.

    ¡°Rx, my prince.¡± Lucius licked his crimson lips, ¡°it¡¯s time to collect your reward.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Dorian asked through heavy breaths.

    Lucius tucked down Dorian¡¯s pants and held the already fully erected cock in his palm, and the hungry, licentious look on his delicate face made him look like an incubus of a depraved dream.

    ¡°Oh yeah, dear. I¡¯m pretty sure I will ride your cock for hours tonight. Not even God can stop me.¡± Lucius grinned before lowering his head and swallowing Dorian¡¯s cock in one go like a starving man.

 Chapter 40 A Guest

    Dorian wondered how he had in any world mistaken Lucius for Julian, even if he was drunk. Perhaps after all the failed attempts of the assassins, the war, humans and his father, Lucius would finally seed at killing him.

    Lucius straddled the vampire, rising up and down with such speed and force, fucking himself against Dorian¡¯s enormous cock. His seemingly thin waist was flexible and indefatigable, and his full-hard cock danced up and down with his movements. A thinyer of sweat glittered on his smooth and speckless chest, and his reddish-golden hair stuck on his blushing cheeks. He was so fierce and beautiful that Dorian couldn¡¯t stop staring at him, and the feeling of losing control and being taken over by sensations was driving Dorian mad.

    The overwhelming, breathtaking pleasure built up inside the vampire, higher and higher like a raging tide behind a dam about to copse.

    ¡°I can¡¯t hold back much longer!¡± Dorian growled and moved his hands to Lucius¡¯s waist, but the insisting consort pressed his hands back to the bed.

    ¡°Not yet!¡°Luciusmanded between his erratic movements, ¡°wait for me!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve waited long enough!¡±

    Lucius suddenly sat down exceptionally hard, making Dorian¡¯s dick thrust into the deepest part of his body, and he paused. The interruption almost sent Dorian to the afterlife, and the vampire prince almost wanted to beg, ¡°what are you doing!¡±

    ¡°I said patience!¡± Lucius brushed his wet hair away from his face, and he lowered down to kiss Dorian on his lips, and the kiss scattered down to his neck and chest. Dorian felt the narrow, soft and wet tunnel suddenly squeeze his already fully charged penis yfully, sending a shock wave through his scorching body and making him moan loudly, and his eyes rolled to the back of his head.

    ¡°Elders! You are killing me!¡±

    And Lucius started his dancing again, and as the pleasure once again built to another level, the incubus-like consort finally whispered into his ear, ¡°now you can have it.¡±

    Dorian growled like a beast and scooped Lucius up with his strong arms and flipped their positions with one smooth and fast movement. Lucius swore that for a brief moment, Dorian¡¯s face changed into his devilish beast form, his teeth grew longer, and his irises shed crimson. He bit down on Lucius¡¯s neck while driving HARD into the slimmer body beneath him, making his consort write and cry in overwhelming ecstasy, and Lucius shot his load first. Dorian came not long after as he sucked ravenously at Lucius¡¯s blood.

    Afterward, they snuggled together in the messy bed. Lucius ran his finger across Dorian¡¯s hairless chest, addicted to the silky tactile sensation and the vibrating warmth. Dorian grabbed his yful hand and kissed his fingers, one at a time, and the intimacy made Lucius¡¯s soft penis twitch again.

    ¡°You would have made a great musician.¡± Lucius rested his head on Dorian¡¯s chest andughed, ¡°or perhaps a band member. People would have worshiped you like a god.¡±

    ¡°But then I wouldn¡¯t have married you.¡°Dorianbed his fingers through Lucius¡¯s wavy locks.

    ¡°Have you ever regretted disobeying your father because of me?¡± Lucius asked quietly, ¡°am I worth all these troubles?¡±

    Dorian¡¯s hand paused for a second, then sat up a little and tilted Lucius¡¯s face up, so thetter could see his eyes.

    ¡°You may not believe it, but I care for you, Lucius.¡± Dorian said somberly, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have had it another way.¡±

    All sorts of emotions mingled in Lucius¡¯s heart, and he felt a lump in his throat. He had always doubted if he was worthy of anything, too scared to believe that anyone would love him. Yet he had been yearning for it nheless.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Would he dare to believe that maybe, just maybe, he had some space in Dorian¡¯s heart? And did he deserve it when he was a liar and a traitor?

    South of Esmore was a vast desert stretching for a hundred miles, namely Faramos, the forgottennd. Aelisians believed that there used to be an exceptionally advanced and prosperous ancient civilization that existed on this barrennd, but one day they disappeared for mysterious reasons. Their grandeur temples,vish pces and beautiful gardens were erased and engulfed by wind and sand, and their glory, name, and history had passed into oblivion.

    All three of Dorian¡¯s bodyguards were neophytes who might suffer heat stroke and even burn under the vicious desert sun. For this reason, they avoided the ferocious sunlight during the day and only traveled in the roseate gloaming.

    Lucius sat at the back of the car, watching the sun sink under the horizon, and the stars and the moon took off their vile, showering a soundless rain of silver over the sea and mountains of sand. The night of the desert was so still that even time stretched longer. They drove for more than eight hours, and before sunrise, they arrived at a small town.

    Their journey was kept confidential so no media chased them to the remote town, and Dorian kept a dissociative illusion around Lucius and himself to avoid anyone recognizing them.

    They stayed the night in a crude little inn and had breakfast in a local diner. Florian, as the only human in the group other than Lucius, quickly mingled with several local guys sitting at the bar table. Fifteen minutester, he returned and sat next to Lucius, pushing a tissue with a crudely drawn map on it to Dorian.

    ¡°They never heard of anything about a sanctuary. But the man with the beard there said some rich people, possibly vampires, visited this town every three years, but he hadn¡¯t seen them returning for at least six years. The man¡¯s father used to guide them to a ce called ¡°the Labyrinth of Mahoraga.¡± It¡¯s an ancient ruin that sometimes appears in the desert like a mirage, and very few people can find it, even with maps and coordinates. And some people found it, but they disappeared from it and never emerged again. The locals try to stay away from it unless they are really desperate. They believe it is an evil ce.¡±

    Dorian looked at the map on the tissue and asked, ¡°and this is the way to thebyrinth?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Dorian frowned, ¡°can the man be our guide? We may get lost without a local.¡±

    ¡°I asked. He wouldn¡¯t do it. He said his father disappeared in it.¡±

    Dorian nced over to the group of men at the bar, ¡°everyone has a price.¡± He stood up and strutted toward the group of men. The people noticed his fine cloth and unusual deportment, and one of them, being a neophyte himself, recognized that Dorian was an apostle vampire, and bowed his head reverently. Dorian conversed with the man for a few moments and passed a thick stack of cash to him, and the man reluctantly nodded.

    ¡°We are leaving tomorrow at 5 pm,¡± Dorian said once he returned. He sat next to Lucius and said, ¡°I need to see some people and do some shopping for the trip. You can walk around the town if you want. My spell willst another three hours. Make sure you return to our room before that.¡±

    Lucius was still enjoying his omelet and replied with a mouthful, ¡°alright. You go do your thing.¡±

    Dorian smiled and kissed his cheek before turning to Florian, handing him a small package, ¡°you take care of him, don¡¯t let him get in trouble.¡±

    ¡°Hey! I¡¯m not a child!¡± Lucius protested.

    Florian took the package and looked inside, and his brows rose in surprise. Inside was a gun, two fully loaded magazines and a dagger.

    Dorian gave him a warning look, as if saying, ¡°don¡¯t let me regret my decision¡±, and took off with his three bodyguards.

    Lucius finished his meal and asked for a refill of the ck tea. He seeped at it silently and suddenly said, ¡°you can leave, you know.¡±

    Florian regarded him quizzically.

    ¡°We are not in Eternia anymore. You are not a ve here. You can just leave.¡± Lucius said casually as he squinted, watching a group of tourists passing by the dinner on camelback, chatting excitedly, ¡°I will tell Dorian I released you. He won¡¯t let anyonee after you. You can be free.¡±

    ¡°And you?¡± Florian asked.

    ¡°I still have a job to do.¡±

    Florian contemted the offer for a very brief second and said, ¡°then I will stay with you.¡±

    Lucius gawked at him, ¡°why? You can be FREE! You can go anywhere you want, do anything you want, and be anyone you want. You can even go back to being a hunter.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡°Florian sat on the other side of the table and said, ¡°but I also have a job to do.¡±

    ¡°What job?¡±

    ¡°I promised to protect you when you freed me.¡± The hunter fixed his deep, dark brown eyes at Lucius, and his tone was even but resolute, ¡°and that¡¯s what I want to do now. I agreed to be your servant, which is who I want to be now.¡±

    The hunter¡¯s answer struck Lucius. He couldn¡¯t understand Florian even after so many months. Why would anyone give up the precious opportunity to be free?! Nevertheless, the answer injected a balmy steadiness into his turmoiled heart, like a safety rope in the perilous darkness. He shed a quick, grateful smile to Florian, but before he could say anything, the waitress came to collect the empty tes from their table, and as she left the bill, Lucius noticed a line of words written at the bottom of the bill.

    It was a message. An instruction.

    Lucius knew it would find him sometime in those few days, but seeing it still expelled all the enjoyment and overcast a hoary, damp mist over his mood.

    ¡°Is it him?¡± Florian asked.

    Lucius nodded and said warily, ¡°I have to go alone.¡±

    ¡°I will stay somewhere close. Just in case he dares to try anything.¡± A slice of stinging coldness shed across Florian¡¯s face, ¡°it¡¯s not the first time I¡¯ve hunted an apostle anyway.¡±

    Half an hourter, Lucius stood outside the abandoned factory. The dpidated building was like an animal carcass, quietly rotten in the barren sun and harsh wind. The dozens of broken windows were bullet holes, and the bare pipes and structures were organs and bones.

    Lucius looked around, making sure no one was in sight, then he pulled the rusty door open. The expansive space was mostly empty except for some undistinguishable mechanical parts strewing around.

    Lucius flinched as a hand was nted on his shoulder.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t heard my brother ying cello for six years. You certainly are...unusually talented in the art of bewitching men, especially considering your past upation.¡±

    Silvan stood in the gloaming light, elegant and dazzling as usual, and his smile disarmingly charming. But Lucius was rmed by his pliment.¡±

    Was he implying something? Did he find out about Lucius¡¯s identity?

    Lucius decided to change the topic, ¡°why do you have toe out of nowhere like that? You could have just waited in in sight!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the fun in that? Your blood smells even better when you are startled. ¡±

    Lucius didn¡¯t want to tarry for long. He took out the napkin with the map and gave it to Silvan, ¡°we are going to the Labyrinth of Mahoraga tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°And the scroll?¡±

    ¡°I finally got a chance to take a photo of it after he fell asleepst night, but I couldn¡¯t send it to you for some reason. It always says sending failed.¡± Lucius took out his phone to show Silvan the photo.

    Lucius couldn¡¯t understand thenguage on that scroll, not to mention those cryptic circles and runes. He thought Silvan probably could read it. But the vampire only frowned, ¡°it¡¯s gibberish.¡±

    ¡°But that¡¯s the scroll he took from the chapel. His mother left it to him, telling him to use it if he is in a precarious situation.¡±

    ¡°Are you fucking with me, Julian?¡°Silvan squinted his eyes menacingly, ¡°this is not anynguage.¡±

    ¡°I am not! It is the key to the sanctuary, he told me!¡°Lucius scoffed, ¡°perhaps you just can¡¯t read thenguage?¡±

    ¡°Maybe it is some sort of protection magic or code. You said you couldn¡¯t send these photos?¡°Silvan slid Lucius¡¯s phone into his pocket.

    ¡°Hey! That¡¯s my phone!¡±

    ¡°Tell my brother you lost it.¡±

    ¡°You asshole!¡°Lucius tried to snatch his phone back, but Silvan caught his wrist like an iron vise. Silvan pulled Lucius toward him, ¡°why are you always so hostile to me?¡± Silvan breathed into the smaller man¡¯s ear, ¡°I have been nice to you since day one, haven¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°Except the day you bit me?¡±

    ¡°Well, that was just a little deposit. I¡¯m also taking a big risk by not telling anyone about your little secret mission.¡°Silvan sniffed his neck hungrily, ¡°you took that photo after my brother fucked you and drank you all night and fell asleep in satiation, didn¡¯t you? I can smell his venom on you.¡±

    ¡°Why are you so obsessed with what your brother has?!¡°Lucius pushed him away, getting worked up, ¡°You want his position, his crown, and now his consort?!

    You won¡¯t even spare me a second look if I¡¯m not your brother¡¯s spouse.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps. But you should know that answer because I heard you also have a brother.¡± Silvan curled up his lips, smiling alluringly.

    A boding feeling sank into Lucius¡¯s stomach, ¡°don¡¯tpare me to you. I would never wish my brother ill.¡±

    The vampire took a few steps back with an mysterious grin, leaving the route for Lucius to exit, ¡°you should go back now.¡±

    Lucius didn¡¯t want to spend another minute with him, but just as he scurried toward the exit, Silvan¡¯s voice caught his ear, ¡°Oh, by the way. I got you a little gift in your room. You are wee.¡±

    Lucius and Florian rushed back to the inn right when the illusory spell on him was about to expire. But as he stood before the door to his and Dorian¡¯s room, he heard voicesing from inside and saw the light seeping out of the bottom.

    Was Dorian already back? Was there someone inside with him?

    Lucius turned the door knob. It was locked.

    Strange...

    Lucius knocked at the door, feeling unnerved and anxious. Silvan said something about a gift in his room. What could it be?

    The door was opened, and Dorian stood in front of him. Lucius beamed at his husband but soon noticed something was not right. Dorian was not smiling back, and the way he looked at him was..plicated, bordering guilty.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Lucius asked as a chill crept up his spine.

    ¡°Lu.¡±

    A voice called that familiar nickname, but it was not Dorian¡¯s voice.

    The voice came from someone in the room. Someone who sounded almost identical to Lucius¡¯s own voice.

    Dorian quietly stood aside, but before he did so, Lucius already knew who the other person in the room was.

    But how was it possible?

    This couldn¡¯t be happening!

    Lucius stood in the shadow of the hallway, eyes wide open, face pale like a ghost, gaping at the person standing before him.

    ¡°Julian.¡±

 Chapter 41 Brothers

    Julian didn¡¯t change much, except he was not wearing his usual high priest white robe but a regr jacket, jeans and boots, obviously disguising himself as an ordinary tourist. If not for the different clothing and shorter hair, he was like a mirror image of Lucius.

    Another person stood beside him. A tall, handsome man with lustrous ck skin and the body between a soldier and a supermodel. That was Julian¡¯s bodyguard Isaiah Lewis.

    Julian gazed at Lucius with a sea of roaring feelings surging in the depth of his hazel irises, and his lips trembled a little. And the next moment, he dashed forward and hugged Lucius tightly.

    ¡°I finally found you, brother!¡±

    Lucius was still in shock, and it took him a few seconds longer to return the embrace. His eyes darted to Dorian, and thetter produced a conflicted look.

    Lucius pulled a little distance between himself and Julian and gingerly scanned over his twin brother, ensuring he was safe and unscathed.

    ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡± That was the first thing a dumbfounded Lucius said to his twin brother.

    ¡°I heard that you are going toe to Esmore, so Ie to see you.¡°Julian grabbed Lucius¡¯s hand so tight as if fearing he was going to run off, ¡°They didn¡¯t allow me to see you before they sent you away, and they wouldn¡¯t give me any way to contact you. So I thought, this is my best chance to see you after a whole year.¡±

    ¡°Are you out of your mind?!¡± Lucius snapped. He glowered at Lewis, ¡°And you allowed him to do this?!¡±

    Lewis shrugged, ¡°it was either he ran away by himself, or I came with him.¡±

    ¡°Did the Churches know about this?¡±

    Lewis scoffed and replied with another sarcastic figurative question: ¡°Would they ever allow a High Priest toe to a vampire-friendly country?¡±

    ¡°They kept a close eye on me for a whole year, keeping me hidden from all eyes, and only rxed a little recently. I was on vacation because of some...ailments. The lodge had fewer guards than Celestine Pce, so we found a chance to leave without causing too much ruckus. I thought I could pretend to be you. Turns out, Prince Dorian already knew...¡°Julian nced at Dorian quickly.

    Lucius couldn¡¯t tell what he was feeling at the moment. On the one hand, he missed Julian terribly, though he never mentioned it to anyone. Probably because he was deeply wounded when Julian didn¡¯t evene to say goodbye before he departed, not even a phone call...but now it turned out Julian didn¡¯t have a choice.

    Even though he often felt that Julian stole their parent¡¯s love from him, Lucius still loved his twin brother greatly. The profound bond between twin brothers is ineffable and iprehensible to people who don¡¯t have a twin.

    On the other hand, it was too dangerous for Julian to be in a foreignnd with only one bodyguard. And the danger was not onlying from vampires or any other powers. As the only known true prophet at the present time, he was too precious to Anthor, both symbolically and pragmatically, and Anthor¡¯s government must be in panic and turmoil once they found Julian was missing, which could lead to disastrous consequences.

    Moreover, why did Silvan say he left a present for Lucius in his room? Did Silvan make contact with Julian? At this point, Lucius surmised that Silvan knew about their switched identities, or suspected it. The vampire decided to keep the secret probably because he would use it against Lucius and Dorianter.

    And finally, there was the delicate andplicated rtionship between Lucius, Julian, and Dorian. After almost a year and all the crazy shits they had been through, Lucius finally was a little sure that Dorian had some feelings for him, and now...

    Now his husband¡¯s true love had reappeared.

    ¡°How could you be so reckless.¡± Lucius shook his head, ¡°everyone back home must be worried sick!¡±

    ¡°I know...I just have to see you. They didn¡¯t tell me anything, and I didn¡¯t know if you were ok.¡±

    ¡°Well, now you know I¡¯m perfectly fine.¡± Lucius opened his arm to show how ok he was, ¡°so we are going to get you and Lewis tickets for the first flight to Anthor tomorrow morning, and you need to get your ass home asap.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving.¡± Said Julian calmly.

    Lucius blinked, ¡°what?¡±

    Julian nced at Dorian nervously, licked his lips and said reluctantly, ¡°I never wanted you to sacrifice yourself for me, Lu. I was hoping that...since Prince Dorian requested me at first, maybe I will stay, and you can go home.¡±

    Lucius goggled at him. He couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing.

    After a whole year, after he had thrown away his life and everything he had been through in Eternia, now his brother decided to show up, gracefully release him from his duty, and try to im his husband as if he was doing him a favor. As if it was all so simple.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Are you fucking kidding me?¡°Lucius blurted out angrily.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t let you sacrifice your whole life for me, Lu. And I was just speaking to Prince Dorian. Perhaps we can reach some agreement...¡±

    ¡°You were discussing it with my brother?!¡± Lucius snapped at Dorian incredulously, ¡°about sending me back?!¡±

    Dorian blinked in surprise, ¡°of course not! We only spoke of what happened since thest time we met.¡±

    Reminiscing the good old time, huh? Did Ie back too soon? Thought Lucius bitterly.

    ¡°You came back before I could ask, but that was why I had toe to find you. I figured you must be missing home very much.¡±

    ¡°Missing home?!¡± Luciusughed angrily and sarcastically, ¡°tell me, my naive, sweet brother, what is left at home for me to miss?¡±

    Julian was taken aback. Lucius¡¯s reaction was not what he imagined. As he fumbled for words, Dorian interpted, ¡°you must be tired from your trip, Julian. I¡¯ve arranged another room for you and yourpanion. We can talkter.¡±

    ¡°But I...¡°Julian didn¡¯t want to end the conversation in such a tense state, but Dorian insisted, ¡°I will need to talk to my partner privately.¡±

    Hearing Dorian referring to him as his ¡°partner¡± slightly appeased Lucius¡¯s ire, though not by much.

    Lewis stepped forward and whispered something into Julian¡¯s ear, and thetter nodded amenably. He nced at Lucius apologetically, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to upset you, Lu. I¡¯m sorry.¡± And then he and Lewis exited the room.

    Dorian closed the door gently as if not wanting to stir up the smoldering air in the room. Lucius glowered at him, went into the washroom and mmed the door shut. He sshed cold water on his face, washing away the dust and calming down his nerves.

    What was going to happen to him now?

    One thing was for sure, there was no way Anthor would allow their precious prophet to fall into the hand of vampires. Hell, that was the whole reason they took the risk of breaking the treaty and arranged for Lucius to be the surrogate. More importantly, Julian wouldn¡¯t havested a day in Eternia court.

    He had to persuade Julian to go back.

    However...what if Dorian decided he wanted the real Julian after all? How should Lucius convince Dorian to choose him over the prince¡¯s true love of life?

    And what was Silvan¡¯s role in all of this? What was the wily vampire¡¯s n?

    Throughout the whole thinking process, Lucius tried his best to ignore the pang ringing in his chest. It was not the time to dwell on how hurt he was when thinking of the possibility that Dorian would return him as if returning a defective good. He had no time for self-pity.

    ¡°Lu? Are you ok?¡± Came Dorian¡¯s voice.

    Lucius rolled his eyes and replied coldly, ¡°as ok as I can be.¡±

    ¡°Can youe out?¡±

    Lucius took a deep breath and pulled the door open. Dorian leaned against the frame, and Lucius almost bumped into his chest. Lucius gave Dorian a dirty look and went past him, grabbing a beer from the cooler and sitting on the bed, ¡°you are not keeping him.¡± He warned frigidly and took a big gulp from the beer can.

    ¡°Who said I want to keep him?¡°Dorian frowned in exasperation, ¡°can you stop acting like this for a second so we can have a normal conversation?¡±

    ¡°Fine.¡± Lucius put the beer can on the nightstand with a little too much force, ¡°what do you want to talk about?¡±

    Dorian sat beside him, took a moment to collect his thoughts, and said, ¡°I had no idea of Julian¡¯s n. I came back, and he was waiting for me in the lobby. The front desk thought he was you. I took him to our room to meet you, but you hadn¡¯t returned yet. He told me he came to see you, and I only asked about his life since ourst meeting. ¡±

    Dorian didn¡¯t know how he instantly recognized that the young man with the same face was not Lucius. Perhaps it was something subtle in their mien and demeanor that only someone who knew them well could tell apart. But the residual shock of realization still lingered in his chest.

    Julian...the angel who lifted him from the bottom of an agonizing abyss of loss and hatred, the one he thought he had lost and would never see again, was right there, staring back at him with so many unspoken words and feelings.

    All the memories flooded back like a surging tide, and he felt dizzy and unreal. The first time they met, he was half beaten to death, and the angel kneeled down next to him, extending a hand to him. The golden sunlight crowned his reddish blonde hair, and he was so beath-takingly beautiful. Thest time when he got into the car and looked back at the angel onest time, Julian stood forlornly in the rain. Sadness filled his irises, looking almost as if he was weeping.

    ¡°Wait for me. I wille back for you.¡± Dorian shouted at him as the car drove away.

    But Julian didn¡¯t wait. Not even for a year.

    There were a thousand questions he wanted to ask, yet not one word could climb to his lip.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Don.¡±

    Don, the fake name Dorian used when he escaped from Silverkeep, and Julian was the only one who would call him that. And if it was a year ago, he would have sold anything just to hear that voice calling that name again.

    But now, everything had changed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not beat around the bush. Do you want him instead of me to be your consort?¡± Lucius said as steadily as possible, though the insecurity and fear were written evidently on his face and in his voice. He was like a prisoner waiting for a verdict from an unsympathetic judge, and he was almost sure that he was going to lose the case.

    He was going to be discarded again. He was sure of it. Because he was only the shadow of the true angel. A counterfeit.

    But Dorian turned to him, studying the haunting expression on Lucius¡¯s face, ¡°I have no intention to rece you.¡±

    Lucius stared back at him with wide, startled eyes, and after a short silence, he said quietly, ¡°not even if he is willing to stay?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°But why? You wanted him to be your consort when you wrote those premises. You¡¯ve dreamed about having him by your side for six years.¡±

    Dorian smiled faintly as if listening to a silly child¡¯s worry, ¡°Do you really have so little faith in us?¡±

    ¡°I just want to know the truth. Please don¡¯t sugarcoat it.¡± Lucius said sternly and proudly, ¡°Rest assured, I won¡¯t be broken by it.¡±

    Dorian sighed and brought a hand on Lucius¡¯s cheek, caressing him with subdued affectation, ¡°He is not you. He can¡¯t do what you can do, and he is not as strong as you. Maybe I did... and still have some feelings for him, but as I said before, you are my consort, and no one, not even your brother, can change that.¡±

    Lucius gawked at the vampire prince, lips slightly trembling, ¡°are you lying?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Dorian replied firmly, ¡°Our marriage is real, Lucius. Believe in it.¡±

 Chapter 42 Dream of Flame

    Lucius found Julian on the balcony on the second floor of the inn. Julian was wearing a white shirt slightly too big for him, making him look even more boyish and vulnerable. No one would have thought this was the holy man who shouldered humanity¡¯s faith and future.

    Lucius joined him by his side. The endless sea of sand spread before them, sleeping under the diaphanous voile of moonlight.

    ¡°I did not agree to it when they decided to let you go to Eternia in my ce,¡± Julian said gently as if scared to startle the balmy wind, ¡°but they locked me away and didn¡¯t allow me to even say goodbye to you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Lucius replied in a lighthearted, almost bantering tone, ¡°at least one of my family didn¡¯t agree to it.¡±

    ¡°That was cruel of them. I would never have thought they could agree to such a thing.¡± Anger stained Julian¡¯s speckless cheek, making him more lively, ¡°I want you to know I would never have wanted you to suffer in my ce.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not suffering. Dorian treated me very well, better than anyone I¡¯ve been with.¡°Lucius turned around and leaned against the railing, looking at the milky way traveling across the firmament, ¡°I appreciate that you tried to...fix this, but I can¡¯t go back anymore, Jules.¡±

    ¡°You can go back as me.¡±

    ¡°And what about the part that I¡¯m not the prophet who can inform the Churches what to do next to preserve humanity from the fate of being overpowered by all these supernatural species? The whole Project Genesis was based on your vision. They can¡¯t proceed without you. And what if they need to hear God¡¯s words or a miracle? I¡¯m not you, Lucius. I¡¯m not the chosen one.¡±

    Julian lowered his head as worry and sadness brimmed his eyes, ¡°they are nning to let mee out of hiding in the near future, Lu. The faith among the believers was greatly weakened when they believed I fell from grace. Some even began to question the Churchs¡¯ authority. There have been riots and insurrections everywhere in Anthor, and the King and the Churches are bing unsettled. If they decide to reveal to the people in Anthor that I was never away, what will happen to you then? The vampires will realize they are tricked and kill you for it.¡±

    ¡°King Cosmo wants to resume the invasion of Anthor. He will find a reason to kill me anyway.¡±

    ¡°Then why are you still wanting to stay!¡±

    ¡°Because this is my job, and I must finish it.¡± Lucius said firmly, ¡°I¡¯ve given too much for it.¡±

    Julian stared at Lucius¡¯s visage for a long, profound time and asked solemnly, ¡°have you fallen for Dorian?¡±

    Lucius fell into silence for a prolonged moment, but eventually, he nodded, ¡°I suppose I have. But that is not the only reason I have to stay.¡±

    Lucius was sure that Dan didn¡¯t tell Julian anything about his secret mission by now. Otherwise, Julian probably wouldn¡¯t have insisted that he abandon his post.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wait for Dorian?¡± Lucius asked before Julian couldment on his confession, ¡°You didn¡¯t even mention him to me when I visited. And knowing you, that means you felt something for him, didn¡¯t you? Then why took the vow?¡±

    Julian evaded his searching gaze and turned his face back to the edge of the world. He admitted quietly, ¡°Because it was wrong. It was a sinful temptation, and I had to ovee it bymitting myself to my true destiny.¡±

    Of course it was because of that...The Churches condemned homosexual rtionships, not to mention that Dorian was a vampire. Lucius suddenly felt bad for Dorian. The memories he cherished in his locked heart for six years couldn¡¯tpete with the Churches¡¯ doctrines.

    ¡°Sinful temptation...so I¡¯m also a big sinner in your eyes.¡± Lucius scoffed acrimoniously, but then he shook his head and said sincerely, ¡°You should stick to your n, go back to Anthor and serve your God, because that is your job. We all have our own job to do, and you should leave mine to me.¡±

    ¡°But...¡±

    ¡°No need to feel guilty about my position, either.¡°Lucius interrupted his unfinished sentence, though his tone was much softer, ¡°I chose this path on my own volition, no one had forced me into it. And I¡¯m doing so much better now, even better than when I was at home.¡±

    ¡°How is this better than home? You are surrounded by creatures that see us as food!¡±

    ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing, just...trust me.¡± Lucius gave Julian a reassuring and genuine smile, ¡°Everyone needs a reason to exist, a purpose of living. You have God, and I think I am close to my destiny, too. You should be happy for me, brother.¡±

    Julian stared at the simple, warm smile that he hadn¡¯t seen on Lucius¡¯s face for many, many years. And it reminded him of the bygone childhood when they were inseparable and alwayspleted each other¡¯s sentences, when their souls were so close and united that they were almost one.

    But since when had they grown apart?

    Julian lowered his head and smiled wistfully, ¡°I think I understand now, Lu. Just...be careful, and promise me you wille back one day.¡±

    Lucius firmly touched Julian¡¯s shoulder and nodded, ¡°I promise. And you need to promise me you will never do something like this in the future. I will be much more content knowing you are safe back at home.¡±

    Julian hesitated for a while, but eventually he reluctantly nodded, ¡°ok, I promise.¡±

    ¡°And...just one more thing.¡± Lucius asked gingerly, ¡°how did you find me? Did someone tell you where I am?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Someone sent me an address saying you will be staying there. Lewis adviced me not toe, worried it was a trap. But I still decided to try my luck.¡±

    ¡°So you never saw the person who sent you the message?¡±

    Julian shook his head, ¡°I didn¡¯t. But the person who wrote it referred to you as ¡®Julian¡¯, so I don¡¯t think they know your true identity.¡±

    Lucius contemted the implication of such an answer as apprehension shadowed his countenance. Silvan did this to show Lucius that he knew everything about him. If he didn¡¯tply with Silvan¡¯s every request, he was capable of using such knowledge against him, and with some evidence, which was not that hard to find as Anthor was already nning for Julian¡¯seback, it was enough to get Luicus hanged.

    The question was, where did he get the information? Did he know that Dorian was aware of Lucius¡¯s true identity? And how much did he know about the history between Dorian and Julian?

    In the early morning, Dorian ordered two of his bodyguards to escort Julian and Lewis to the airport and made sure they boarded the ne to a transfer airport to Anthor (there was no direct flight from Aelis to Anthor). They waited another day for the guards to return and set out to find the Labyrinth of Mahoraga.

    The sand was too soft to drive as the cars would get stuck or damaged by dust easily, so they opted to travel by camel. It was the first time Lucius rode a camel, and it felt much different than riding a horse, as these tall, amicable creatures seemed to have their own steady pace, ateral, almost leisurely gait, and could walk hours after hours. Though they were not asfortable to sit on as one might suppose, and after a couple of hours, Lucius felt his balls must be swollen like apples...

    ¡°Well...that was a brutal massacre of my sperms...¡± Lucius winced as he got off the camel when they were taking a break.

    Florian chuckled a little and passed him the water bottle. He hadn¡¯t asked any questions about the twin brother who suddenly showed up in the inn, which was a little odd.

    Dorian was conversing with the guide about something. The guide pointed at the distant horizon and gestured something big with his arms. Fear wrote clearly in his eyes.

    ¡°When do you think Silvan will make a move?¡± Florian asked quietly.

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing he will have three choices. Assassinate Dorian and attribute his death to the desert. Or he can wait until Dorian is about to consume the blood, because as you probably already know, after consuming an old vampire¡¯s blood, they will have a period of vulnerable ¡°evolving period,¡± during which they will be very sick, simr to when a human is turned to a vampire after consuming vampire blood. Silvan can use that chance to kill his brother. The third possibility is that he can try to steal Elder blood from Dorian and then use it as evidence of Dorian¡¯s subversive n of overthrowing Cosmo, and then probably consume it himself. I¡¯m guessing thest one.¡±

    ¡°But the Elder they are trying to find is Asmodian.¡°Florian remarked sarcastically, ¡°Do you know that all of Asmodian¡¯s first generation was eliminated?¡±

    Lucius blinked, ¡°what?¡±

    ¡°Yes. They actually formed an Order just to hunt down all the Asmodian First Generations. And this Order was the beginning of Eternia. About five centuries ago, thest known First Generation of Asmodian was killed by three other First Generation, though the three survivors also went into hibernation soon after it. One of the three was actually the Ashdown family¡¯s ancestor. It was known as the ¡¯end of eternity, and after it, the First Generations gradually faded out of this world.¡± Florian paused a little before adding, ¡°And there is a reason that they had to kill them all¡±

    ¡°What is it? Tell me!¡°Lucius couldn¡¯t handle the suspension.

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t really know.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean you don¡¯t know? You can¡¯t just tease me like this!¡±

    ¡°It was a secret of the Order, and the Order was pretty much non-exist after it served its purpose. But if even the strongest vampires feared Asmodian¡¯s power growing too strong through his creations, then you can imagine how dangerous this Elder was. Do you think he would just give out his blood like a phnthropist?¡±

    ¡°But Dorian¡¯s mother said Asmodian helped his scions numerous times in history. And he even left a drop of his blood stashed in the sanctuary, in case the family needs it.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, but probably not without prices. Otherwise, why do you think his mother renounced the Elder¡¯s power and never returned to the sanctuary to im the blood even if she was in dire situations?¡±

    That added another level of uneasiness to Lucius¡¯s careworn mind. But before he could ask more, Dorian came to him to check if he was alright, and then they had to resume their trek across the destend.

    They camped before sunrise to escape the heat of the day. The tent they brought was fully UV proof, and if ignoring the ubiquitous sand, the interior was quitefortable. However, when Dorian got into the tent, the supposedly spacious tent suddenly became much narrower, and Lucius felt...coy for some unknown reason.

    Dorian settled next to him, rummaged through his backpack and passed a sandwich to Lucius, ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten much today.¡±

    Lucius took a bite from the sandwich, scraping for words to say to Dorian, but nothing came to mind. It was the first time they stayed alone in such a private space after Julian left, and something between them changed.

    Perhaps they were both disillusioned, thought Lucius. Dorian realized he still couldn¡¯t have the one he really wanted, and Lucius couldn¡¯t pretend that Julian¡¯s shadow didn¡¯t exist like a ghost in this marriage any longer.

    ¡°Do you think my brother hasnded safely in Anthor?¡°Lucius finally found a topic that seemed suitable.

    ¡°He should be by now.¡°Dorian said casually, ¡°Though I wouldn¡¯t know. There is no inte or cell reception here.¡±

    ¡°Are you sad?¡± Lucius stole a nce from Dorian.

    ¡°Why would I be sad?¡±

    ¡°You finally get to see him again, but it was so short, and you didn¡¯t even get enough time to talk to him.¡±

    Dorian was quiet for a prolonged moment, and a controlled and muted sorrow tinged his visage as he exhaled slowly, ¡°Everything has changed. I asked questions I had always wanted to ask, and that¡¯s enough.¡±

    Watching the subtle but profound sadness in the depth of Dorian¡¯s eyes, a tingling pain rang in Lucius¡¯s chest. He gently touched Dorian¡¯s hand and confessed, ¡°Thank you for letting him go.¡±

    Dorian gave him a wry smile andy down without giving Lucius a good night kiss as he had been doing since their honeymoon started. Lucius knew he couldn¡¯t expect too much at the moment, but it still pricked his heart just a little.

    Slowly, Lucius fell into a troubled slumber. And without realizing it, he slipped in a dream.

    And in that dream, everything was burning.

    The city, the forest, the sea, and even the sky were a screen of zing fire. The earth beneath his feet was scorching and smoldering like charcoal. Hot air blew up his seemingly longer hair strands.

    People around him were screaming and melting like candles into a puddle of flesh and bones. And their meat and gut mushed together, covering the ground like ake of flesh and goo.

    Creatures were squirming in the fanatic disy of light and shadow. Some had horns on their heads and were several meters too tall. Some slithered and writhed like gigantic worms. Others had too many limbs that all bent in the wrong directions. They crawled out of the burning ground like maggots gushed out of a rotten corpse and pounced at the running people, and then there were ear-splitting screams and the chilling sound of bone being crushed and guts spilling.

    The preys were not only humans. Some of them were vampires and werewolves. They kneeled before him, begging for mercy as if he was the cause of everything.

    Hell couldn¡¯t be worse than this.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Horror struck him, but as Lucius opened his mouth, the scream pressurized in his chest didn¡¯te out, and instead, he heard himselfughing.

    A menacing, amused, evilughter.

    And what scared him the most was that underneath the horror, he felt a sense of...satisfaction, as if he had achieved something he had longed to do. He felt something heavy growing from his back, so he looked down at his shadow casting on the zing ground. He saw a humongous and splendid chrysanthemum blooming behind him, though all the ¡°petals¡± were dancing and waving, slithering like hundreds of snakes.

    But just as Lucius sank into that unthinkable temptation of destruction, a strange uneasiness crept up on him, and he sensed a presence that was not supposed to be there. And at the same moment, he realized that he was dreaming.

    And something, or someone, was trespassing.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡°He demanded loudly, ¡°Show yourself!¡±

    ¡°Interesting dream you have here.¡°A leisured, distinctive voice rose above all the chaotic noises. Lucius turned around and saw Silvan standing before him, his calcting eyes roving with great curiosity, ¡°it sure doesn¡¯t look like a dream a holy man would have.¡±

 Chapter 43 Prelude

    Lucius gawked at Silvan incredulously, ¡°Why are you here?! This is...my dream!¡±

    ¡°Perhaps you just dreamed of me because you secretly desire me?¡± Silvan rejoined jestingly.

    ¡°I desire to punch your cheeky face. Will ite true in this dream?¡± Lucius retorted acidulously.

    Silvan chuckled, ¡°You can try.¡±

    Lucius remembered Silvan was a scion of both Azreal and Lilith, and thetter was the Elder of Pride and Envy and was believed to be the most beautiful of the ten. And her line mastered the art of manipting desire and weaknesses.

    ¡°So, is this your Lilith line¡¯s ability? Creeping into other people¡¯s dreams? A bit voyeuristic, don¡¯t you think?¡± The consort jibed.

    Silvanughed sonorously, and as he took a few steps toward Lucius, his appearance became shifty. His hair and eyes changed color with each step, and a dreamy aura glowed beneath his skin, making him more gorgeous and attractive than ever, ¡°it is much more useful than you would have thought. Dreams are the highways to your deepest desire and secrets. I can nt thoughts and desires in people¡¯s minds through dreams, making them obsessed with things they didn¡¯t care about before, driving them mad with random anxieties. Moreover, people can lie when they are conscious, but they can rarely do that in their dreams. ¡±

    ¡°Oh really? You think I can¡¯t lie to you here?¡±

    ¡°You have be Lucid, which makes matters moreplicated... Some humans and vampires, like my brother, are trained to resist such magic as they easily be lucid in their dreams. But you...you seem to have something different in you...something alerted you when I entered.¡± Silvan strolled around, taking into the hellish scenario from every direction, ¡°but what a scene! I¡¯ve seen some fucked up dreams, but this one is among the top five. Wait, this ce looks familiar...isn¡¯t this the St. Primus Cathedral of Anthor?¡±

    Silvan pointed at a half-copsed building afar. The unique crown-like silhouette of the five pinnacles and a giant half-broken rose window was unmistakably the holiest institute in Anthor and the symbol of God¡¯s authority on earth. And now it was wrecked to the extent that Lucius didn¡¯t recognize it at first in his dream.

    Why the hell was he dreaming of his homnd¡¯s destruction? And why did he feel...good?

    His expression must have betrayed his thought, and Silvan grinned toothly, ¡°I had my doubt about your identity because if you are truly the innocent angel of God they said you to be, you wouldn¡¯t havested this long. Besides, it was almost unthinkable that Anthor would agree to give up their beloved prophecy and head of Anthor Churches just for a respite.

    ¡°And then I remembered that you have a twin brother, so I wondered if Anthor has yed a trick on us. And this time, I finally got a chance to take a peek at your twin brother, who imed that he was the more...hedonistic Lucius Rosenfield, albeit wearing overly casual clothing that waspletely different from Lucius Rosenfield¡¯s usual mboyant dressing style. And I wonder, what will happen if I speak to the King about my spection? I¡¯m sure he would be ted to find a way to end the treaty.¡±

    Lucius clutched his hand into a fist behind his back and tried to maintain hisposure, ¡°so why haven¡¯t you, if you are so sure about your groundless spection? And where is your evidence? Merely my brother didn¡¯t dress well enough this time?¡±

    ¡°Even if I have any evidence, I wouldn¡¯t have let you know, would I? Besides, now that we are on friendly terms, things may not have to go that far. And if everything is settled as we have agreed, you will be able to go back to your country and reunite with your family.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve given you the photos of the scroll. What else do you want?¡±

    ¡°The content is not enough. I¡¯ve had my enchanters attempt to decipher it. It was encrypted with blood magic, so it has to be a member of the Ani family to use it and open the door. However, after you enter the sanctuary, everything will be more straightforward.

    ¡°The guide you found is working for me. He will hand you an enchanted dagger. You will wait until Dorian procures the blood. Now, I know my brother will not consume the blood in the sanctuary because he wouldn¡¯t want to be vulnerable in an unfamiliar ce, so you will stab him with the dagger when you find a chance. He won¡¯t die, obviously, but the enchantment on it will demobilize him for some time, and you will take the blood and deliver it to me. I will be waiting outside of the Sanctuary.¡±

    Of course, the only guide who knew how to the sanctuary would be corrupted by Silvan...Lucius thought irritatedly.

    ¡°He has three bodyguards. If I try to stab him, they will end me instantly. ¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about the bodyguards. Because one of them also works for me. He will take care of the other two before you know it.¡±

    Lucius crossed his arms, not even surprised anymore, ¡°you seem to have many friendly rtionships?¡±

    ¡°I have a knack for it, can¡¯t you see?¡± Silvan winked at him.

    ¡°Ok, I will do it. But first, I want my Durchville Witch blood back.¡±

    ¡°You have some nerve to ask for it.¡± Silvan eyed him with amazement, ¡°Why should I return something that Anthor may use to harm my kind to you?¡±

    ¡°Because you need me.¡± Lucius said calmly but firmly, ¡°And I don¡¯t care if you tell Dorian now that I am a traitor because your brother only trusts me, and he would never have thought I¡¯d betray him. Without me, you can forget about the Elder blood and the throne of Eternia.¡± Lucius paused for a second. Seeing Silvan contemting the options, he added, ¡°With Elder blood, you will be as powerful as a first generation, practically a demigod. You can destroy Anthor before we can even utilize that blood for anything. I want it because I need it to return to Anthor and get my family out of it.¡±

    Silvan shrugged, ¡°fine. I will give it to you after you deliver the blood.¡±

    ¡°No, I want it before we enter the Labyrinth.¡± Lucius crossed his arm, ¡°who knows whether you will keep your promise after you get what you want? Give me the blood or no deal.¡±

    The vampire clicked his tongue exasperatedly, ¡°It¡¯s a shame that you are not a vampire. You would have done so well in our society, seeing how treacherous you are.¡±

    Lucius rolled his eyes, ¡°yes or no?¡±

    ¡°Fine. The guide will give it to you along with the dagger.¡±

    ¡°How do you contact the guide without Dorian noticing, though? Are you very close to us now?¡°Lucius asked curiously.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget I am also a scion of Azrael and grew up with him. I know his tricks. The guide wille to me in his sleep, and no one will be alerted.¡±

    ¡°Fine. And don¡¯t try to fool me. I have one of the best vampire hunters with me. He will tell me if the blood you gave me belongs to some random neophyte or ogre.¡±

    Silvan¡¯s form suddenly shed; the next moment, he was mere inches from Lucius. He roughly grabbed Lucius¡¯s chin and stared deep into his eyes, ¡°I will hold my end of the deal, but you better not let me down, ¡®Julian.¡¯ Otherwise, I will make your life worse than this dream.¡±

    And then Lucius opened his eyes. He was staring into the top of the tent, and a sliver of sunlight dragged a long golden line on his sleeping bag. He realized that he was covered in sweat, even though inside the tent was rtively cool.

    Dorian was sitting next to him, reading the symbols on the scroll. He said without raising his eyes, ¡°Nightmare?¡±

    Lucius unzipped the sleeping bag and sat up, wiping the sweat from his forehead and mumbled, ¡°Great...I¡¯m all wet, and there is no water for me to shower.¡±

    ¡°The guide said thebyrinth has that effect on people. The closer one is, the worse the dream will get. And eventually, people begin to hallucinate once they enter it, seeing things that are not there. Some even went mad and got lost in it forever. Locals avoid that ce like the gue.¡±

    ¡°That sounds like some eldritch horror shit I read online. Are you sure that is where the sanctuary is? It doesn¡¯t sound very safe or rxing, which kinda defies the purpose of a sanctuary...¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not as bad if you are a member of the Ani family. Besides, we have the map, so we won¡¯t walk into some trap. You don¡¯t have to worry. It¡¯s probably just going to be some bad dreams for us.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not an Ani.¡±Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Have you forgotten?¡°Dorian nced at him amusingly, ¡°You are my bride. And that makes you an Ani.¡±

    ¡°Oh...¡± Lucius blinked nkly, ¡°That counts?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡±

    ¡°But like...how does it know? It¡¯s not like it has a registered center that checks our marriage certificate?¡±

    ¡°You are unbelievable.¡°Dorian stared at him as if amazed by how clueless he was, ¡°just ept it¡¯s all magic. Want some water?¡±

    Lucius epted the water bottle, took a big gulp, and asked, ¡°Why are you not sleeping?¡±

    ¡°Too many things on my mind. Besides, I reckon the dream won¡¯t rx me anyway.¡°Dorian sighed and put down the scroll, rubbing his eyes.

    Lucius yed the water bottle between his palms and inquired attentively, ¡°Buck said all Asmoidan¡¯s first generations were ¡®eliminated.¡¯ Is it true?¡±

    Dorian frowned, displeased, ¡°I forgot he was a hunter sometimes...Yes, he was not wrong. The sanctuary was built in case the Order decided to extend their ¡®purge¡¯ to the second generation or even further down the line.¡±

    ¡°Why? And why didn¡¯t Asmodian do anything to protect them if he is truly so powerful and horrible as you all suggested?¡±

    ¡°Because the other nine Elders sealed him out of this world first. The Order was only following their Elders¡¯ instruction to cleanse his influence in this world.¡±

    ¡°What did he do that pissed off all the other Elders?¡±

    ¡°More like...they feared him and what he was capable of. All the other nine Elders, albeit defeated or condemned by God and exiled out of the Elysium Realm, still wanted to live in this world and try to make it work. But not Asmodian. His hatred toward God and his followers was so profound and abysmal that he wanted to ruin this world, making it his own burning realm to mock God.¡±

    ¡°And yet he can stillmunicate with his scions?¡±

    ¡°All the Elders live through their scions. Their blood runs in each vampire¡¯s veins, and each drop of blood we drink, each breath we take, the scenes and people we see, the scent we smell, they can all feel and sense to some degree. So Asmodian still has some connection with this world through scions like my mother and me, though his ability to affect this world is greatly limited. However...if his scions be too powerful, he can break through the seal and return to this world.¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s why your mother renounced his ability after she had you. She was a powerful scion, and she didn¡¯t want you to live in a ruined world.¡°It all made sense to Lucius now. Why Dorian was so hesitant toe to the sanctuary, and why the former vampire queen didn¡¯t use her gifts to save herself. Though it was still amazing how much love a supposedly damneddy had for her son and this world. Were he in the same situation, Lucius doubted he would have been so selfless.

    Dorian didn¡¯t answer, though a streak of sadness quietly climbed up his eyes and brows. He was still hurting from his mother¡¯s death, and that was why he couldn¡¯t forgive his father and Devina. ¡°Someone has to pay for her death.¡± He said coldly as hatred shed in the depth of his stare. Lucius quietly inteced his fingers with Dorian¡¯s, and that softened Dorian¡¯s countenance. He gently kissed Lucius on the lips and whispered, ¡°Thank you for being here with me.¡±

    ¡°Always.¡± Lucius smiled as he promised.

    As Dorian said, the three bodyguards didn¡¯t look so good as they emerged from their tents. Their faces were pallid, and their eyes haunted as if they saw something horrifying in their dreams. And Florian was even worse. He didn¡¯t talk for the rest of the day, avoiding eye contact with Lucius.

    On the next day, Lucius had the same dream. The burning capital of Anthor, the melting people, the squirming, distorted figures, the pleading, the crying, the ecstasy of witnessing destruction and suffering...He felt like he was not himself anymore.

    ¡°You will find me. You wille to me. And eventually, you will be mine.¡±

    Familiar words sibntly crawled into his ears and licked at his mind. Whose voice was it? Rich, burningly hot, honey-sweet, and maically drawing at him. Why did he have an impulse to follow it, fall for it, and be seduced by it?

    On the third day of their journey, some jagged shadows simr to broken teeth lined the monotonous horizon, slightly shaking in the hot, rising air. And the moment theyy eyes on them, a strong boding feeling nketed each person¡¯s heart.

    ¡°We are here.¡± Dorian said solemnly, ¡°The Labyrinth of Mahoraga.¡±

 Chapter 44 The Labyrinth

    Not everyone who set out to find it had the luck toy eyes on the Labyrinth, as it had its own will and would only show in front of certain people.

    ording to local tales, a Persian emperor built the Labyrinth of Mahoraga a thousand years ago to worship an ancient evil god and hide his treasures. Thebyrinth was created to induce confusion and hallucinations, and only the one with the map could pass all the obstacles and reach the Sanctuary at the center. And even so, only the ones with the key could enter it.

    Except for the emperor¡¯s progeny, who held both the map and the key, anyone covetous of the treasure was often driven mad by all the hallucinations and lost in the Labyrinth forever.

    And now, a thousand yearster, the once majesticbyrinth was ravaged by indifferent time, relentless sun and venomous wind and reduced into an emaciated shadow of copsed walls and broken columns. Yet it still echoed the howling of lost ghosts.

    As they approached the ruin of thebyrinth, strange things happened. It was 4 pm in the afternoon, hours away from sunset time, yet with each step closer to the ruins, the heat in the air was receding drastically, and the sky became dimmer and dimmer as if the sun was extinguishing slowly. And by the time they were about one mile from the gate, the sky waspletely dark, without a moon or stars. The never stopping wind stood still as if congealed into something thicker and heavier, pressing against each traveler¡¯s chest.

    No one was speaking in the group as the ominous air loomed over their head. Lucius could feel that every cell in his body was screaming ¡°run¡± at him. As if something was written in his gene telling him danger was ahead. Ignoring it made him gravely unsettled and anxious.

    The entrance gate slowly revealed itself and stood like a great gaping wound in time and space. The giant arch had partially copsed and looked like an immemorial monster¡¯s bones protruding from the sand. Behind the gate and the derelict walls were rows after rows of serried remains of once majestic stone buildings, and even now, after being ground by a thousand years of hardship, they still looked intimidating and forbidding.

    The guide refused to go further, no matter how much they would pay him. Dorian and the three bodyguards went through the gate first. Lucius and Florian purposefully stayed behind, pretending to thank the guide¡¯s help. The guide quickly passed a small package to Lucius and promptly scurried away.

    Lucius felt the shape of the dagger through the fabric. It was very tiny. Something he could hide in his pocket. And the other thing was a vial of a familiar shape. He quickly shoved the package into his jacket pocket, exchanged a meaningful look with Florian, and hastened after Dorian.

    The broken walls and columns were covered with statues of blurry faces and contorted bodies as if some immemorial memory slowly faded from history. And those crude, muddy, obscure expressions contained more malice than any refined dark art, often shifting ominously the longer you stared at them.

    The passage was spacious in some ces and so narrow in other areas that one had to sidle through, and the rocks were right in your face. Lucius was especially nervous in those areas, feeling like he was about to be crushed by the looming walls. Dorian had surreptitiously grabbed his hand, making sure that he was following his every step, which was a pretty sweet gesture.

    The view at every turn looked very much the same, and not before long, Lucius had lost all sense of direction and even began to feel dizzy, albeit he attempted to remember their iing way. The dark sky and dim light only made matter worse. However, Dorian proceeded confidently and only paused asionally to check something on the scroll.

    The silence of thebyrinth wascerated by a stream of the giggling sound of a child. Everyone heard it, loud and clear, eerie and misced. There was no way a regr child would show up in a cursed, darkness-drenchedbyrinth in the middle of nowhere. And they also heard quick steps running around in some nearby alleyway. As Lucius turned his head and tried to identify the source of theughter, he saw a shadow scamper around the wall and disappear.

    ¡°What the...¡± One bodyguard, namely Selena, who also saw the child-like shadow,mented with an unnerved voice.

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen, and don¡¯t look.¡± Dorian warned them, ¡°No matter what sound you hear or who you think you see. Keep your eyes forward.¡±

    It was easier said than done. Shadows were moving ominously in their peripheral sight, and you never knew what would appear at the next turn. A weeping woman, a grinning man digging a hole, an old woman pulling out her intestines. Some of the scenes were so uncanny that even the vampires were spooked. Dorian and Florian were the only two who managed to keep their coolness, not reacting much to all the jump scares.

    Lucius couldn¡¯t remember how many times his heart almost jumped out of his throat. He did enjoy horror movies and haunted houses a lot, but they were only fun when he knew he was safe. And now, he almost peed his pants a few times.

    ¡°Are those real ghosts?¡± Lucius asked Dorian with a shaky voice after he screamed as a crazy-looking man ran toward him with an axe in hand but then dissipated a few steps away.

    Dorian answered, ¡°More like some condemned souls trapped in purgatory. But they are too weak to harm you.¡±

    ¡°Will there be anyone strong enough to harm us?¡±

    ¡°It has been a thousand years, and even the most vicious spirit should have worn away and no more than an echo of the past.¡°Dorian nced at him teasingly, ¡°You can hold my hand if you are scared.¡±

    ¡°Do I look like a chicken to you?¡± Lucius buffed up his chest and tried to walk as much confidence as he could muster up.

    As they went deeper and deeper into thebyrinth, the wall around them began to move and change. At first the change was very subtle. So subtle that you would doubt if it was your hallucination. The face¡¯s crude expressions shifted by just a smudge, and the positions of their limbs disced just an inch or two. And the ground was also no longer solid and trustworthy, as one of the guards¡¯ feet sunk into the seemingly hard granite floor as if stepped into the mud.

    Only when Lucius saw a sculpt weeping blood tears was he sure he did not imagine things. All the blurry faces around them were weeping, and the dark red liquid trickled down the stone wall as the limbs and torso began to twitch and convulse.

    ¡°Holy shit!¡± Lucius cursed in fright and hid behind Doria. The three guards took out their guns, and Florian unsheathed the silver sword that Lucius ordered from an enchanter for him. The four warriors formed a circle around Dorian and Lucius, rmingly standing against the drastically changing surroundings.

    Soon the contorted figures began to detach themselves from the ancient crumbling walls, and the dirt and sand shed like snow. Yet whaty underneath was a nightmare. Their grayish, slimy, and rotten skin was covered in thousands of tiny eyes, and their face had no eyes or nose but a mess of tumors, oozing ulcers, andyers of loose, wrinkly skin. They made a strange metal nging sound as they moved in an erratic but discordant way and swarmed in like a flood of maggots.

    ¡°I thought you said those ghosts won¡¯t be strong enough to harm us!¡± Lucius said with a grimace as the sight of those gross pus and blisters made his stomach churn.

    Dorian slightly opened his arm and shielded Lucius from the approaching things. He shook his head, ¡°these are not ghosts. They are a type of demon.¡±

    ¡°Demons?! You mean those things in the scripture with horns, tails, and stuff?!¡°Lucius asked incredulously. He thought Demon was one of those made-up things, like Angels and God. Turns out they were real and much grosser than he thought.

    The guards fired their guns and let the bullets rain like fire, and the silver bullets hit their soft flesh as if hitting mud, with a small squirt of pus popping out, and the flesh soon closed. Seeing the bullets didn¡¯t do much harm, two of the bodyguards, Serena and Drak, transformed into their beast form, with buffed-up bodies and huge, sharp, and powerful ws, and the bodyguard named Simon unsheathed his double swords.

    ¡°Buy me five minutes,¡± Dorian said to the guards. His irises began to glow that familiar ominous red, but it kept getting brighter and brighter, and the light became tiny spider-web-like streaks spreading to the skin around his eyes. Electricity red in the air around him.

    Florian was the first to wield his sword. The runes on his sword glowed a fierce yellow light, and the de morphed into a golden flower and quickly cut several closest demons into several clean and big chucks. Their cross-section is a myriad of densely packed eyes, some broken, oozing a slimy liquid. The meat chunks fell to the ground and soon melted away into puddles of murky-colored mucus.

    Serena and Drake also pounced on the demons with great ferocity, tearing their limbs apart and twisting their head off. But the sshing slime seemed acidic and left burn marks on their skin. Simon also joined Florian in his sword dance. But the demons kepting, and the eyeballs on their face and body shot out squirts of strong acidic poison with each twitching. Drake screamed as he was shot by the poison, and the skin on his thigh melted away instantly.

    There were too many of them, and not before long would they be overwhelmed.

    Dorian opened his wings and quickly shielded Lucius from several iing poison shots. He grunted quietly, bearing the excruciating pain from the corrosive poison.

    Lucius knew he couldn¡¯t do much then, but it still pained him to see Dorian take the pain for him, making him feel weak and guilty.

    What had he done for Dorian? All he had brought on him was danger, lies, and troubles. And yet Dorian still chose him when he could have had his brother, who probably deserved the prince¡¯s love more than him.

    The bodyguards and Florian bought Dorian some time, and he had been chanting beneath his breaths. The brightly burning red light traveled from his eyes to the center of his palms, and he cupped his hands together. The zing color radiated fiercely from between his fingers, like a seed on the verge of explosion, barely held back by the vampire¡¯s hands.

    Ere long, the air current began to swirl rapidly around Dorian, lifting his silky raven locks. He let out a growl and released the energy between his palms.

    Instantly a shockwave spread to all directions, and an invisible realm promptly expanded. As the boundary of Dorian¡¯s realm passed through, the demons all crumbled and fell to the ground, turning into the same gory mucus covering the ground like a pool of filth. His realm pushed and pushed and only slowed down when it reached a half-mile radius, and within it, none of the demons survived.

    It was a masterful parallel reality spell a dozen times more powerful than the one he used on Lucius¡¯s birthday when he made a small realm around them in which the water was breathable.

    The guards and Florian all stopped, panting heavily, trying to catch some breath. Serena passed a bottle of blood to Drake, as drinking blood could speed up the healing on his thigh.

    Dorian¡¯s eyes were still burning red, making him look like an ethereal being, but it consumed much of his strength. It felt like holding a small mountain over his shoulder because the bigger the realm, the heavier the burden. He said with exigency, ¡°We have to move fast. I can¡¯t hold this realm forever.¡±

    In the gores of the disintegrating demons, Dorian and the rest of the group moved swiftly toward the center of thebyrinth. As they pass through, the demons let out screeching and rhythmic howls, seemingly signifying something about the iers before they were destroyed by the realm.

    Lucius asked quietly, ¡°Are you ok? Your wounds on the wings seem pretty bad...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. They will heal soon.¡± Dorian reassured him, though he sounded a bit exerting.

    ¡°Is this normal? I thought Ani progenies with the map are granted safe passage?¡°Lucius scanned the minacious shadows of the unpredictable ruins wearily.

    Dorian¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°Perhaps something changed during the six years since my mother¡¯s death. Or...maybe it¡¯s because he knows that I never worshiped him as Ani should have, and I never made any offering to him.¡±

    All the demons seemed destroyed as they ventured on, and after onest turn, the Sanctuary was only two hundred yards away. It stood tall and forlorn like a dying king guarding his dpidated kingdom.

    But Dorian sensed something unusual before he could rx and shrink his realm. Something that didn¡¯t fit into the rule he set for his domain was intruding forcefully, breaking his spell.

    The next second, the ground began to tremble violently, and everyone was unstable on their feet. The next moment, the earth opened, and all the walls around them copsed and fell into the opened chasm beneath their feet. Lucius scrambled to Dorian¡¯s side, their hands sped tightly in the chaos. And Florian, Serena and Drake were separated from them by the drastically widening chasm.

    And then, a bone-chilling grumbling sound vibrated from the depth of the bottomless abyss, like a menacing sigh of a dragon from hell.

    Two red dots the size of basketballs lit up in the abysmal darkness, and then two more dots, and then more. The number of dots kept rising rapidly, and their size was growing bigger and bigger. Soon Lucius realized they were not growing bigger, but rather approaching them with the speed of sound. And they were not red dots, but nine pairs of gigantic eyes.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.

    In a gash of rancid, howling currents, the enormous thing burst out from the bottom of the pit and shot up to the lightless firmament. Dark scales radiated a lurid and oily iridescent. Each piece was as big as a man¡¯s torso. As everyone finally recovered from the onught of the malodor, they beheld a leviathan towering over them like a giant tree erecting in front of several inconsequential ants. Nine dragon-like heads bore down on them like the stare of the Devil.

    Lucius was seized by pure, primal terror, and his body petrified as if made of stone. He gulped and whispered, ¡°What is it this time?¡±

    And Dorian, for the first time, showed some fear, answered, ¡°Hydra. It is a Hydra.¡±

 Chapter 45 It Was All A Lie

    Hydra...The mythical creature who guarded the entrance of Hell, with nine heads that could grow back after being decapitated and poison that melted anything, even gold. But such a creature should have only existed in the stories, not in reality, and beholding the unfathomable enormity of the monster petrified everyone.

    Lucius gulped, ¡°is this an illusion? Are we dreaming?¡±

    Dorian replied with an unusually unsure voice, ¡°I¡¯m afraid not.¡±

    ¡°So...your mother didn¡¯t happen to mention a gigantic nine-headed snake?¡±

    Hydra¡¯s nine pairs of burning eyes nced at them threateningly but made no move to attack. However, Drake was overwhelmed by fear, and in panic, he fired his gun toward the legendary serpent.

    ¡°No!¡± Dorian warned in dread, but it was toote. The bullet bounced off Hydra¡¯s irond scale like a rubber ball.

    For a brief moment, everyone stood so still that even their hair didn¡¯t dare to move with the wind. And Hydra also didn¡¯t move. But the next second, all nine heads let out an ear-splitting roar, and one head loomed over the shaking bodyguard, opened its mouth, and two surges of liquid gold shot at Drake.

    Serena, Simon and Florian all jumped away in time to evade the downpour of venom, and Drake also attempted to evade it, but half of his body was caught by the beautiful but extremely deadly venom. The neophyte¡¯s scream echoed over thebyrinth like the wail of a banshee, and everyone watched in horror, witnessing his body melting away as if his flesh and organs were made of ice cream. The scene was too simr to Lucius¡¯s nightmare for the past two nights, and he vomited immediately.

    ¡°Put down your weapons! Don¡¯t attack!¡± Dorianmanded with a sonorous, imperative voice. He had noticed that the giant monster wasn¡¯t making any further attacking gestures, and he surmised Hydra was only guarding the entrance of the Sanctuary against hostile intruders. And if they show some submission and respect, perhaps they still get a chance to leave here alive.

    It took a lot of courage to obey Dorian¡¯s order. Their survival instinct was yelling at them to defend themselves despite the guns and swords were toys when facing such an eldritch horror. One by one, Serena, Simon, and Floriany down their weapons, and their eyes fixed on the nine slowly swaying heads.

    Dorian took out the scroll, bit down on his right hand and smeared his blood on the gibberish words, and soon the gibberish-like words on the scroll began to change. Each stroke swam across the two-dimensional space and formed into new words. It was ancient Persian, and the rhythmic, mystic, and musical words trickled out of Dorian¡¯s lips like a mellifluous chant.

    Queen Ani told her son the chanting was the key to opening the Sanctuary. And for the longest time, Dorian thought the chant was for a stone door or something like that. But now, he truly hoped that his spection was correct and the chant was intended for Hydra.

    The monster didn¡¯t react at first, but as the chanting echoed in the deadly silent night, several of Hydra¡¯s heads looked at each other as ifmunicating something, and they all looked to the head in the middle, which was the biggest head of all nine. ording to mythology, the middle head was the one who dominated all thoughts and ideas of other heads and greatly determined the action of Hydra as a whole.

    The middle head stared at Dorian with such indifferent coldness as if trying to determine if he was worthy enough. Ere long, he let out a low, thunder-like grumbling sound. His tower-like body began to sink back into the abyss, along with the nine still swaying heads.

    Dorian felt like his heart hadn¡¯t been beating so fast for at least a century, and he almost had a heart attack when Lucius whooped and jumped at him, leaving two big, wet kiss on his face, ¡°OMG you did it! Dorian you sang the fucking nine-head snake back to sleep!¡±

    His consort was obviously too ted that they were still alive to notice there were audiences...Or maybe he just didn¡¯t care anymore.

    Lucius legitly thought they were done for this time, that no miracle could have saved them from a hellish creature like that.

    Dorian pulled his overly excited consort from him but couldn¡¯t keep a straight face, ¡°I didn¡¯t sing him to sleep. The chant was the key.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care you are the best!¡± After eximing thest sentence, Lucius suddenly realized that the two bodyguards and Florian were all watching. He cleared his throat, suddenly coy, ¡°Well, I assume this is thest test? Will there be more?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but unlikely.¡± Dorian looked down at the chasm Hydra left behind, ¡°I cannot think of anything to top that.¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s get this over with.¡± Lucius smiled hopefully at Dorian, ¡°we are almost there.¡±

    And Dorian nodded, suddenly feeling very happy that Lucius was by his side at this critical moment.

    They marched toward the entrance of the Sanctuary from both sides of the chasm. The building was in much better shape than the rest of thebyrinth, and upon their arrival, they noticed the thick, heavy stone doors were cracked, and the crevice was big enough for a person to pass.

    Lucius was expectingplete darkness behind the door but walked into a pond of serene moonlight. It was a sublime rotunda, all made with sandstone. The pirs and the arches were almost a chaste white, and in the middle of the vault, among the intricate, beautifully crafted muqarnas, was a round opening gazing at the ck velvet sky. Though they didn¡¯t see a moon or stars on the outside, a ray of moonlight poured in through the opening and showered on a statue.

    It was the same statue as the one in the abandoned chapel, only taller and more... divine. The beautiful smiling man with a thousand snakes behind him stood like a deity. A circle of halo radiated behind his crown.

    ¡°Is this supposed to be the King of Hell? Isn¡¯t this a bit too heavenly?¡± Lucius mumbled as he followed Dorian walking toward the statue. The statue¡¯s gaze felt almost alive, which made Lucius uneasy.

    ¡°He was condemned because he imed to be God¡¯s equal, and Ani worshiped him like a god.¡± Dorian stood before Asmodian and looked around. He ordered the guards and Florian, ¡°Look around. My mother said Ani family ancestry hid one drop of Asmodian¡¯s blood somewhere here.¡±

    As Serena, Simon and Florian looked around, Dorian kneeled before Asmodian and began to pray to him for the first time in his life. He didn¡¯t say his prayer aloud but whispered between his breaths.

    Lucius stood next to him, feeling slightly underwhelmed. After all the madness in the Labyrinth, he was expecting something more.

    But perhaps it was exactly what they needed. A respite.

    After about an hour, none of the guards found anything. And one more hour passed, and Dorian was still kneeling and praying. Fatigue gradually caught up to the rest of the group. Serena and Simon settled on both side of the entrance in case anything came in, and they took out their blood bag to drink. Florian found himself a corner to eat some energy bar. Lucius sat on the floor not too far from Dorian, watching him pray with such concentration and devotion. Lucius vaguely thought that were he the King of Hell, he sure would have granted anything Dorian wanted by now. Thest time he saw another praying like this was his brother.

    The thought of Julian unnerved him a little. He wished he had a way to check if Julian was safely home.

    Just as they thought Asmodian probably wouldn¡¯t answer their implore, something subtle but abrupt happened.

    A trickle of blood dripped from the lip of the statue, and the crimson stained the white lips like a lurid lipstick. The guards gasped and scrambled up to their feet, and even Florian was stupefied. Dorian quickly stood up and caught the blood-like liquid with a small bottle.

    Lucius rushed to his side, the excitement clearly written on his face. And Dorian was also smiling with the simplest and purest happiness. He showed the small bottle to Lucius, and thetter was so happy for him that he hugged his husband tightly.

    They got it! They were saved!

    And the next moment, Dorian¡¯s body shook, and his smile froze on his countenance.

    Lucius took one step back gingerly, no longer smiling. A cautious and sad look reced all the bright colors in his eyes.

    On Dorian¡¯s abdomen stuck a short dagger. An enchanted one.

    Dorian looked down at the knife and the gushing blood with a look of disbelief and confusion, as if not understanding what was happening.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Lucius raised his hand, and the bottle containing Asmodian¡¯s blood was in his palm.

    Serena pounced at Lucius, but before she could even touch him, a gust of windcerated the air, and the next moment her head rolled to the ground, eyes still blinking in shock.

    Simon stood behind her, swinging the other bodyguard¡¯s blood away from his sword. Serena¡¯s head, still alive but couldn¡¯t really do anything anymore, cursed him loudly, ¡°Traitor!¡±

    Simon only smirked at her and then looked at Lucius and Florian, ¡°Well done. Prince Silvan thought you may not have the gut to do it.¡±

    Dorian¡¯s elegant features were contorted by pain and despair, ¡°you...you and Silvan?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry...I had to.¡± Lucius said calmly, though his voice trembled.

    Dorian¡¯s body no longer obeyed hismand and crumpled to the floor, and his head was the only thing he could move now. He stared at Lucius with such intense wroth and heartbreaking, trying to reach Lucius¡¯s callous heart with his eyes, ¡°I trusted you!¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have.¡± Lucius¡¯s tone was so distant that it sounded hollow and indifferent. He closed his eyes and turned around, no longer wishing to withstand the weight of the prince¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°Will he be a problem?¡± Simon leered at Florian.

    ¡°No. He is with me.¡± Lucius said curtly, ¡°Where is Silvan?¡±

    ¡°He is right outside. Along with others.¡± Simon said, ¡°We should go now. His Highness will deal with these two hereter.¡±

    ¡°Ok.¡± Lucius took a deep breath and strutted toward the exit. He didn¡¯t even look back. Didn¡¯t see Dorian¡¯s heart shattered into dust behind him.

    It was all a lie, after all.

    Just as Simon said, Silvan and a dozen heavily armed soldiers were waiting for him outside the door. He must have followed them into the Labyrinth and waited until they entered the Sanctuary beforeing out of the shadow. Evidently, Silvan was also a master of illusory spells, as He shielded all these soldiers from Dorian¡¯s senses.

    Simon went forward first and quickly whispered something to Silvan¡¯s ear, reporting what happened inside the sanctuary. Silvan seemed satisfied with what he was told.

    Seeing Lucius, a victorious smile bloomed on Silvan¡¯s countenance.

    ¡°Here you are, my beautiful angel.¡± He opened his arms, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you for so long.¡±

    Lucius slowly walked down the stairs toward the grinning devil, leaving the one he loved behind his back.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    This was the point where his life wouldpletely change once more. His heart was beating so loud that he thought Silvan must be able to hear it.

    Presently, he was about five steps from Silvan, his hand held at his back, looking bravely into the vampire¡¯s eyes.

    Silvan scrutinized every expression on his face, bore into the depth of his mind, ¡°You didn¡¯t disappoint me.¡± He said and extended his hand.

    Lucius replied coldly, ¡°Not now. I will give it to you once Florian and I safely arrive in Anthor.¡±

    ¡°And why do you think you can bargain with me?¡±

    ¡°Because I have something you want.¡± Lucius rejoined confidently, ¡°And I can pour that Elder blood on the ground any second.¡°He raised one hand, and the small bottle with blood was fully opened. With just one bit more tilt, the blood was gone.

    Silvan¡¯s smile only deepened.

    ¡°And I also have something you want,¡± Silvan said, raising his hand.

    The soldiers behind him moved to both sides, and a vampire soldier dragged a smaller, struggling figure and marched forward.

    Lucius¡¯s breath caught in his throat. Every drop of blood in his body froze.

    The smaller man with hands tied and mouth gagged was none other than his twin brother, Julian.

 Chapter 46 The Elder

    When Lucius and Julian were very little, they used to be so close. They liked to dress alike, speak in the same manner, fall asleep and wake up in the same room at the same time, and no one would go anywhere without the other one. One of their biggest hobbies was to pretend to be the other and confuse their parents, nanas, and servants.

    Lucius still had some of those earlier memories, like watching a movie. Every frame was painted with vivid and fresh colors. He remembered he could feel what Julian felt, think what he thought without any verbalmunication. A single nce was all they needed to convey some mischievous idea for a prank or an inside joke.

    When did that all stop? Lucius wondered sometimes.

    Was it since only Julian heard God¡¯s voice, and not him?

    And now, he didn¡¯t even know when his brother was abducted. Julian could have been killed andying in some random gully, and Lucius wouldn¡¯t have known.

    The very thought made Lucius shutter.

    Lucius clenched his fist and glowered at Silvan, ¡°You bastard.¡±

    ¡°This is just a little insurance on my part. In case you y some devious tricks on me. ¡°Silvan replied casually, ¡°Give me the blood, and I will release both your brother and his bodyguard.¡±

    Lucius glimpsed at Julian again. Those big hazel eyes were filled with fear and anxiety. And not far behind him, two other neophytes were holding Lewis, also cuffed and gagged, only those gleaming fury eyes denoting his feeling about the situation.

    Lucius cursed and handed the blood to Silvan.

    Silvan¡¯s eyes fixated on the bottle with such covetousness. He took the bottle instantly. A wide, victorious grin spreaded on his face.

    ¡°Let my brother go!¡± Lucius urged nervously. But Silvan only waved his hand andmanded, ¡°take him and his ve.¡±

    Lucius widened his eyes, but before he had a chance to resist, a neophyte appeared next to him, grabbed his arms forcefully and twisted them behind his back. Lucius cried out in pain and couldn¡¯t struggle much.

    Florian was about to fight back, but seeing the neophyte pressing his sharp w against Lucius¡¯s fragile neck threateningly, he dropped his sword and surrendered.

    Lucius cursed Silvan loudly, but it only made the vampire morecent. Silvan raised the blood against the lightless sky, and all his soldiers whooped and eximed.

    A drop of Elder blood. That was the most precious thing for a vampire. With its blessing, Silvan would easily be the new overlord of the whole vampire world, and no one would challenge his authority.

    However, that was not what made Silvan so happy.

    His true victory was that he had finally beat his arrogant, superior big brother Dorian, who he had always wanted to conquer and...possess... And now, he finally could lock the all-powerful Crown Prince up all to himself, forcing him to watch him take everything from him.

    The sickly, secret obsession he had been harboring since many, many years ago could finally be appeased and satiated.

    In the ecstasy of a full triumph, Silvan uncorked the bottle and down the whole content into his throat.

    In the pandemonium of the soldiers¡¯ hail, Silvan threw the bottle on the ground and dly waited for the short evolving period to kick in.

    Lucius lowered his head, appearing to be epting hisplete defeat. If onlySilvan looked closer, and he would have noticed Lucius was actually...smiling.

    Initially, a strange tingling sensation lingered at the back of Silvan¡¯s throat. He didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, thinking it was just a minor part of the symptoms of ingesting Elder Blood. But soon, the tingly gradually intensified, and within seconds it became a fire burning the flesh in his neck. He gagged, realizing something was not right.

    ¡°What...¡°He opened his mouth but couldn¡¯t form a word. Air passed his vocal cord without strumming the strings.

    Ere long, that burning sensation began to sink down into his stomach.

    Silvan knew that after drinking Elder Blood, he would feel extremely tired and sleepy, his heart wouldpletely stop for a while, and his body would be cold as if he was dead. But he never heard of losing voice or pain in stomach.

    A stream of snickering intruded his confused mind. He turned around abruptly and saw Lucius, who was still constrained by Silvan¡¯s soldier, wasughing with such smugness.

    ¡°How do you like the ¡®Elder Blood,¡¯ Silvan?¡± Lucius grinned toothily, and Florian was amazed by how those dainty features could convey such dark menace.

    Silvan wanted to scream, ¡°What have you given me!¡± But the pain in his stomach had be too much, and the moment he opened his mouth, instead of words, blood gushed out.

    The soldiers were all stunned and frightened, and a bodyguard rushed to Silvan¡¯s side to support his copsing body. Simon grabbed Lucius¡¯s shirt and pressed his sword forcefully on his neck, ¡°What have you done! ¡±

    ¡°It was indeed blood, but not an Elder¡¯s blood.¡± Lucius¡¯s cold smile didn¡¯t falter even when Simon¡¯s sword cut into his skin, ¡°people only know that if a vampire consumes the blood from a vampire higher than his ss with gain song ¡®blessing¡¯, but do you know what would happen if an upper-ss vampire, such as your highness, drinks the blood from a lowly ogre?¡±

    Drinking blood from a lower-ss vampire had the opposite effect of drinking from a higher-ss vampire. Rather than getting a blessing effect, they would have food poison. And an ogre¡¯s blood was poison and acid to an apostle, capable of burning and scarring their throat and wreaking havoc on their body.

    Silvan¡¯s eyes widened. Simon also panicked, ¡°but I saw you take the blood from Dorian Ashdown, and he took the blood from Asmodian!¡±

    ¡°Are you really this slow?¡°Lucius derided, ¡°There was never an Elder blood. The blood that came out of Asmodian¡¯s statue was just illusory magic. We have the ogre blood prepared from the beginning. It was all a show for you, Simon. We knew you were Silvan¡¯s bitch from the beginning, and we were counting on that.¡±

    ¡°¡¯We?¡¯¡°The implication put terror in everyone¡¯s heart. Simon, in fright, was about to cut Lucius¡¯s throat. But before he could do that, his expression froze on his face, and the next second, his eye bulged out of the sockets, his head exploded into a small blood flower, and his body copsed to the ground, still twitching as if a headless frog.

    Many soldiers gasped and were petrified as they saw the dark figure emerge from the entrance of the Sanctuary. The supposedly stabbed and bleeding-out Dorian stood tall and mighty, with his big, dragon-like ck wings spreading behind him. His gaze paused momentarily on Julian. Surprise shed across his eyes.

    Next to him was Serena, head still sitting perfectly on her swan-like neck, ncing at Simon with a smirk.

    Meanwhile, more prowling shadows emerged out of the darkness of thebyrinth environing them. Giant beasts with preternatural power and speed, with deadly ws that could easily tear neophytes apart. Werewolves from The Guardians surrounded Silvan¡¯s men like an irond wall. Chieftain Volke, the only one who didn¡¯t take his beast form, came forward on a great gray wolf, bared his sharp teeth and said sonorously, ¡°Drop your weapon and surrender, if you don¡¯t want to die.¡±

    The vampire soldiers didn¡¯t hesitate much before they made a unified decision. One by one, they dropped their weapons and raised their hands. The ones who were holding Lucius, Florian, Julian and Lewis all let go flusteredly, fearing retaliation.

    Silvan could barely move his head now as the poison of ogre blood had paralyzed him. If not for his bodyguard, he would have crumpled and prostrated on the ground. He stared at Dorian and Lucius with such intense gaze, his lips trembled and moved as if he was trying to say something, but not even a whimper came out. The poison had severely damaged his throat.

    Lucius curled his lip corners at him. A devilish smile. As if challenging Silvan, ¡°Now go ahead, tell Dorian about my betrayal.¡± And that infuriated Silvan to such an extent that the prince¡¯s eyes turned red.

    It all went as Lucius nned. The other day, after Dorian promised that he would trust Lucius, Lucius told him that Silvan tried ¡°recruit¡± him to spy on Dorian. In exchange, he would send Lucius back to Anthor after Dorian fell and Silvan became the new king. And he told Dorian that he feigned agreement, so they could decide what information they wanted to feed Silvan.

    He and Dorian had long suspected there were moles among their servants and guards, and Lucius had most of their names from his eyes and ears (the human ves) all over Vermilion Citadel. He and Dorian selected Simon as their apanist, showing much trust in him, so Simon could report what he saw and heard to Silvan, and Silvan wouldn¡¯t question the truthfulness of the information.

    Most information Lucius gave Silvan was real. Even the photo of the scroll was authentic. Which further muddled the water and made Silvan believe that Lucius had gone too deep into the machination and couldn¡¯t go back on his word anymore.

    However, Lucius didn¡¯t tell Silvan that Dorian didn¡¯t really n to get Asmodian¡¯s blood from this journey. It was a trap to lure Silvan away from his mother and the rest of his family and to gain evidence that he harbored ill intentions toward Dorian.

    The Sanctuary had been abandoned by the Ani family since thest pure-blood Ani, Queen Mitra, died six years ago because, ording to the historical records, Asmodian only answered the prayer from a pure-blood progeny. And since Queen Mitra had fallen and the map had been lost, there was no point in risking all the danger to return to thebyrinth anymore.

    Hydra and the demons, on the other hand, were two surprises to Dorian and Lucius. They thought thebyrinth only had some benign ghosts.

    Inside the Sanctuary were all a performance and a lot of illusions. Including Dorian being stabbed and Serena being decapitated. And just as Lucius hoped, Silvan was so heady about his grant and final victory against his brother that he didn¡¯t question what was given to him and consumed the blood immediately.

    Lucius was the one who suggested ogre blood. He found the consequences of drinking blood from a vampire lower than one¡¯s ss when researching the effect of drinking Elder blood, and the losing voice part caught his attention. He could not allow Silvan a chance to tell Dorian about the Durchville Witch blood.

    Throughout the whole scheme, Julian was probably the only part that was out of Lucius¡¯s calction. But it didn¡¯t matter because he had to focus on shutting Silvan up forever first.

    Lucius stood next to Dorian and said calmly and cooly, ¡°Now it¡¯s your chance to avenge your mother, Dorian. Take away the most precious thing, her most precious son, from Devina.¡±

    Dorian¡¯s eyes shed a smoldering wroth as he approached Silvan. The bodyguard was also shaking before the Crown Prince¡¯s rage, but his loyalty forbade him to abandon his master.

    Silvan returned his brother¡¯s gaze. They both hated each other so much, yet also obsessed with each other for so long that...it becameplicated.

    Silvan bared his teeth and mouthed a silent ¡°Do it.¡±

    However, to Lucius¡¯s dismay, Dorian shook his head after a prolonged moment, ¡°no, I won¡¯t kill you yet, because death is easy. You will face your judgment in court, for your crime of treason, attempted murder, and fratricide.¡±

    Lucius frowned. He quickly approached Dorian and whispered, ¡°You should not let him leave here alive. You know how wily he is. He will twist the truth in front of your father.¡±

    Dorian nced at him with a little surprise in his eyes. He didn¡¯t expect Lucius would encourage him to kill his brother without much hesitation. He said quietly, ¡°We don¡¯t have time now. The Hydra is still here. We should leave first.¡±

    Some of the werewolves transformed back into human shapes. They quickly put vampire cuffs on Silvan¡¯s soldiers and took away their weapons. Dorian had a few quick exchanges with Volk, and they agreed they should leave here before settling anything else.

    However, strange things happened just as they were about to march toward the exit. Only one way led to the Sanctuary, but now it was gone. A tall stone wall stood there as if it had always been like that.

    Did the walls move? When did it happen?

    Volk ordered his men to find another exit, but there was none. They were like a nest of ants surrounded by tall walls. Several werewolves tried to climb over the wall that sealed the exit, but as they were about to reach the top, suddenly, they were at the bottom of the wall again. It was like they were trapped in looped footage.

    Lucius¡¯s heart sank. He turned to Julian and Lewis and said urgently, ¡°Lewis, no matter what happens, don¡¯t let my brother leave your sight.¡±

    Lewis nodded. Julian asked anxiously, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know...¡±

    Dorian opened his wings and shot into the sky, trying to take a look from a high point. But he only managed to rise for about 20 feet, and all of a sudden, he felt an enormous, insurmountable force drop on him like a giant, invisible hand crushing down at a bee. He fell to the ground and almost broke the bone on his wings.

    ¡°Dorian!¡± ¡°Don!¡±

    Lucius and Julian both eximed. Lucius rushed to Dorian¡¯s side pell-mell and was only relieved a little when Dorian propped himself up. But as he helped Dorian to his feet, he noticed everyone was staring at something in the sky, mouth open, eyes gaping with horror.

    Lucius and Dorian looked up to see what was happening, and they, too, were petrified by what they saw.

    The starless ck sky was changing. A giant slitcerated the empyrean, and it opened slowly. Behind it was an immense nightmare of thousands of swirling, obscene colors, all squirming and moving toward a ck hole in the middle as if they were something gigantic and oily worms. It was bizarre but strangely captivating. The moment people saw it, they couldn¡¯t look away anymore.

    The mesmerizing maelstrom of indescribable colors covered the whole sky. And only after some minutes, Lucius realized it was a colossal iris.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.

    And that¡¯s when a rumbling, thunderous voice echoed in everyone¡¯s ears and minds. It was a voiceposed of a thousand different voices. The sound of the eternal me and suffering.

    ¡°Do you think my temple is somewhere you cane and go as you like?¡±

 Chapter 47 The Price

    As the voice echoed in everyone¡¯s ear, Lucius heard a second voice in his head.

    ¡°I told you, you wille to me.¡±

    Lucius felt like his heart paused briefly, and a cold chill prated his body.

    Vampires and werewolvespletely froze in fear, yet they couldn¡¯t move their eyes. An invisible w hadtched at their brains, inserting chaotic and hellish images in their heads, pushing them toward the abyss of madness. They felt like inconsequential insects in the presence of an entity so unfathomably immemorial and superior.

    Dorian stared into the eye of obscene, the opposite of the Holy Eye, and he knew who it belonged to.

    Asmodian, the Serpent and the King of Hell, the beginning of all human corruption and the seducer of souls. He was not entirely in this world, but the Sanctuary had a crack in space and time and allowed his power to seep in just enough tomunicate with his progeny.

    But why was he answering Dorian¡¯s previous prayer? It was not even a sincere prayer, and Dorian was not a pure-blood Ani.

    ¡°My lord, we have no intention to disturb you. Please forgive our trespassing.¡± Dorian quickly got down on one knee and lowered his head, showingplete submission to the Elder. He knew that everyone¡¯s life was in the hand of the Elder now, and he had to somehow find a way to get everyone out of there alive.

    ¡°My child, after all these years, you finally remember the source of your other half of blood.¡°The Elder boomed, cold andnguid, ¡°And yet, you came empty-handed and used my temple for your little trickery. Does your generation truly have no respect for your Elders anymore?¡±

    ¡°I meant no disrespect. It was all my fault. Please let others leave.¡± Dorian pleaded as cold sweat drenched his shirt, and his hand trembled, ¡°I will stay and ept my punishment.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Lucius eximed. He then bowed his head just as Dorian did and kneeled next to him, entreating piteously, ¡°Please! We didn¡¯t think we would disturb you. We will make sure we make sacrifices in your name after we go back. Please forgive us.¡±

    Julian was the only one who stood tall and straight, clutching at his rosary and praying to God loudly, showing no fear even in front of the source of evil. But Asmodian onlyughed, which was like nails scratching at metal, a harsh noise that was enough to tear through people¡¯s skulls.

    ¡°Your God has no power in my realm. Littlemb.¡± Asmodian¡¯s voice continued with derision and contempt, ¡°You may as well pray to me, and I may let you live.¡±

    ¡°God is everywhere, and you will not terrorize me,¡± Julian replied in unmovable resoluteness, ¡°you can destroy my body, but my soul belongs to my Lord!¡±

    ¡°Shut up, Jule!¡± Lucius warned through gritted teeth, ¡°Not now!¡±

    The giant eye rotated slightly, and a chuckle rippled across the sky, ¡°so this is the twin he chose. The divine one. Maybe I should keep you just to piss him off.¡±

    Dorian¡¯s heart pulsated frantically and begged, ¡°Please! He is not in all of this. I implore you, mighty Asmodian, I will stay and serve you. Please let the rest leave!¡±

    The eye rotated again, and this time back to Dorian, ¡°No one shall leave unless you pay what you¡¯ve owed me for more than a century, child.¡±

    Before the echo of his voice settled, the ground began to shake again, and a gush of rancid wind blew up from the bottomless abyss that Hydra left, apanied by a long, sibnt hissing. The nine-headed beast once again rose to the sky. Its gargantuan shadow nketed everyone¡¯s fear-struck countenance.

    Some werewolves and vampires panicked and frantically tried to climb the walls, to no avail. Several Hydra¡¯s heads shot venoms toward the soldiers who tried to escape and melted them like candle wax.

    In the pandemonium of screaming and begging, Asmodian¡¯s forbidding voice resonated, ¡°Youe to beg for my blood, but you are not worthy of it, for you¡¯ve never used my gift to you and never worshiped me. However, you are still my scion, and I will show you mercy. Make one sacrifice, and I will not only allow you to leave, and will grant you the power to rule the world.¡±

    Dorian asked apprehensively, ¡°What sacrifice?¡±

    Asmodian¡¯s eyes roved around leisurely, eventually pausing over Lucius and Julian, and he said menacingly, ¡°I will have one of the twins. You can only choose one to take with you. The other one will be mine, forever.¡±

    The words reverberated in Lucius, Julian, and Dorian¡¯s ears, and their eyes widened in shock.

    Meanwhile, the voice whispered in Lucius¡¯s ear, ¡°Who do you think he will choose? The love of his life, or the substitute?¡±

    It was something that was always at the back of Lucius¡¯s mind. He had wondered about such a situation many, many times, and he still couldn¡¯t predict the answer.

    On the one hand, he didn¡¯t want to die. And he didn¡¯t want Julian to die, either.

    On the other hand...Dorian chose him to be his consort, right? He meant something to Dorian as well, right?

    But was he important enough for Dorian to sacrifice his true love, who saved his life and his soul six years ago?

    ¡°Why are you doing this? Why won¡¯t you leave me alone!¡± Lucius screamed in his mind, cursing the voice. But Asmonidian only snickered .

    ¡°You prayed to me, didn¡¯t you?¡± The voice said each word in such a slow and sensual manner as if each syble had a grasping hand, ¡°and I helped you, twice.¡±

    ¡°Why me!¡±

    ¡°Because you are the evil twin. The unchosen one. The dark side of the moon. And you can say that I chose you because God didn¡¯t, and I want to see who will win.¡± The devil sighed profoundly and sounded almost wistful,¡± Eventually, you will see there is nothing for you in this world. No matter how hard you try, you will never be good enough for any of them. And I am the only one who chose you.¡±

    Lucius shut his mind, no longer wanting to hear the venomous words. Julian was saying something, begging Dorian to take Lucius and leave. Lucius didn¡¯t say anything. He just stared at Dorian, trying to catch every nuance of change on his visage.

    He had never seen such a painful, conflicting, and torn expression on Dorian¡¯s face before. The Crown Prince had always been collected, calm, and in control. But now he couldn¡¯t hide any of his thoughts. His eyes oscited between Lucius and Julian, and his lips trembled, ¡°Let them go. I will stay.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t work that way, child.¡± Asmodian crushed hisst hope, ¡°It has to be one of the twins. I will give you one minute. Pick one to take away with you. Otherwise, Hydra will devour both of them.¡±

    Two gigantic heads towered over Lucius and Julian, and the fetid smell made breathing hard. Lewis and Florian both panicked, they tried to rush forward, but another two heads blocked their way.

    Dorian felt like he couldn¡¯t breathe. Seconds ticked away quickly, and Hydra¡¯s eyes fixed on the two young men hungrily. His time was running out.

    But how could he make such a choice?

    Julian cried piteously, ¡°Don! Take my brother!¡±

    Why did Julian have to be so selfless and perfect? Thought Lucius absent-mindedly. Even now, he had to be the hero who would sacrifice himself for his corrupted, not-worthy brother.

    Perhaps...he should do the same. Perhaps he was a better choice as a sacrifice, considering how important Julian was to...everyone. But he didn¡¯t say anything. Partially it was because he wasn¡¯t ready to die when their n worked, and they had won, and there could have been a bright future in front of them.

    He loved Julian, willing to give up his life and go to Eternia for him, but he was not ready to die for him.

    And he also wanted to hear Dorian¡¯s choice.

    Lucius¡¯s heart fell into a dark, cold ice cliff when he saw Dorian avert his eyes, avoid Lucius¡¯s gaze in guilt, and turn to fix on Julian. The equivocation in those dark irises slowly settled, and before he even said a word, Lucius already knew he had made a decision.

    A decision that was not really surprising and perhaps...Lucius had always known. But it would break his heart nheless.

    Why did he think there could be any other choices?

    Lucius felt a lump in his chest, pressing against his beating heart, and he couldn¡¯t breathe. He was so stupid, letting himself be seduced by Dorian and lying to himself, believing that he could take Julian¡¯s ce in Dorian¡¯s heart. Although Dorian decided to give Julian up and settle for him, it didn''t necessarily mean that he loved Lucius now. Perhaps he just didn''t want to let any harme to the love of his life, even if it were at Lucius¡¯s expense.

    ¡°I...I choose Juli...¡±

    ¡°Dorian!¡± Lucius abruptly cut his word. He didn¡¯t want to hear the truth, so he decided to pretend he was the one making the choice. After all, that was all he ever had. An illusion of choices.

    Dorian was startled, and he met Lucius¡¯s knowing, heartbroken gaze.

    Lucius smiled at him, beautiful and brave, bright like a me in the deepest shadow, ¡°It was a good year, thank you...and don¡¯t forget me.¡±

    And then, he turned and dashed toward the abyss, and as he leaped into the bottomless pit without a single strand of hesitation, he heard Dorian¡¯s hoarse and despairing cry.

    ¡°No!!!¡±

    Dorian swooped toward the abyss the moment Lucius leaped into it, but a giant snakehead swatted him away like an insect, and he hit the wall of the Sanctuary so hard that the bones in one wing shattered with a crunching sound, and blood oozed out of his mouth.

    He fell to the ground with one wing limped on the side, yet he struggled up miraculously and once again dashed toward the pit. There was only one thought in his mind: this could not be thest time he ever saw Lucius. He had to make it right.

    ¡°Your Highness!¡± Serena blocked his way and tried to stop him from suicidal attempts, ¡°he is gone!¡±

    ¡°Get out of my way!¡°Dorian snarled. All his usual calm fell apart, and his eyes were filled with panic. And as he shoved Serena to the side, Volke took her ce and grabbed his shoulder, trying to reason with him, ¡°Calm down! You can¡¯t save him now!¡±

    ¡°No!¡°Dorian said forcefully and obdurately. His facial features shifted into sharper, menacing shapes, and his hands grew into deadly ws, but before he could attack, a person he couldn¡¯t hurt stood before him.

    Tears stained Julian¡¯s cheeks, but determination burnt bright in his eyes. He said with a shaky voice, ¡°Stop this! He wouldn¡¯t have wanted you to die with him. Do you want to make his sacrifice in vain?!¡±

    Dorian bared his teeth in rage, but soon that rage transmuted into something darker and deeper, tearing his inner organs asunder.

    And all he could remember was Lucius¡¯s smile. That smile was different from all the smiles he had given Dorian before, and Dorian knew that Lucius thought he had given him up.

    He chose to die thinking Dorian abandoned him, just like everyone else in his life.

    But that was not the truth! Dorian wasn¡¯t nning to abandon him! He didn¡¯t have time to finish!

    ¡°No no no no no...¡°Dorian mumbled as his knees gave out beneath him. All strength escaped from his body. He looked up to the evil, calcting eye in the sky as wetness began to rise to his eyes.

    How long had it been since he shed a tear? He thought he was incapable of crying anymore.

    ¡°Give him back...please!¡°He muttered, over and over, knowing it was hopeless.

    ¡°You have made your choice.¡± The Elder replied indifferently, ¡°And I shall grant your wish.¡±

    The giant eye in the sky closed, along with all the lights. Instantly darkness and silence inundated Dorian. He felt as if he had returned to the state before his birth, floating in a vast, eternal void of non-existence.

    He crumpled down, hoping that he was falling like Lucius. Many vivid memories shed before him. The first time he saw Lucius walking along the red carpet toward him, candlelight dancing over his soft, lustrous strawberry blonde hair, scared like a deer in headlight. The night after being attacked by Archie, Lucius clutched at him so tight as if he was his only safe haven. When werewolves attacked them, Lucius bravely bared his neck, asking him to drink. The exquisite smell and taste of Lucius¡¯s blood. The smooth, velvety sensation as Dorian touched Lucius¡¯s skin when they made love for the first time. Lucius¡¯s cheeky, mischievous smiles, the way he tilted his head, the way moonlight danced in the depth of his hazel eyes when swimming in the sea, the little dimple on his face when he ate ck Forest cake...Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.

    He remembered all the tiny details. Every single moment when his heart melted by his consort, little by little, day by day. Until one day, he became part of Dorian¡¯s life.

    But now, Lucius was gone.

    ¡°If you won¡¯t give him back...¡± Dorian said hollowly, ¡°Then I¡¯m not leaving, either. I can¡¯t leave him all by himself.¡±

    ¡°And give up avenging your mother?¡± Asmodian¡¯s rumbling voice resounded in the void, though less harsh and menacing.

    Suddenly a ray of light cascaded before him, and within that light, a ck feather slowly drifted down like a weightless elf dancing in the moon river. It was long and beautiful. A morous emerald sheen glided across the barbs with every twirling and movement. Harmless yet elegantly, itnded before Dorian.

    ¡°You have forsaken my power. Therefore, I won¡¯t give you my blood. However, I have something even better for you.¡± Asmodian¡¯s voice continued enticingly, ¡°This is Azreal¡¯s feather, directly pulled off from one of his wings. It contains a decent amount of his true power, and as long as it is on you, you will be as powerful as his first generation.¡±

    Dorian stared at the feather, feeling disoriented and unreal.

    Azreal¡¯s feather...How did Asmodian possess such a thing? Did the two elders fight in the archaic past?

    But it was all meaningless now.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want it,¡± Dorian said desperately, ¡°I¡¯m not leaving until you return him to me!¡±

    But Asmidian onlyughed at him, savoring his pain and regret, yet replied venomously, ¡°What makes you think you have a choice?¡±

 Chapter 48 The Chosen One

    ¡°Wake up.¡±

    Lucius smelled the fresh scent of wet leaves and grasses after a light spring rain and felt the tender warmth of filtered sunlight kissing his cheek. He opened his eyes and sawyers of green leaves weaved green heaven above his head, setting against numerous big, roseate, glossy apples.

    He realized that he was standing underneath an unusually enormous apple tree. Under his bare feet was a nket of soft mosses. Around him was an endless meadow filled with a sea of colorful, luxuriate wildflowers. One side was framed by the silhouette of rolling mountains with icing-like snow caps on the tops. On the other side, an emerald sea spread into eternity.

    Several bluebirds were chirping on the branches above him, and butterflies were flustering and chasing each other among the flowers.

    Lucius blinked, wondering if he was in the afterlife.

    He remembered vividly that he was falling, and then there was nothing. And the memory still brought about a throbbing pain in his chest, so fresh and real that he was almost sure he was not in a dream or some pre-death hallucination.

    He stood there for a while, submerging himself in the serenity of the wind, the scent of the apples, and the buzzing of the bees. He felt...peaceful.

    No pain, no memories, no shbacks.

    If this was death, then it was not so bad.

    Suddenly, he heard footsteps. He turned around abruptly and saw a man approaching.

    He was a breathtakingly beautiful man. Long, silky silver hair almost reached his shins, swaying behind him. His skin was almost translucent and glowing slightly under the sun, and his eyes...his eyes were not any color Lucius had ever seen. Those irises were an alluring, dreamy iridescent color, swirling and changing in different light and angles.

    Lucius was slightly stunned by the man¡¯s ultramundane beauty. However, as their distance shortened, he found those iridescent eyes familiar...

    Were they the same as the giant eye on the sky above thebyrinth?

    No way...

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± The man¡¯s smile was extremely disarming, ¡°You are safe here.¡±

    ¡°Am I dead? Am I in Hell?¡± Lucius blurted out. If this man was indeed Asmodian, the King of Hell, then it is only logical that he was in hell.

    He self-sacrificed to Asmodian, after all.

    The manughed, ¡°Does this look like hell?¡±

    ¡°No, but I don¡¯t know...maybe you and your demons nted more trees or something. The environmentalism trend is pretty strong...¡°Lucius didn¡¯t quite understand how he could make jokes under such circumstances.

    The man chuckled more, seemingly joyful, amicable, and harmless. But Lucius remembered the primal fear when watching that gigantic eye tear the sky.

    ¡°Do you like it here?¡°Asmodian sauntered toward the apple tree.

    ¡°I guess? It¡¯s beautiful...but where is this ce? If not Hell?¡±

    Asmodian sauntered toward the apple tree and put a hand on its strong, gnarl trunk, ¡°This is the second tree ever nted in this world, the ce where humans are ¡®seduced¡¯ by me. Can¡¯t you guess where this is?¡±

    Lucius gaped at the devil, ¡°...Don¡¯t tell me this is the Land of Aidan.¡±

    Aidan, ording to the Scripture, is the blessednd where mankind lived until they pissed God off and got kicked out.

    ¡°This is a memory of it. My memory.¡± Asmodian said nostalgically, his long fingers tracing each wrinkle on the wood tenderly.

    ¡°So...is this the tree of knowledge, and those are the forbidden fruits? Like they are really just...apples?¡±

    ¡°This part is...use human¡¯s word, bullshit in your Scripture.¡± Asmodian scoffed, ¡°There is no magic apple that can make obedient, mindless morons that your Scriptures made your ancestors to be suddenly able to think for themselves. You humans are capable of independent thinking from the beginning. However, this is where I taught some of the smartest first humans about the truth of this world and opened their eyes to more possibilities. And they started to question God¡¯s words, which didn¡¯t end so well for them. I guess the truth was twisted by one of the ¡®Saints¡¯ who wrote the Scripture to make it more...dramatic.¡±

    Lucius didn¡¯t know how much of it was true, though to him, Asmodian¡¯s story made much more sense than the Scripture, ¡°So God really exists? And you didn¡¯t turn into a snake and seduce the first men and women to eat the apples?¡±

    ¡°How can I seduce anyone in a snake¡¯s form? Don¡¯t you think it will be much more efficient if I look like this?¡°Asmodian opened his arm jestingly, ¡°Whoever wrote that Scripture must be high on something when they wrote it. And I¡¯m surprised so many people believe such nonsense.¡±

    ¡°So what¡¯s with all those snakes on your statues?¡±

    ¡°Those are not really snakes. They are appendages of my true form, but it is...not of this world, and not many humans can stay sane after seeing it. And those who survived had to twist it into something they understood in their mind before writing it down in the Scripture, hence the name ¡®the Serpent.¡¯ ¡°Asmodian paused momentarily and then asked amusingly, ¡°Any more questions?¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah, tones.¡± Lucius felt like he had to find somewhere to sit and collect his thoughts. He found a big root protruding from the ground and sat on it with a nk, confounded look, ¡°was that you appeared in my dreams, made that miracle happen, and then saved my life in the Sleeping Chamber?¡±

    ¡°You are wee.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand...¡± Lucius was having trouble putting his thoughts into words. Asmodian told him that he chose him to spite God, since God chose Julian. But why did it all happen after he came to Eternia? Why didn¡¯t he hear or dream anything about the devil when he was younger? And what was his use for him?

    However, the Serpent seemed to be able to understand his disorientations without any boration. Asmodian picked an apple from the tree and said, ¡°I know your world through all my scions. The first time Dorian Ashdown drank your blood, I felt your presence and caught a piece of your memory, and I recognized that you are the other twin. The one that wasn¡¯t chosen. That was how I found you.¡±

    No wonder why those dreams only started after that night they were attacked by werewolves.

    ¡°So...that¡¯s your only reason to pay so much attention to me? Because my brother?¡± Lucius scoffed bitterly, ¡°I should have guessed.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t believe you can be loved, do you?¡± Asmodian said gently as he strolled toward him.

    Lucius wasn¡¯t sure how to answer such a question. He was not ready to bare his heart to the devil.

    ¡°All my direct creations are dead, eliminated from this world because of some treacherous scheme among others, who tried to diminish me to ingratiate with God. My influence in this world is greatly weakened as there are fewer and fewer pure-blooded scions in my line. I need a new start, a Messiah who is strong enough to carry my will, be my representative in this world, and restore my glory.¡± Asmodian paused before Lucius. The brilliant sunlight radiated behind him and gilded his golden tresses, making him look like a mighty deity, ¡°and I want you to be my first generation.¡±

    Lucius blinked, ¡°are you serious?¡±

    Asmodian smiled down at him, ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I be?¡±

    ¡°First of all, I believe I justmitted suicide.¡±

    ¡°You are not dead. I have no use for a dead man, so I caught you.¡±

    Not dead...that meant he had to return to the world of the living, even though there was no ce for him in that world anymore.

    He used to think he found his ce next to Dorian, but he couldn¡¯t lie to himself anymore after Dorian made his choice.

    ¡°Even so, of all the vampires and humans that are smarter and stronger than me, you want ME to be your first generation?¡± Lucius said bluntly, ¡°I¡¯d say you are lying to me, but I can¡¯t think of a reason. You are the King of Hell, and I am nothing but Julian¡¯s brother...¡±

    ¡°I admit that it is an excellent bonus that you are God¡¯s new toy¡¯s twin brother, but that is not why I want you.¡± Asmodian sat next to Lucius on the apple tree root, surveying the distant emerald sea, ¡°I want you because I like you, and I see myself in you.¡±

    Lucius stole a few nces at the appearing harmless devil and wasn¡¯t sure how to feel about that, ¡°say...if I be your scion, what do I have to do? Do I have to sacrifice ten people to you every three years?¡±

    ¡°You will know what to do when you embrace my gift to you. I won¡¯t force you into anything.¡±

    ¡°But...eventually, you want to return to this world, right? Wasn¡¯t that why they killed all your first generation? To stop you froming back?¡±

    ¡°I need to return to this world because it was supposed to be a fair game between God and me. I have a im over this world, but they cheated me out of my right.¡± Asmodian was speaking riddle and did not attempt to exin in detail, which made Lucius even more suspicious of his intention.

    ¡°If I refuse, will you kill me then?¡±

    ¡°No, I won¡¯t. I will still release you back to your world.¡± Asmodian replied without hesitation.

    Lucius felt like he couldn¡¯t understand the Elder at all, and his bewilderment was written clearly on his countenance.

    Asmodian turned to gaze at him. His swirling, colorful irises drew Lucius in like a hypnotic swirl. The fallen archangel leaned in slightly and gently caressed Lucius¡¯s cheek as if they were lovers, ¡°You are heartbroken, aren¡¯t you? You can¡¯t find your ce in that world, and no one is on your side.¡±

    ¡°Florian is on my side.¡± Lucius insisted, refusing to let the devil poke the sore on his heart. However, he didn¡¯t flinch from the touch. At this moment, when he felt so alone and hurt, the affection drew him in like a warm me in an eternal winter night. And he didn¡¯t care if that me was from hell.

    ¡°Is he?¡± Asmodian chuckled, but his gaze was so intense and tender that it made Lucius¡¯s eyes water with a fresh grievance, and his voice soft like honey, ¡°You can deny all you want, but given time, you will see the truth. Your parents, your husband, your friends...they all forsake you, and the only one on your side is me.¡±

    Lucius knew he should reject the devil¡¯s offer without hesitation, but the truth was, he didn¡¯t hate Asmodian as he should have. The Serpent, who was supposed to be so evil and horrifying, had never hurt him. Moreover, he helped Lucius multiple times when he was in dire situations. He was probably one of the nicest people to Lucius.

    But Lucius couldn¡¯t agree to destroy the world just because his parents sold him, his country used him, and his lover abandoned him for another, could he?

    Some people had been through much worse and still loved the world. Did he really have the right to be so cynical and arrogant and put himself in a position to decide the fate of everyone?

    ¡°I can¡¯t do it...¡°Lucius closed his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m just a regr man. You chose the wrong candidate.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ok.¡± Asmodian took Lucius¡¯s hand and ced the apple onto his palm, ¡°My offer stands for you. Whenever you are ready to ept your destiny and embrace a power so immense that can devour the world, drink my blood.¡±

    The apple felt hot as if a fire was burning inside of it. Lucius opened his mouth, about to say something, but as he raised his head, Asmodian was gone.

    Lucius was startled. He stood up hastily, trying to find the Serpent. But suddenly, he felt the ground beneath his feet dissolve, and he was falling again.

    He woke up screaming, and realizing shortly that he was not in the blessednd anymore.

    He was looking into a familiar sky of myriad stars and a big, silver moon. Soft, fine sand cradled his body.

    His head throbbed, and his mouth was dry as if he hadn¡¯t drunk a drop of water for months. He sat up, realizing he was in the middle of the desert, and not a soul was in sight.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    He looked down at his right hand, where he was holding the apple Asmodian gave him. But instead of an apple, he saw a small crystal orb glistening mystically under the soft moonlight. And in the middle of the orb was some crimson liquid.

    Though still giddy and disoriented, Lucius instantly knew what that liquid was.

    Asmodian¡¯s blood.

 Chapter 49 Did It All Mean Nothing?

    The Labyrinth of Mahoraga dispersed around the trapped vampires and werewolves like a mirage, and as everyone looked at each other in confusion, Julian eximed and ran to a dark figure.

    Dorian disappeared before everyone¡¯s eyes only several minutes ago. But now he was kneeling in the middle of the empty field where the sanctuary stood moments ago. To everyone¡¯s astonishment, two giant wings spread behind him, much bigger than his original wings, and were covered withyers of beautiful ck feathers with a lustrous emerald sheen. They were such magnificent wings that the mere sight of them was enough to induce venerable feelings in the viewer¡¯s heart.

    Serena gaped in awe, ¡°Those wings...they look so much like Azreal¡¯.¡±

    Volke was also astonished by the new development, but he had to focus on ordering his soldiers to maintain control over the vampires, though it seemed like all of Silvan¡¯s soldiers were also overawed by the Death Angel¡¯s wings.

    Silvan,pletely paralyzed by the poison now and lifted from the ground by two werewolves, also gazed at his brother. A gleaming, acidulous light in his eyes that looked almost like gloating. He knew his brother well and could imagine how Dorian felt when the price he paid for those wings was his consort.

    Florian stood not too far, and his dark eyes were burning with a frigid, controlled anger.

    ¡°Is it worth it?¡°The ex-hunter spoke quietly, earning a curious look from Volke, who stood near him,

    As Julian approached, he felt a tingling on his skin. An ineffable energy buzzed in the air, radiating from the stationary vampire prince. His countenance was hidden in the shadow of several strands of front hair. Julian crouched down gingerly and called in a whisper, ¡°Don?¡±

    Dorian didn¡¯t reply, didn¡¯t move.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Julian tentatively put a hand on Dorian¡¯s shoulder, feeling that vibrating energy goes through his body like an electrical current.

    ¡°Are you ok? Are you hurt?¡± Julian inquired worriedly.

    ¡°Leave me alone.¡°Dorian¡¯s voice sounded hollow and exhausting.

    ¡°Please...¡°Julian said sorrowfully, ¡°I know how much pain you are feeling now, but don¡¯t push me away.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°We have to leave...it¡¯s not safe here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving without him,¡± Dorian said, ¡°I will wait.¡±

    ¡°Wait for what? He won¡¯te back.¡± Tears glided down Julian¡¯s cheek. He gently held Dorian¡¯s hand in his palms and continued, ¡°He sacrificed himself so that we can live.¡±

    ¡°I have to fix this...¡°Dorian finally rosed his face, and the emptiness in his eyes pang Julian.

    ¡°We need to move.¡± Volke said as he approached them, ¡°Before the Elder has other ideas.¡±

    But Dorian was not responding to anything. Eventually, Julian stood up and said, ¡°I will stay with him here for a while. We can meet back in the town.¡±

    Lewis heard his words and signed, knowing he had to stay in to protect Julian. He nced over at Florian curiously, ¡°You look familiar. Are you the vampire hunter Florian Edelstein?¡±

    Florian said, ¡°Unfortunately, yes.¡±

    ¡°Gosh, everyone thought you were dead!¡± Lewis¡¯s face lit up with mild excitement and interest, ¡°how did you end up here?¡±

    ¡°I serve the Crown Prince Consort,¡± Florian said tly.

    ¡°So...what¡¯s your n now?¡°Lewis said cautiously, ¡°Your master is gone. I don¡¯t suppose you will want to return to Eternia?¡±

    Florian¡¯s eyes fixed on the ground where the chasm existed only moments ago, but now only a t surface of sand remained. His hand pressed against the small vial in his pocket.

    It was Lucius¡¯sst request to him.

    ¡°If something goes wrong, and I don¡¯t make it. Take this and go to Anthor.¡°Before they entered the Labyrinth, Lucius said to him hushedly and hastily and shoved the Durchville Witch¡¯s blood into Florian¡¯s hand. And now, it was the only thing left for him to remember the man with beautiful hazel eyes.

    Rage imploded in his chest, and he wanted to piece Dorian Ashdown¡¯s heart with his sword. His hand trembled slightly, but his countenance was still calm as the deepest water.

    ¡°I have my ce to be,¡± Florian said curtly, turned and walked away.

    He would ensure that Lucius¡¯sst wish was fulfilled and make all the vampires pay for what they¡¯ve done to Lucius, himself, every enved human and the ones he lost in the war.

    Soon Volke and his soldiers agreed to Julian¡¯s suggestion and departed to the town. Serena decided to go with them to keep an eye on Simon and Silvan, but she left them some necessary supplies and two camels to survive in the desert.

    In a couple hours, only Julian and Lewis were left, staying at Dorian¡¯s side. The sun came and went, and then another day passed. The Labyrinth never appeared again. By the third day, Lewis became anxious.

    ¡°We have to leave today so we don¡¯t run out of food and water,¡± Lewis said firmly to Julian, ¡°by the end of today, I will knock you out and carry you away if necessary.¡±

    Julian was also running out of ideas. The vampire didn¡¯t move nor speak for two days as if he had been transferred into a statue.

    Had Dorian and Lucius fallen for each other? He wondered. And the thought made him a little antsy.

    He was the one who gave Dorian up when he chose to take the vow and ignore the feelings he had for the vampire. Laying with another man was a sin, and he couldn¡¯t sacrifice his belief and his love for God for some transient mundane pleasure. But knowing that Dorian¡¯s love might belong to another now still tormented him in unexpected ways.

    Perhaps in some secret, selfish corner of his mind, he expected Dorian to always look at him the same way he did six years ago. As if he was the most precious thing in the world. He had thought...Dorian would have taken up his offer in exultation when he suggested switching his position with Lucius.

    He didn¡¯t expect the vampire to find himter that night and told him that he had developed feelings for his twin brother, and that their marriage was real.

    And now...now Lucius died for them...for him...

    Julian signed wistfully. He returned to Dorian, kneeling before him and said quietly, ¡°Don, please, this will not help anyone.¡±

    ¡°He thought I betrayed him.¡± Dorian¡¯s mask of stone cracked, and bone-deep grief contorted his elegant features, ¡°how did I let things go this far?¡±

    ¡°It was not your fault...¡±

    ¡°Then whose fault was it?¡±

    ¡°It was the devil¡¯s fault. He was the one who forced you to make impossible choices.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t you pray to your God?¡± Dorian asked with thest sliver of hope, ¡°Lu is your brother. Surely your God will help you if you pray to him?¡±

    ¡°I wish it was that easy...¡± Julian lowered his eyes in regret, ¡°He only answers my prayer when it is not for my personal gain. I had prayed nonstop for two days, but he was silent.¡±

    ¡°And why would he help me, the devil¡¯s scion, right? Especially when we bothmitted sinful acts by your standard.¡± Dorian said cynically, and anger once again burnt bright on his visage.

    Julian cupped Dorian¡¯s cold face between his hands, gently lifting his gaunt face and gazing deeply into Dorian¡¯s eyes.¡°You may have lost my brother, but you still have me,¡± Julian said softly, ¡°I won¡¯t leave you to despair.¡±

    ¡°And then go back to Anthor and pretend I never existed in your life?¡± Dorian scoffed acerbically.

    ¡°I will not leave you alone this time. I promise.¡± Julian paused briefly, his long eyshes flustered, appearing a little sheepish, ¡°I...I¡¯ve missed you too. All these years, I¡¯ve never really forgotten about you.¡±

    Dorian stared at him. If it was a year ago, he would have been the happiest man in the world hearing Julian say these words. But now...

    Now, when he gazed at the angelic face, he only noticed that there was no dimple on one side of that face, and he felt an acute twinge cut his inner organs.

    Time slowed down between their connecting gazes, and words were lost. Julian saw the agony in Dorian¡¯s soul, and he wanted to heal it. He leaned forward, slightly half-closed his eyelids, feeling pulled in by the affections he felt six years ago but never dared to act upon it.

    But at thest inch, Dorian turned his face to one side. It was such a subtle movement, but the message was loud and clear. Julian paused. Redness suffused his cheek as he felt embarrassed and stupid.

    ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Dorian murmured, ¡°It¡¯s toote for us, Jule.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry...I didn¡¯t mean to...¡± Julian quickly stood up, drew the sacred eye symbols over his forehead and prayed in shame.

    Dorian also stood up and hid the wings away. His eyes roved around and saw no trace of the Labyrinth¡¯s existence. Even the chasm that engulfed his consort was gone. Lucius just disappeared as if he had never existed. He couldn¡¯t even give him a proper burial.

    ¡°I wille back for you, Lu...Even if I have to go to hell myself...¡°Dorian vowed quietly to the empty air. His eyes were dry, and his heart was a ck hole. But he had to carry on, for he couldn¡¯t stop just yet.

    He had to finish what he started, so Lucius¡¯s death wouldn¡¯t be in vain.

    Lucius wandered in the desert for almost a day before meeting a group of travelers on camels. By then, he was so thirsty, starving, and overheated that he was on the verge of passing out. The travelers gave him water and food and agreed to take him to the nearest town.

    As they camped by the fire, a young woman named Yasmin, the only one who spoke Lucius¡¯snguage in the group, came to his side and offered him soup and naan for dinner. Lucius gratefully epted it and gave her a charming smile that made her blush, and he said, after taking a seep from the bowl, ¡°This is the most delicious thing I¡¯ve had this year.¡±

    She sat beside him, studying his face with curiosity, ¡°Why were you traveling alone in the desert?¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t alone initially, but I got lost,¡± Lucius said quietly, nibbling at the naan.

    ¡°Where are you going after we take you to the town?¡±

    That question had been hovering in Lucius¡¯s mind since he was...released, and it dreaded him gravely.

    To Dorian, Julian, and everyone else, he was dead. It was the best chance for him to just...go away. To sever all the pain, schemes, lies andplications and start afresh as if he didn¡¯t have a past. And perhaps, his heart would heal in some distantnd, and he would finally find peace.

    But could he really let it all go? Could he really forget?

    Did he even want to let it go?

    All those memories, some sweet, some bitter. They risked their lives together,ughed together, danced together, fought together, and plotted together...did it all mean nothing?

    Did he ever have a chance?

    No...Lucius was angry. So angry that he wanted to scream at Dorian. But meanwhile, he also knew he didn¡¯t have the right to me him because he was notpletely innocent in the game of betrayal.

    Lucius was not the kind of person who would leave quietly and leave a nostalgic memory behind. He wanted closure. Even if that closure was something going to break him further.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to find my husband.¡± Lucius replied with a wry smile, ¡°And then, I¡¯m going to punch him in the face.¡±

 Chapter 50 Its Time to Pay

    Dorian woke up in a wall of darkness. The tail of the dream hadn¡¯t fully ebbed away, and for a moment, he was ok. He habitually extended his arm to the side, searching for the warm body that was usually next to him. But he only found a cold bed sheet.

    The coldness brought him back to reality, and he wished he wasn¡¯t awake. It was another hoary day, nothing different from yesterday.

    He sat up, feeling each muscle heavy like a tombstone. There was still a lot to do, and he should return to Eternia as soon as possible. But all he wanted was to go back to thefortable oblivion. Exhaustion had never been so unbearable and incapacitating.

    Someone was knocking on the door. It was Serenaing to tell him that Darius had opened a portal and arrived with Lord Durchville secretly. They were waiting to see him and discuss the subsequent n when they returned to Eternia.

    Dorian knew they had to act fast before any information regarding Silvan¡¯s condition leaked to his father. Now that he had Azreal¡¯s feather, it was finally time for him to take control over Emberton and the court.

    They cleared the inn of other guests and held the meeting in the diner. As Dorian entered the room, Volke, Darius, and Lord Durchville exchanged a concerned look, noticing how peaky and disheveled the Crown Prince was.

    Volke had rted what happened in the Labyrinth to Darius and Durchville, which shocked them both. But before they had a chance to condole with him, Dorian began toy out his n for deposing his father and taking over Emberton with the least blood-shedding.

    ¡°We cannot let Silvan return to Emberton before everything is settled. Chieftain Volke, can I trust you to keep him locked up somewhere safe?¡±

    Volke swirled the amber liquid in his ss and replied casually, ¡°of course. Locking up vampires is always something I enjoy.¡±

    Dorian then turned to Durchville, ¡°after Silvan left, who is in charge of Emberton¡¯s defense?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Osman.¡± Durchville replied, ¡°Silvan has been wooing his daughter. There was talk of marriage. I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t surrender easily.¡±

    Dorian pondered his options, and then turned to Darius, ¡°how many soldiers can you transport through your portal?¡±

    ¡°If I can get two other Zorvan line Apostles to help me, around two thousand.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡°Dorian nodded, ¡°I need one thousand people to seal all the exit of Emberton, make sure no one leaves or enters. And the rest of them should stay mobile, preparing to take over the Citadel.¡±

    ¡°What about the Royal Army stationed inside the city?¡±

    Dorian said curtly, ¡°I can deal with them.¡±

    ¡°How? There are at least five thousand guards in the city, Vermilion Citadel alone has more than half of them. How do you n to subdue all of them by yourself?¡±

    ¡°I have my ways.¡°Dorian said curtly, ¡°in two days time, there will be a parade in Devina¡¯s name for her birthday, and my father will certainly be present to review it. Most of the guards will aggregate in one ce. That is the time I will make my move. ¡±

    The n was set, and Volke and Durchville left to rest. Darius stayed behind. He asked tentatively, ¡°So...what are we going to say about Lucius? You came in the name of your honeymoon. It will be unusual to go back without him.¡±

    Dorian felt another throbbing pain re in his chest.

    It was supposed to be their honeymoon.

    Fragments of memory resurfaced. Lucius strolled along the narrow streets with such an agile and spright gait. Lucius was so touched by those paintings in the Grand Gallery that he shed tears. Lucius gazed at him with such beautiful lights in his eyes as he was ying the cello...

    Dorian had to force himself to stop the train of thought. He said numbly, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°We can say Silvan killed him.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to put a charge that he didn¡¯tmit on him.¡±

    ¡°Or...¡± Darius studied Dorian¡¯s countenance carefully, ¡°I heard that his twin brother is here. We can...¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Dorian cut his words staunchly before he could finish.

    Darius sighed, sensing Dorian was in grave pain but too stubborn to show it, ¡°do you want to talk about it?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Darius nodded, knowing there was nothing he could say to make it better for his childhood friend, so he didn¡¯t ask about it anymore.

    Before dawn, when the small town settled into a somnolent quietude, Dorian left the town and wandered aimlessly. He didn¡¯t use his wings but climbed up a nearby dune and looked in the direction of thebyrinth. The gnawing feeling grew stronger and stronger within him, crawling under his skin, and driving him mad. It was a feeling he hadn¡¯t felt for almost a year, and now it returned with full force.

    ¡°Don.¡±

    Dorian quickly hid the knife in his sleeve and looked back. Julian was there, watching him with worried eyes.

    When did hee? Howe Dorian didn¡¯t hear him at all? Was he really this fucked up?

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you for a whole day, so I thought I¡¯de and check on you.¡± Julian said softly, his gaze caring and gentle, ¡°How are you feeling?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Sorry...stupid question...¡± Julian lowered his head as grief overcast his ivory face, ¡°I thought...you may want somepany. Since we alone know each other¡¯s pain.¡±

    Silence stretched between them. And after some minutes, Dorian looked away.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t like him at first. In fact, I was angry at him. Because he was not you.¡± Dorian said as he surveyed the edge of the firmament, where the sky slowly turned into a deep blue, ¡°and I ignored him for such a long time, pretending he didn¡¯t exist, choosing not to care how dangerous it was for him to survive in a vampire castle. At the time, he was just an imposter to me. And he had to put himself in grave danger to get my attention. Eventer...after I knew him better, it still took me months to finally ept him. I wish I treated him better.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want him to do that for me. I would never have wanted him to make such a sacrifice. Since when we were younger, he had always been protective of me. If we got into trouble, he always took the me. And if there was one time when we were only 8 years old, a much older kid tore my favorite book apart, and Lu actually got into a fist fight with him, got a ck eye from that kid¡¯s punch, but he managed to also leave several big bruises on the bully, who was almost twice his size.¡± Julian said with a sad, reminiscent smile.

    Dorian rarely heard Lucius talk about his childhood, and Julian¡¯s words made him want to smile, but before it could form on his lips, the hollowness wiped it away.

    Julian came closer, putting a tentative hand on Dorian¡¯s arm, ¡°I¡¯m sure God will not let him trap with the devil. I will pray for his soul for the rest of my life.¡±

    Dorian didn¡¯t reply. He knew Paradise would be thest ce he could find Lucius, as his consort never believed in God.

    ¡°We will part tomorrow, and I don¡¯t know when we will meet again,¡± Dorian said and looked down at Julian, a dull ache in the back of his throat, ¡°take care, Jule.¡±

    ¡°So soon?¡°Julian was surprised, ¡°do you...do you want me toe with you?¡±

    ¡°To Eternia?¡± Dorian frowned, ¡°of course not. It¡¯s too dangerous.¡±

    ¡°But Lu was there for a whole year.¡±

    ¡°You are not Lucius.¡°Dorian shook his head and said resolutely, ¡°You won¡¯t make it that long.¡±

    ¡°You underestimate me, Don. I¡¯m not that fragile.¡°Julian took one more step toward him, ¡°And...Lu and I, we are twins. We have the same soul. If he could do it, so can I.¡±

    ¡°And give up your belief, your God, and your position?¡±

    Julian hesitated for a moment. He then said, ¡°Perhaps that is my calling. Vampires can be saved, too.¡±

    ¡°You see, that is where you and Lucius are different.¡± Dorian sighed, ¡°he understood that we don¡¯t need to be ¡®saved.¡¯ Because there is nothing wrong with us.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not here to argue with you. I just...want to make sure you are ok.¡±

    ¡°Go home, Julian.¡± Dorian turned to leave and gave Julian a long, saddened look, ¡°Don¡¯t risk the life he had sacrificed himself for.¡±

    A throe rang in Julian¡¯s heart. He called Dorian again, ¡°You are rejecting me now, but why chose me over my brother in thebyrinth?¡±

    Dorian halted his steps, and his shoulder stiffened. After a long, dreadful pause, he rejoined slowly without turning his head, ¡°We have had our chance, Julian. You gave it up, because you were ashamed of who I am and didn¡¯t want to take the risk. But Lucius was different. He stood by me no matter what happened and was willing to do whatever it took to make our marriage work. He didn¡¯t try to save me but only to be with me. In thebyrinth, I chose you to leave because I owe you my life, and I still care about you. But I was going to stay with him. I thought, were we trapped in hell, there would still be hope as long as we were together, and we would have found a way out. But he didn¡¯t give me the chance.¡±

    And with that, the Crown Prince left, leaving a speechless and wistful Julian behind.

    Lady Devina¡¯s two-hundredth birthday was celebrated as one of the greatest pageants of the year. Some would say that she got the treatment that only a queen deserves. An hour before midnight, the King apanied her to the Imperial Wall, allowing his subjects to admire them in person.

    The long, morous parade of floats and performers marched along Meridian Avenue, the longest and widest street that cut through the capital city, and passed in front of the Vermilion Citadel for the King and the Royal Concubine to inspect. Most of the citizens crowded along both sides of the street and gathered in the great square before the Citadel to watch the performances that exceeded any human imagination, drinking and cheering with the royal family.

    Rumor said Lady Devina was concerned that her eldest son Silvan didn¡¯t return for her birthday before the celebration, but she showed no apprehension during the parade. She dressed in a dazzling red velvet gown and audaciously wore the ruby crown Queen Ani used to wear, unting her privileged royal status.

    However, no one anticipated that night would be written into a page of Eternia¡¯s history, and Devina certainly didn¡¯t expect that was herst glorious moment.

    At midnight, when the bell rang and the resplendent fireworks lit up the ck firmament, a mysterious figure appeared from thin air and hovered above the Imperial Wall. Many drone-carried cameras immediately focused on the figure, and a beautiful but solemn face was broadcasted on all the big screens across the city.

    It was Crown Prince Dorian Ashdown, but he looked...different.

    Unearthly energies were pulsing underneath his skin like cascading molten gold, and his eyes glowed brighter than the sun. Two gigantic ck feathered wings spread behind him. Exquisite colors of jade, turquoise and amethyst lusters rippled across each feather with each wave of the wings, breath-taking and celestial.

    He was already one of the most powerful Apostles in the royal family before his trip to Esmore. But now, he was radiating with ultramundane power, almost godly.

    Many were awestruck by his appearance, especially those who belonged to Azreal¡¯s bloodline. ording to historical records, only Azreal¡¯s first generation had feathered wings, and the rest had regr membrane wings. So how was it possible for Dorian to possess such a pair of magnificent wings?

    King Cosmo gawked at his eldest son with disbelief and fear. He saw the cold hatred burning bright behind Dorian¡¯s indifferent countenance.

    The Crown Prince opened his lips and began to list all the crimes Devina and King Cosmomitted against Queen Mitra Ani and Eternia. Berating them for betraying and murdering a well-loved queen and a loyal and virtuous wife; murdering their daughter, who was just an infant, just to frame the queen; and weakening the country they vowed to serve by ravaging the nation with decades of war, sending innocent young vampires to unnecessary death, persecuting and murdering anyone who voiced different opinions, disregarding people¡¯s hardship and raising taxes for their own ambition and luxurious lifestyle.

    As each word fell from Dorian¡¯s lips, the King¡¯s emaciated countenance was distorted with rage. He bellowed the guards to shoot Dorian with one of the high-energy cannons stationed on the wall. It was one of the deadliest weapons in the country, enough to vaporize any Apostle in milliseconds. The whole country was shocked by the King¡¯s disy of virulent brutality against his own son, and watched in consternation at the celebration-turned-public execution.

    Dorian didn¡¯t even flinch as the zing bright light of death inundated him. Many civilians cried in horror, and some didn¡¯t dare to look. However, the death light soon was absorbed by its target as if it fell into a ck hole, and as the blinding light diminished, Dorian was still there, unscathed, and glowed even brighter, overpowering the full moon.

    People all gasped at the unexpected and unimaginable development. The King and Lady Devina both panicked, their faces ashen in fear. Cosmo shouted loudly to Lord Osman, ¡°take him down! Arrest him!¡±

    Osman hesitated, ¡°But...my King, he has the Wings of Azreal... the Elder has blessed him.¡±

    ¡°The Elders are all gone! This is obviously an illusion, you simpleton!¡±

    ¡°But he absorbed the energy that could have killed any Apostle...¡±

    ¡°Take him down! Or by Elder¡¯s name, I will use that cannon on you!¡°The King cursed in a paroxysm.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.

    Osman then ordered all the guards with the gifted wings to attack. Hundreds of soldiers rose to the sky like a ck mist, swarming up to the lonesome figure. Yet, they all slowed to a stop simultaneously as they approached the prince. An overpowering, sublime reverence and fear seized their hearts, and they heard Dorian¡¯s voice, ¡°Do you want to lose your eternal life for a diminishing King who doesn¡¯t care about you or your loved ones?¡±

    Later on, as many soldiers recounted what happened that day, they all reported seeing their loved ones¡¯ grieving faces clearly in their heads, and they all felt a sense of deepest sadness inside their hearts, causing their heartache and losing the will to fight. Somehow they knew the sadness wasing from the Crown Prince.

    Dorian then swooped down right through the siege of the soldiers, and none of them tried to stop him. As he descended to the King and a screaming Devina like an unavoidable nemesis, his wings fanned effulgent mes of the aurora, and his irises zed the fire of vengeance. He fixed his heavy gaze on King Cosmo, and his lips twisted into a relentless, chilling, and subtly forlorn smile.

    ¡°It¡¯s time to pay, father.¡±

 Chapter 51 The Coronation

    It all happened at lightning speed in the following days.

    Duke Darius and his two cousins opened portals from three main exits of Emberton and allowed three different troops toe through on the day of celebration. While Dorian was attracting all the attention of the inner city guards to himself, Mahmound, Durchville, and The Guardians¡¯ forces attacked the defending garrison and took them by surprise.

    Witnessing Dorian¡¯s disy of Elder power, the people of Emberton and the defense army were greatly dazzled and intimidated, and once he breached the King¡¯s famous protective rune and forced him into aa, no one really wanted to fight him anymore.

    Devina¡¯s Ducas family tried to rally their allies to join forces in a siege of Emberton to ¡°rescue the King and the Royal Concubine and arrest the traitor,¡± but not many of their allies were willing to risk their future to go against the Crown Prince, who had obviously been blessed by Azreal. And even their own soldiers were unnerved and demoralized as they all heard Dorian¡¯s usation and witnessed his power.

    Besides, most people were sick of the unstopping war that Cosmo was so frantic about. And the royals and the government knew this would notst if they just kept burning money away for the invasions. After all, most people just wanted to live, whether they were vampires or humans.

    Ducas¡¯s forces were overpowered by more forces from other royal families within a week, and their leaders and most of the family members, including Archie Ashdown, were arrested and imprisoned in the Raven Tower.

    Darius suggested that Dorian should be crowned as the new king immediately to stabilize the court and the country, and the priestesses from the Eternal Ten Temple were bustling preparing for the coronation.

    The dawn before the coronation, Dorian descended to thehermost dungeon of the Citadel and came to a heavily guarded door. The guards opened the locks for him and revealed a bleak stone chamber. The intricate runes and symbols covering the ground and the wall were created by shamans from The Guardians, forming the strongest magic confinement to trap an Apostle.

    In the middle of the room was a stone altar covered in shaman incantations. And King Cosmo wasying on it, eyes wide open but covered with ayer of murky mist. His expression froze on something between fear, rage, and agony, and though his heart was still beating, he waspletely immobilized.

    Dorian slowly approached the altar and surveyed his father withyers ofplex emotions. He had seized Cosmo¡¯s mind and trapped him in an eternal nightmare. He could still sense and hear the world around him, but he couldn¡¯t move normunicate, trapped inside his own body and a tormenting long dream in which he would be visited by everyone he had wronged in his long life.

    Dorian made sure his mother was the main visitor.

    He hadn¡¯t been so close to his father for so long that now, when he stared at Cosmo¡¯s still handsome but ashen face, he felt he was aplete stranger. Cosmo had been warm and adoring of him when he was a child, but since when was it all lost?

    How could a father grow to hate his own flesh and blood?

    ¡°How are you in there, father?¡± Dorian said artistically as he tentatively put the finger on his father¡¯s cheek, feeling the sensation on his fingertip strange and alien.

    ¡°You know, I didn¡¯t really want the throne before you killed mother. All I wanted was just...topose songs. You made me who I am today, my dear father. And now, I will ughter your favorite bitch, and exile your bastards to a life worse than death.

    ¡°This is not just revenge for mother, but also for myself...I¡¯ve lost too much for this damn throne that I don¡¯t even want.¡±

    His own voice echoed in the chamber, drawn and hollow. Cosmo did not react, but Dorian knew he could hear his words. The old king was probably screaming in his nightmare. The thought satisfied and pained Dorian at the same time.

    ¡°I will be King at midnight,¡± Dorian lowered his body and whispered into Cosmo¡¯s ear, ¡°and you will be here for the rest of your life before you fall into hibernation. And then I will bury you somewhere deep in the earth, and no one will ever find you. You will be rotting alone in the darkness until eternity ends.¡±

    And then, Dorian left a kiss on Cosmo¡¯s forehead, and left.

    The court was buzzed with an underlying excitement, especially among the young nobles. Everyone knew that Dorian hade back from Esmore without his human consort. The Crown Prince never gave any official exnation, but many rumors and spections were circting around.

    Some said that there was an ident. Some said King Cosmo hired assassins to get rid of the human consort to start the war. And some even suspected that Dorian left his consort in the desert so he could marry again. The main supporting evidence of thest was that Dorian showed no sign of sadness and shed no tears for the disappeared consort.

    Regardless of the truth, the youngdies and lords of the aristocratic society began to bedeck themselves with various panoply and jewelry, trying to catch the soon-to-be-king¡¯s attention. A wordlesspetition ensued before the coronation, and the court was brimmed with bright colors and dazzling beauties.

    ording to some hottest social media ounts and bloggers specializing in digging court gossip, General Osman¡¯s daughter Emel was one of the hottest candidates. She was the prettiest woman in the younger generation, and many believed that she was the reason that Dorian didn¡¯t punish Osman at all, although Osman ordered his soldiers to attack him at the celebration. By marrying her, Dorian could also gain support from all the families of Morrigan¡¯s bloodline, which produced the strongest warriors throughout history.

    Another potential candidate for the future Queen of Eternia was Lord Durchville¡¯s youngest brother Caius Durchville, who was known for his seductive beauty and witchcraft talent. Since he was a witch, he had the ability to make himself pregnant despite his sex, and thus could produce heir for Dorian. Moreover, the Durchville family had always been one of Dorian¡¯s strongest allies. It would make sense if Dorian wanted to fortify the rtionship through marriage.

    The two had expressed their admiration for Dorian on different asions, and their families also had high expectations of them.

    On top of that, some advisors suggested that Dorian should consider marrying a Werewolf omega prince or princess to strengthen their connection with The Guardians.

    Of all the susurrations and rousing, none seemed to care that Dorian showed no interest in any of the amorous beauties in court. Perhaps Darius was the only one who knew about his grief. He understood that Dorian was merely functioning on autopilot and that he was slowly destroying himself inside. The Duke worried about his friend and King but could do nothing to alleviate the torment.

    As midnight approached, the Throne Room was packed with gorgeously dressed aristocrats. The Werewolf ambassadors were astonished at all the pomp and ostentatious disy of wealth and power.

    When the bell rang and the stately organ music began to y, everyone fell silent.

    Dorian appeared at the gate wearing the stately ck velvet robe and the effulgent, ruby, diamond-decorated Imperial Golden Mantle. The long lower hem swept the red carpet. A sublime nimbus irradiated from him that dwarfed hundreds of resplendent crystal lights illuminated the pce.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Dorian¡¯s eyes scanned across all the faces on both sides of the carpet and only felt numb. It was supposed to be the most glorious moment of his life, yet he only felt...empty and futile. His mother didn¡¯t get to see this, and neither did Lucius. So what was the point of all of these?

    But it was toote to stop. He destroyed his father, so now he had to shoulder responsibility for the fate of the whole country.

    The Mistress of the Sacred Ten, the noblest Priestess of all the Elder Temples, stood before the throne. The Diadem of Thorns in her hands. It was a gloomy, forbidding crown with dark, sharp spikes and blood droplet rubies.

    Dorian kneeled before her, listening to her singing praise to the Elders and the ancestors. And as she finished the long chanting and raised the crown over Dorian¡¯s head, the nobility in the Throne Room and the people watching the coronation streaming held their breath.

    But then, the giant gate was opened once more, and the long, creaking noise broke the absolute silence.

    Everyone paused and looked over the entrance, and many eximed involuntarily in shock.

    Hearing themotion, Dorian also turned his head to inquire the source of the interruption. And then, his heart paused.

    A young man stood at the entrance, looking slightly disheveled and wayfaring. His slightly messy strawberry blonde hair was tied into a loose half-up ponytail, and his delicate face was dusty and pale but still lively. His clothes were so ordinary that they were ill-fitting for the splendid coronation.

    Yet, in Dorian¡¯s eyes, he was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, making him forget how to breathe.

    ¡°Lu!¡±

    The King forgot about the crown, the throne, and everything else in the world. One moment he was still in front of the throne, and the next second he was already at the other end of the hall, pulling the man everyone thought had died into his arms.

    Lucius let Dorian embrace him. But he didn¡¯t return it. He only nced around and said with a slightly amused smirk, ¡°So, I guess I am the ¡®Queen¡¯ now?¡±

 Chapter 52 After All

    The rest of the Coronation ceremony was a blur to Dorian and hardly left any imprint in his memory, even though it was supposed to be the most important day of his life.?

    Lucius was alive!

    He had so many questions. How was it possible? They all watched Lucius jump into the snake pit. No man could have survived that.

    And yet when he held Lucius in his arms, the familiar scent and the warmth were so real.

    Could he be an imposter? What if it was some Asmodian¡¯s scion shape-shifted into Lucius? But as far as Dorian knew, none of the known Asmidian-line vampires were strong enough to cheat him, considering that he had Azreal¡¯s feather now.

    All sorts of misgivings and suspicions spined in Dorian¡¯s head throughout the ceremony that he barely registered what word he was reciting when taking the vow to protect the realm. But it seemed all went well, and no one noticed his absent-mindedness.

    Lucius disappeared after the ceremony, and Dorian had apulsive urge to cancel the celebration feast. However, Darius was adamant that he stuck to basic courtesy and showed his face during his own celebration.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    During the celebration feast, Lucius surprisingly appeared in front of the whole court. He had washed away the dust and weariness from the journey. His reddish tint blond hair was longer than before and groomed in silky, lustrous waves. The perfectly cut maroon embroidered tuxedo and ck dress pants contrasted his baster skin and roseateplex. His delicate features assumed a half-smirk, polite yet yful.

    Dorian couldn¡¯t move his eyes away from his consort because Lucius was particrly stunning tonight. And the court seemed to share his idea.

    Lucius walked up to Dorian and bowed impably, though with a subtle air of theatrical, ¡°My King.¡±

    Dorian couldn¡¯t help but smile indulgingly. He wanted to pull him into his arms just to make sure one more time that he was indeed there. However, now was not the asion. He leaned in, gently kissing Lucius¡¯s cheek, and said, ¡°I was looking for you.¡±

    ¡°Had to take a shower. I smelled like camels.¡± Lucius replied quietly. And before they could exchange more words, some council members and nobilities swamped them with congrattions, fighting for a chance to speak to the King and gain his favor.

    As the feast proceeded and people got more drunk, many of the nobilities and dignitaries began to lose their dignity and formality. Rather than drinking blood from ss, some began to request to have the meat brought to them directly so they could suck them dry while enjoying their little struggle and moaning before they die. More naked sex ves were driven into the hall for the aristocrats¡¯ enjoyment. Many men and women were bent to the table, sucked and fucked. There was not much screaming as the vampire venom has aphrodisiac effects, and most ves sumbed to the ineffable pleasure after a brief moment of resistance.

    Lucius sat next to Dorian and watched the scene of debauchery and cruelty with a dark, cold expression. And his displeasure didn¡¯t escape Dorian¡¯s notice.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Dorian asked when he found a break from all the lords anddies.

    ¡°If I¡¯m not your consort, I would have been him,¡± Lucius said as he pointed to a sex ve that looked notably simr to him, with ginger hair, light brown eyes and a pale, slim body, and that young man was particrly popr that night and was prated by two lords at the same time, while been drunk by three, many others were surrounding him like vultures, waiting for their turn. Lucius sneered, ¡°I can see what your lords anddies were actually thinking when they talked to me.¡±

    Dorian recognized the resemnce, and rage fumed in the depth of his dark eyes. He immediately ordered guards to take that ve away from the hall, disregarding the lords¡¯ frustration.

    But Lucius merely scoffed when the guards left to carry out the King¡¯s order, ¡°What¡¯s the point? It doesn¡¯t change anything.¡±

    Dorian frowned, ¡°I know what you want, and I promise I will abolish very. But it cannot be done overnight. There will be riots if I just free all the ves the first day I be king.¡±

    ¡°Sure. I understand that. But this is YOUR coronation feast,¡± Lucius stared at him intensely.

    Dorian heard the implication behind the words, and it prickled him.

    Lucius was right. It was a feast dedicated to him, and what he chose to do today would show his attitude toward very. It would indeed evoke some worry and concern.

    But it was the right thing to do. And if he chose not to do it, what¡¯s the difference between him and his father?

    Dorian contemted it for a few minutes, considering all the risks of what he was about to do, and eventually, he made a decision.

    The sybaritic and licentious atmosphere came to an abrupt stop that night when the new King of Eternia suddenly ordered all the ves, including meat, taken away from the feast. Some nobilities were obviously disgruntled and angry, but they didn¡¯t dare to offend the new King on the first day of his reign, especially when he was probably one of the strongest vampires alive after being strengthened by Azreal¡¯s feather.

    The feast didn¡¯tst very long after the order, and Dorian was impatient to end it so he could talk privately with Lucius. But as they reached the top of the stairs, Lucius bid him goodbye.

    Dorian was taken aback, ¡°you are noting with me?¡±

    Lucius smiled politely, ¡°The Head Stewart has prepared a chamber for me. I will stay there tonight.¡±

    ¡°Oh...¡± Dorian wanted to say something to stop Lucius from living, but the words stuck in his throat and refused toe out. Lucius nodded to him as if he was just another nobleman in the court and went in another direction, leaving him alone in the obscure light.

    Something had changed between them.

    Dorian knew it shouldn¡¯te as a surprise, but it still hurt. Though he knew he probably deserved it.

    As the sun rose and the pce fell to quietude, Dorian was still tossing and turning on his bed. Eventually, he let out a sigh and got up. Without rming any attendants, he stole through the still hallways and headed to the Queen¡¯s Chamber.

    Lucius was sitting in front of the window, watching the sunlight slowly spill over the city¡¯s silhouette and bathed everything in gold. The tiny crystal ball nestled between his fingers, and the blood within undted slightly.

    He had been staring at the Elder¡¯s blood for a long time, recalling everything Asmodian told him in that strange state between life and death. He took some time to research online about Asmodian¡¯s previous four first generations.

    The gift that came with Asmodian¡¯s blood was called ¡°Metamorphosis¡±, and it often branched into two different factions. Two of the first generations specialized in ¡°Alchemy,¡± though it had nothing to do with turning things into gold. Instead, the greatest Alchemists had the ability to rearrange matters and molecules of anything and transform them into something else. They were even capable of fundamentally modifying the essential quality of their target. Legend said Jabari, the first chosen by Asmodian, once turned a whole tribe¡¯s people into trees, forming the well-known Wood of Woe. He also morphed a great mountain into the Sea of Minyara, which greatly changed the geography and climate of that part of the earth.

    And the second branch was ¡°Shape-shift.¡± And instead of altering other objects or individuals¡¯ forms, this faction¡¯s vampires focused on changing their own shape and quality. A Shape-shifter has to have a high-level of understanding of the nature and form of their target before they could transform themselves into, and acking of it could lead to dangerous situations where their organs fail or their form copse, which could jeopardize their life. The first Shape-shift vampire was QingNiang. She was known for transforming into a legendary Phoenix and defeating a whole army of invaders all by herself. Her downfall was also a result of her power, as she became too proud and transformed into Asmodian once to challenge an Archangel, and that pissed Asmodian off, and he turned her into a nine-tailed fox, which she had no knowledge of. She was trapped in that form and could never return to her human shape again.

    Apparently, not all the First Generations were as powerful, the other two of Asmodian¡¯s creations were much less legendary, but they were still much more powerful than a regr Apostle. And they seemed to have had to spend some time learning how to use and control their ability, as one of the First Generation, namely Eir The Queen, lost control of her power during childbirth and turned her newborn baby into a lizard-like creature.

    It was a dangerous power but also almost God-like if appropriately used. And it intrigued Lucius.

    What would it be like to have that kind of ability?

    But then...it would mean that he wouldn¡¯t be a human anymore...and everything he had done so far for his people and his country would have been meaningless...

    He shook his head and put the orb into his inner pocket. And at the same moment, someone knocked on the door.

    Lucius got up from the chair. He had guessed who it was before he opened the door.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Dorian said softly.

    Lucius returned, ¡°Hey.¡±

    ¡°Can Ie in?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Lucius stepped aside and closed the door behind Dorian. And then, for a prolonged moment, they just stood there, in the middle of the room, staring at each other.

    It was as if they were suddenly strangers, each treading delicately to not trigger something explosive.

    After a while, Dorian spoke, ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep, and I thought I¡¯d check on you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Lucius smiled a little, ¡°I also couldn¡¯t sleep. Probably jeg.¡±

    ¡°So...are you ok? What happened?¡°Dorian asked gingerly, ¡°I thought you were...gone.¡±

    ¡°Apparently, he didn¡¯t want me to die. He saved me and then let me go.¡±

    ¡°He? You mean Asmodian?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Dorian frowned, ¡°did he force you to make some sort of deal?¡±

    ¡°No. He was actually quite friendly. It was like a dream, and I was in the desert when I woke up. It turned out that almost a month passed during that dream. Time probably flowed differently.¡±

    ¡°So he showed himself to you? What did he tell you?¡±

    ¡°Not much. He pays attention to me only because Julian was chosen by God, and I¡¯m his twin brother. He probably helped me just to spite God, showing the Almighty that he can get the same toy, too.¡°Lucius shrugged nonchntly.

    ¡°And he just let you go...after all the troubles in the Labyrinth?¡± Dorian¡¯s frown deepened as misgiving clouded his mind, ¡°that doesn¡¯t sound right. Is there something that you are not telling me?¡±

    Lucius¡¯s smile also faltered. He said coldly, ¡°So youe to interrogate me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just worried about you.¡± Dorian took a few steps closer, ¡°Asmodian is not someone who just helps you without getting anything back. He definitely wants something, and the price is usually hefty.¡±

    ¡°You said it as if you know him well. But in the Labyrinth was the first time you heard his voice, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°My mother did know him well. There is a reason that she¡¯d rather die than use his power again!¡±

    ¡°Well. There was no price. If any, he just made me see things more clearly.¡± Lucius said acrimoniously, and anger that had been pressed down in his chest now was burning bright.

    And that took all the words out of Dorian¡¯s mouth.

    The guilt and regret on Dorian¡¯s face only made Lucius even more furious. He strutted toward Dorian and bore down into his eyes, ¡°I was delusional, thinking that I meant something to you, believing that someday, just maybe someday, you will love me back and forget about Julian. But I was so naive.¡±

    ¡°You have every right to be angry at me...¡±

    ¡°You damn right I have!¡± Lucius interrupted Dorian¡¯s words. He thought he wanted closure, but now, he didn¡¯t want to listen to the pale, disingenuous exnation. He continued and let the seething words rush out of his chest, ¡°I don¡¯t want Julian to die for me. Believe me I don¡¯t, but holy shit it didn¡¯t take you long to make that decision. In that inn, did you choose to let me stay and reject Julian only to protect your precious true love? Because you knew how dangerous your life is? I thought you were different. I thought you really cared about me. How stupid I was to fucking fall in love with you!!!¡±

    At the end of the words, Lucius didn¡¯t notice tears rolling down his cheeks. His voice was shaken, and his body was tremulous in rage and hurt.

    Dorian stared at Lucius. Lucius, who appeared to be rather delicate for a man, had never cried like this before him. Lucius was too proud to bare such raw and tender vulnerability. And now, when Dorian saw how much damage he had done to his consort, his organs were all twisted.

    Lucius admitted he had fallen in love with him...He had guessed it before, but it still greatly shocked him.

    He tentatively extended a hand to wipe away the tears on Lucius¡¯s cheek but got pped away. But then he caught the hand, holding it firmly.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t give you up.¡°Dorian said, his gaze unremitting, ¡°I was going to say, let Julian leave because he had nothing to do with us. And I was going to stay with you in the Labyrinth. I thought I could protect you as long as we were together, and we would have been ok. But you jumped before I could finish...¡±

    Lucius looked up at him, confused, ¡°You were going to stay with me?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I tried to jump after you, but Hydra blocked me. I was too naive to think Asmodian would allow me to be with you, and I begged him. But he refused. I stayed in the same ce for another three days, hoping there was still some way to get you back, but we all thought you were dead. I questioned my choice over and over, wondering if there could have been another way to save you both or if I should have just chose you. I asked Darius if there was a way to bend time and go back to earlier days to stop us from going to Esmore. And after he told me it was impossible, I was nning to finish what I must do here and then go back to find a way to get to you...or follow you.¡±

    Lucius blinked several times, but then distrust returned, ¡°You are just saying this to pacify me. How do I know any of it was real? All I know is that you are here, perfectly fine with your Elder power.¡±

    The doubt stabbed Dorian¡¯s heart, but he felt like he deserved it. He gently wiped some tears from Lucius¡¯s face and muttered, ¡°I can¡¯t prove it now, but if you give me a chance, I will prove it with the rest of our life together. All I can tell you now is that...I do love you back, Lucius. And I can¡¯t lose you again.¡±

 Chapter 53 Loose End

    Lucius goggled at Dorian, unsure if he heard it right.

    Did Dorian just say he loved him, too?

    Was this some kind of trick? But that was not something Dorian would have lied about. And what was the point of lying to him? Dorian didn¡¯t know that he had Asmodian¡¯s blood. No one knew. To Dorian, he was just a man returned from death. And if Dorian wanted, he could have kept Julian.

    But Dorian didn¡¯t.

    Could he really believe it?

    Dorian pulled his consort closer, and there was such tenderness and affection on his countenance that softened all his edges and melted away the coldness that used to perfuse his aura. His finger traced the lineaments on Lucius¡¯s face. Brows, eyelids, cheekbones, lips...and the touches silently spoke a thousand words. And the pain and anger in Lucius¡¯s heart were taken away by each tiny touch, morsel by morsel.

    ¡°For six years, I had been imagining the moment when my father realized that he had lost in my hand, and I thought I¡¯d relish that moment, savoring his regrets and fear. But when it happened, I felt nothing. Because I thought I lost you, and everything just felt...numb.¡± Dorian whispered, and his words were coated with barely contained feelings, ¡°And then I finally realized how much you meant to me, but I thought I had lost you and it was toote.¡±

    ¡°You said you love me.¡±

    ¡°I did.¡±

    ¡°Say it again.¡±

    ¡°I love you.¡±

    Lucius gulped to suppress the welling-up feelings, but streaks of those sore, tender, pulsating tendrils of joy, pain, doubt, and relief still reached his eyes. His lips trembled as he asked, ¡°Are you sure? What about Julian?¡±

    ¡°You know, for six years, I¡¯ve been yearning to be with him again, and for the longest time, I thought I couldn¡¯t forget him nor give up the feeling I had for him. In the end, it became a story that I told myself. A dream I held to get me through all the lies and hatred that filled my life.¡± Dorian noticed the disappointment and hurt once again resurfaced in Lucius¡¯s countenance, so he held him tighter and continued with a soft smile, ¡°But since you came, at some time in the past year, I realized that I hadn¡¯t thought about Julian for a long time. And I knew then that he was in the past. And you are my one and only consort.¡±

    Lucius could no longer hold back those gushing feelings. He threw his arms over Dorian¡¯s neck and leaned in to kiss him on the lips. Dorian returned the kiss with ten times more passion and voracity as if he had been starving for a whole month. They clutched at each other so tight, as if trying to rub the other into their flesh so they would never be separated again.

    Before either of them could register, their nightshirts were half torn, Dorian¡¯s sculptural, dark body pressed Lucius¡¯s ivory, nder figure deep into the soft mattress, and Lucius¡¯s long legs wrapped around Dorian¡¯s slim waist. Their kiss never stopped as their hands busily explored each other.

    Dorian was eager yet attentive. After thorough preparation, Lucius opened himself and received Dorian¡¯s onught like melting butter. The sound of their body shing, their erotic moaning, and the scent of musky amorous passion infused the air, and they made love like there was no tomorrow.

    And when Dorian shouted Lucius¡¯s name as he shot his load deep into his consort¡¯s body, Lucius was finally sure that Dorian was telling the truth.

    That Dorian indeed loved him back. And that thought by itself was enough to send Lucius to the acme of pleasure.

    As theyy on the bed, slowly descending from the heaven of carnality and lust, Lucius suddenly realized something.

    ¡°Wait...was this your mother¡¯s old room? They said this was the Queen¡¯s Chamber, and they only have a very short time to prepare it for me.¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°So...we just had sex in your mom¡¯s bed.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Dorianughed, ¡°I¡¯m sure she won¡¯t mind.¡±

    Lucius chortled, ¡°Andter, we will probably also have sex in your dad¡¯s bed.¡±

    ¡°We can have sex in any bed you want. Or not on a bed at all.¡± Dorian turned his head to look at him with a gleaming smirk, ¡°We will have all the time in the world.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps...not all the time.¡± Lucius muttered, ¡°I will die one day if I don¡¯t be a vampire.¡±

    And that thought cast a gloomy shadow over Dorian¡¯s mind. He hadn¡¯t thought about it. Not in a really long time. Sometimes he forgot that Lucius was still mortal.

    ¡°I...I won¡¯t force you to turn. I promise. But if you ever want to, I can give it to you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know...Won¡¯t it be weird if you are my husband and also my maker?¡±

    ¡°It is somewhat controversial but not umon. I don¡¯t trust others to turn you.¡± Dorian stated quietly, ¡°and I don¡¯t want others to bite you.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t know you are the jealousy type.¡°Lucius jibed.

    Dorian also grinned, revealing his two sharp fangs, ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I gave you any impression that I¡¯m not.¡±

    They then stared at each other deeply in afortable silence. Ere long, Lucius said, ¡°I need some time to consider this. I don¡¯t believe being a vampire will damn me to hell or any of that kind of religious stuff. It¡¯s just...feels like betraying my kind.¡±

    Dorian took Lucius¡¯s hand to his lips and kissed gently, ¡°I understand. You can take as long as you need. We will rule Eternia together. We can change the rules and the world. One day...perhaps humans and vampires can live together in peace.¡±

    Lucius smiled gratefully at Dorian and snuggled closer, feeling as if he could finally rx.

    Moreover, he could finally be happy.

    Lucius was crowned as the Royal Consort of The King one monthter, which sparked many strong opinions and debates among not only the aristocratic society but also the whole nation. The more conservative vampires found having a human ¡°Queen¡± infuriating, ridiculous, and debasing. While others, who held more liberal opinions or were tired of thest animosity, thought it could be an opportunity to reform social values and norms and abolish some outdated customs, including hunting raw meat and very.

    There were many spections and conspiracy theories, and the advisors and counselors of The Crown Council were worried about the deepening chasm between the more liberal North Eternia and the overall more conservative South Eternia and the possibility of civil war if Dorian showed any inclination for radical reformation policies.

    However, Lucius didn¡¯t pay too much attention to those ruckuses. For about three months, he and Dorian rarely separated. They forwent all their previous reservation and hesitation and expressed their adoration to each other freely. They made love in almost every room they¡¯ve been to in every position possible whenever they got a chance to be alone, and even so, they couldn¡¯t keep their hands off each other.

    The first time Dorian showed his new wings to Lucius after another of their steamy and sweaty lovemaking, thetter gawked at the majestic Elder wings in awe, ¡°Had I died for this, it was definitely worth it.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense. Nothing is worth your life.¡± The thought of that eldritch Elder clouded Dorian¡¯s countenance.

    Lucius ran his fingers through those silky feathers, and the heavenly sensation made him gasp, ¡°Dude! This feels so damn divine! I wish I could sleep in it!¡±

    Dorian wrapped his gigantic wings around Lucius¡¯s naked body and chuckled when he heard Lucius¡¯s loud, satisfying moan.

    However, their life was not just a fluffy fairy tale. Lucius was aware of the perilous current beneath the serene facade of their marriage. Dorian had to fortify his power and show his strength by dealing with Silvan¡¯s supporters.

    Since his coronation, the Supreme Court hadn¡¯t been stopping trialing the once powerful noblemen, royal advisors, counselors, and other aplice or connivance parties who partook in helping Devina, Silvan and their Ducas family beguiling King Cosmos andmitted treacherous crimes against Queen Mitra, Ani family and other numerous victims in that court scheme, as well as war crimes and briberies they engaged in the recent years. Several of them had been sentenced to Death by Fire, including Devina.

    Dorian also showed significant mercy to the unwillingly or unwittingly participating parties, which eased the anxiety among the unsettled aristocratic society and harvested much gratuities and loyalty.

    Though Silvan was currently imprisoned by The Guardians, Lucius knew Dorian would want to talk to his half-brother once Silvan¡¯s throat was recovered from the poison.

    Lucius had to prevent that from happening.

    Lucius and Volke had been on friendly terms since he ¡°healed¡± Volke¡¯s nephew, who he saw as a son. But Lucius wasn¡¯t sure if the werewolf chieftain would be willing to take such a significant risk for him.

    He had to make sure before taking further action.

    Lucius found his chance during the yearly Werewolves diatorial Game, which was held in Emberton for the first time in history. It was the second time Lucius witnessed the game of honor and blood, but this time, Dorian was the co-host with Chieftain Volke rather than one of the participants.

    There had never been so many werewolves in the capital city of Eternia. And The Guardians cheered for Dorian as he appeared on the balcony during the game. Dorian¡¯sst ¡°performance¡± during the game apparently left an indelible impression. It was rare to see such poprity of a vampire among the werewolves.

    Lucius found his chance during the fifth match. Dorian had to leave to attend an urgent matter. Lucius found some excuse to send all the servants away, leaving only him and Volke in the private box.

    Lucius intentionally kept quiet and let the silence stretch a little longer. Ere long, Volke leaned toward him slightly on his seat and asked, ¡°How have you been?¡±

    Lucius smiled at him, ¡°Still getting used to the new ¡®Royal Consort¡¯ thing. But I think I manage.¡±

    ¡°I still don¡¯t know how you can still be alive after what happened in the desert.¡± Volke¡¯s studying eyes scanned Lucius from head to toe, ¡°I wondered if you were an imposter. Someone who shapeshifted. But I don¡¯t think many imposters could have fooled the new King.¡±

    ¡°I am a hundred percent myself, the same one you met a year ago.¡± Lucius leaned back in his chair, his finger tracing the edge of his ss of wine mindlessly, ¡°I guess Asmodian realized I was not such a tasty sacrifice, so he just...spit me out.¡±

    ¡°From the way you smell, I can assure you that you don¡¯t have to worry about your ¡¯taste.¡¯¡± Volke¡¯s voice went deeper, assuming a husky and flirting tone. Lucius chuckled, ¡°Be careful. Flirting with the Royal Consort will infuriate the King.¡±

    ¡°Who said I was flirting?¡°Volke winked at him and continued, ¡°But I am curious. After Dorian made his ¡®choice,¡¯ why did you stille back to him?¡±

    Lucius took a sip from his ss and repliedter, ¡°I guess it¡¯s because I¡¯m in love with him.¡±

    ¡°And you just forgave him like that?¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t me him for trying to save my brother.¡± Lucius shrugged.

    ¡°Yes, your brother.¡± Volke grinned at him, ¡°Are we still pretending that you are the High Priest Julian?¡±

    Lucius gave him a meaningful look but didn¡¯t admit nor deny it. At this point, he couldn¡¯t care less about anyone¡¯s suspicion of his identity. No one could hurt him with it so long as Dorian still loved him.

    ¡°How is your nephew?¡± Lucius changed the topic.

    ¡°Anton is doing great.¡± Mentioning the young man softened the Chieftain¡¯s countenance, ¡°it¡¯s hard to believe that he almost died from the werewolf rabies a year ago. And now that I know more about you, I had a hard time understanding how you saved him.¡±

    ¡°It was a legit miracle.¡±

    ¡°Miracle or not, you will always have my gratitude.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m d that he is doing well. A good young man like him shouldn¡¯t have suffered such fate.¡± Lucius paused momentarily before continuing gingerly, ¡°However, if you see me as a friend, there is a favor I want to ask.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡±

    Lucius focused his gaze on the Chieftain¡¯s dark eyes, ¡°Before I ask, will you swear on your honor that this is strictly between us?¡±

    The interest thickened in Volke¡¯s eyes, and the words rolled off his tongue like gliding across velvet, ¡°A secret only between us? Delicious.¡±

    Lucius rolled his eyes, ¡°you have to swear!¡±

    ¡°Ok, ok. I swear on mine and my family¡¯s honor that I will not tell another soul.¡±

    Lucius¡¯s lips tightened, quickly considering if this was a wise decision. But this was something he had to ask.

    ¡°Will you kill Silvan for me?¡±

 Chapter 54 Sin

    Just as Lucius foresaw, Volke was hesitant to help him. Even though Silvan was a prisoner and had lost all his status as royalty, Dorian had entrusted Silvan to The Guardians. And if Silvan died under his supervision, it would surely damage his rtionship with the crown.

    Lucius tried to convince him that Silvan was a master maniptor, and the Ducas family still had significant influence among the Lilith Bloodline, which often produces maniptors just like the fallen prince. For this reason, there was a disproportionately high number of Lilith Bloodline politicians in the government and the Crown Council. If Silvan lied during the trial and riled up these people, it would gravely damage Dorian¡¯s reign.

    ¡°Dorian still had some soft feelings for his half-brother, which is why he hadn¡¯t executed him yet. But Silvan is a liar and will do anything to save his own life.¡°The anxiety and worry on Lucius¡¯s face werepelling and genuine, but Volke was not that easy to fool.

    ¡°Does he have something on you?¡± Volke asked forthrightly.

    Lucius¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but he kept hisposure. He remained silent for about a minute, trying to decide whether telling a big lie to cover the truth was a good idea. But Volke needed to hear something usible. Something aghast and wrong enough that it made sense that Lucius wanted to kill Silvan.

    Lucius had already fabricated the lie before this conversation in case Volke asked him any simr questions. It was a horrible lie and possibly would greatly change Volke¡¯s impression of him, but it was much betterpared to the alternative.

    ¡°Silvan seduced me. We had an affair. And he threatened to tell Dorian if I didn¡¯t help him. I used it and double-crossed him.¡± Lucius blurted out, ¡°and that is why I cannot let him talk to Dorian. It will be the end of my marriage.¡±

    Volke raised his eyebrows in disbelief, ¡°you had an affair with Silvan.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Well, now I guess it makes sense...¡± Volke studied him curiously, ¡°I thought you said you love your husband?¡±

    ¡°I do. But for the longest time, it was unrequited. And I resorted to finding that affection from someone else.¡± Lucius continued his lie, stering a mixture of guilt, regret, and wistfulness on his face to solidify the impression, ¡°I was weak, and I knew it was wrong. It was my biggest regret.¡±

    Volke rubbed the stubbles on his chin, considering the whole situation. He liked Lucius, and the divorce between the new king and the first human royal consort could end in disasters, even wars. And should Dorian choose another consort from a household less friendly to werewolves, it would jeopardize the delicate bnce that took so much effort to build.

    Seeing that Volke was moved by his performance, Lucius continued warily, ¡°or...you don¡¯t have to really kill Silvan. You mentioned to Dorian that he hadn¡¯t shown signs of recovering yet, right? He could have just sumbed to the poison and fell into hibernation. As long as that hibernation is a deep one.¡±

    ¡°I will have to sit on it,¡± Volke replied cautiously after a prolonged silence.

    Lucius¡¯s heart was in his throat for the next two weeks, especially after Volke left Emberton for Crowsnest Ridge. He wished that Florian was still here so that someone could share this burden...or even better, Florian could have taken care of it for him.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Dorian said Florian disappeared after he jumped into the pit. Was he in Anthor now? Did he give them the Durchville Witch¡¯s blood?

    Lucius didn¡¯t know what woulde out of it, and he didn¡¯t want to admit that he was...regretting giving it to Florian. Perhaps if he could just wait longer and had more faith in Dorian, he would have made a different decision...

    If Dorian could bring peace between humans and vampires, the blood would only bring more harm than good.

    But withholding it also felt wrong...all humanity¡¯s future was in his hands. Was he really in any position to just put all the stakes on one vampire? Even if that vampire was Dorian?

    At least it was the blood of a First Generation rather than an Elder, so the chance was Division Nine won¡¯t be able to do much with it. But that brought another problem: now that he owned a drop of Elder blood, should he give it to Anthor?

    Lucius didn¡¯t know what he should or would do.

    While waiting for Volke¡¯s reply, Lucius was busy reforming certain regtions for the royal households and court etiquettes, mainly regarding the treatment of the ves. He ordered all human ves in Vermilion Citadel to be given proper, hygienic living conditions, sufficient nourishment, medical attention, reasonable working hours, and regr day-offs like the vampire servants. No vampires were allowed to mistreat or force any ve into performing certain services. And any brain imnts and consumption of meat were strictly forbidden.

    Just as he prefigured, his orders were met with substantial resistance. Some younger, more brash nobilitiesined, and many challenged his authority by not following the new stiptions. However, the opposition wasrgely thwarted after Lucius publicly punished several valets, maids, and even two barons who broke his rule in front of the court.

    Lucius knew that a considerable group of nobilities, especially those older ones, hated him to the bone even if they smiled and bowed to him in court. Those more ¡°old-fashioned¡± vampires couldn¡¯t stand that they had to obey the orders given by a lowly human. But Lucius didn¡¯t care. As long as Dorian was on his side, no one would dare to challenge him.

    Lucius¡¯s next step was to release all the humans in the Citadel from very and give them jobs as regr servants if they had nowhere to go. And if they would like to return to human countries, he nned to arrange some trains and guards to transport them safely out of Eternia.

    As he was mentioning the n to Dorian during their dinner together, a piece of startling news arrived at Vermilion Citadel.

    The Head Stewart hastily entered the dining hall, his expression solemn and somber, ¡°Sorry for interrupting your dinner, Your Majesty. But there is an urgent matter I thought you would want to hear.¡±

    Dorian and Lucius exchanged a puzzled look. Sherriden was a prudish person and would never have disturbed their dinner unless it was something unusual. Dorian put down his ss of blood and said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°A message from Chieftain Volke has arrived. Prince Silvan has fallen into hibernation this morning.¡±

    The silencested for several seconds and then was terminated by a sudden, sharp sound of ss shattering. Dorian crushed the ss in his hand, and blood stained his fingers and sshed on his chin.

    ¡°How is that possible? I heard his condition finally began to improve two days ago.¡±

    ¡°Chieftain Volke said it was likely a terminal lucidity.¡±

    Dorian didn¡¯t show much emotion on his sturdy countenance, but Lucius knew a tempest must be raging in his heart. He hadn¡¯t gotten to talk to Silvan after their scheme, and now he likely would never have the chance.

    Lucius quietly grabbed Dorian¡¯s blood-stained hand. And his warmth slightly calmed the shock and anger, and sorrow slowly crept into the depth of his irises.

    ¡°Perhaps...it¡¯s for the best,¡± Dorian muttered pensively.

    Lucius nodded, ¡°He may still wake up one day. ¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s strange. I never heard that orge blood is capable of putting a powerful Apostle like him into hibernation. They usually fully recover in several months.¡°Dorian frowned in misgiving.

    ¡°Maybe he did it to himself, so he doesn¡¯t need to go through trial and be sentenced to death by fire like his mother.¡±

    ¡°Maybe...¡± Dorian sighed wistfully. Almost all his close families were gone by this point. His mother, father, and brothers. Even his half-sisters were exiled after the trials.

    All he had left was Lucius.

    He tightened the grip over Lucius¡¯s hand and turned to Sherriden,manding with his usual deep, resonant voice, ¡°Make some arrangements and bring his body back.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±

    Albeit it pained Lucius to see Dorian grieved for his broken family, the news greatly relieved Lucius. All the obstacles had gone, and he was finally safe, finally able to rx and enjoy the bright future with Dorian.

    One weekter was the Grand Opening of The Crown Council after the recent new election, and Dorian and Lucius would attend as the reigning monarchs. It was the first Crown Council after Dorian¡¯s session and the first one with ? of werewolf members. It had to be more grandiose than any recent Council Openings.

    Lucius stood before the mirror, letting the valets adorn him withyers of regalia and jewelry. He had to admit that vampires made much better clothes than humans, and he could barely recognize himself with such a panache.

    Dorian entered the room in a simr but slightly more muted and dignified attire, and he looked exceptionally morous today. And from the way he ogled at Lucius, he thought the same about his consort.

    ¡°You look...very Kingly.¡± Lucius bantered as he nced at Dorian through the mirror.

    ¡°And you look very... vampire.¡±

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s apliment?¡°Lucius slightly turned around, checking his extravagant robe and mantle, ¡°it¡¯s a bit too gothic, but I like it.¡±

    ¡°Are you nervous?¡± Dorian asked, ¡°Have you memorized your speech?¡±

    ¡°My speech is only like three lines. You just worry about your own speech, ok? Yours is at least two pages...¡±

    ¡°If you forget any line, just signal me, and I will take it over.¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright, stop being a mother hen, husband. I promise I won¡¯t fuck up your first Council Opening.¡±

    The servants had been ustomed to their gags and quickly finished their job and left the room. Ere long, the Head Steward reported that the cars were ready for them.

    They kissed before left the room.

    The new King and Royal Consort stood abreast on the open carriage and traveled from Vermilion Citadel to the Hall of Imperial Assembly, which was only several streets away. Many vampires and werewolves gathered along the security lines to glimpse the new rulers in person.

    Lucius smiled and waved to the people, feeling everything was almost unreal. One year ago, when he firstnded in Emberton, he had never thought that one day he would be ruling this immortalnd with a husband that he didn¡¯t even want to marry.

    It all worked out, somehow. He was fortunate.

    Little did he know that things would go directly into hell for him in about two hours.

    It happened right after Dorian¡¯s speech, during the Initial Response. When Marquis Sebastian Beaumont, who was a close friend of the Ducas family, suddenly stood up and imed there was a mistrial for one of the royal family members.

    Dorian¡¯s countenance darkened with smoldering anger, and everyone in the Hall felt it as the lights dimmed and flickered, and the air became colder.

    ¡°All trials were conducted in the Supreme Court with proper procedure. This is hardly the right ce and time to bring up an already settled matter, Marquis Beaumont.¡±

    ¡°Please forgive my bluntness, my King. However, one person still hasn¡¯t gotten a chance to speak for himself, and his testimony is crucial to Eternia¡¯s safety and future.¡±

    A boding premonition sunk into Lucius¡¯s stomach. He didn¡¯t know who Beaumont was talking about, but somehow he knew it would lead to something terrible.

    Dorian¡¯s cold stare fixed on the Marquis, ¡°Who is this person?¡±

    The Marquis bowed slightly, ¡°please allow me to summon him here.¡± He then gestured to a guard. As the guard opened the door, everyone in the Assembly Hall gasped in shock.

    Lucius¡¯s eyes widened, and fear spread in his guts like a gue.

    The vampire strutting into the Hall was emaciated and gaunt, yet one could still tell that he used to be beautiful and powerful as much as the new King.

    Dorian stood up from his throne. His countenance was overtaken by bewilderment.

    Silvan, who was supposed to be in deep hibernation, kneeled before his brother and bowed his head:

    ¡°Ie to beg forgiveness and atone for my crimes, My King.¡±

 Chapter 55 It Was All True

    How was it possible?

    Volke said Silvan was hibernating, and Lucius even saw hisatose body with his own eyes when they shipped him back to Emberton. He and Dorian watched as the guardsid Silvan down in the same chamber where the ex-King Cosmo rested.

    How was he awake and talking?! Was someone lying to him? Did Volke betray him? But why? Or was Volke also fooled? Who was working against him?!

    But right now, it was all meaningless. Silvan was here, and Lucius knew the wily prince would destroy him.

    ¡°Guards! Arrest the traitor!¡± Luciusmanded exigently.

    ¡°I am not the only one whomitted treason here.¡± Silvan thundered as he raised his head and looked directly at Dorian, ¡°Brother, you and our country are in grave danger. Please allow me to speak!¡±

    ¡°Everythinging from your mouth is a lie!¡± Lucius bellowed. He then turned to Dorian and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t fall for his trap. You know how maniptive he is.¡±

    However, Dorian seemed hesitant. It was a shock to him as well. He thought he would never see Silvan again in the foreseeable future, and though didn¡¯t want to admit it, he grieved for it. When they were younger, up to the point when he was exiled with his mother, Silvan and him were inseparable. Silvan used to look up to him, following him everywhere when they were still children, sneaking into his room when the wind wuthered and thunder blustered.

    And then, it all changed when Silvan¡¯s mother framed Dorian¡¯s mother for murdering her daughter. Now they were enemies, each trying to tear the other apart. However, beneath all the scorching hatred and smoldering feud, Dorian still had some soft feelings for his half-brother.

    Dorian¡¯s voice was cold and distant, ¡°You¡¯ve tried to kill me twice. Why should I believe anything you say?¡±

    ¡°I never wanted to kill you, brother,¡± Silvan said earnestly, ¡°I admit I plotted to usurp your crown, but I only wanted to imprison you. You distanced yourself from me because the throne stood between us, and I know if you take the throne, you will kill mother to avenge Queen Mitra. So I thought, if I am the king, mother, Archie and my sisters will be safe, and somehow I may find a way to fix our rtionship. If you remember, the dagger I gave your consort was merely to demobilize you.¡±

    ¡°How do you exin the assassination at Crowsnest Ridge?¡°Lucius retorted.

    Silvan frowned in bewilderment, ¡°that was not my doing.¡±

    Lucius scoffed, ¡°of course you won¡¯t admit it.¡±

    ¡°I have no illusion that I will be absolved from the death penalty. But the assassination was not me. ¡± Silvan insisted. His countenance and tone were firm and sincere, without his usual disarming smiles or beguiling words.

    Dorian was quiet, but his gaze was sharp like razors, scrutinizing every tiny change on Silvan¡¯s mien. He contemted for a while, ncing around the Assembly Hall. Eventually, he said, ¡°Why did you fake your hibernation?¡±

    ¡°Because someone wants me dead so that I won¡¯t tell you who is the real traitor. That same one also made sure I lost my voice and ability tomunicate in the Labyrinth, so I had no chance to speak to you.¡°Silvan pointed the finger at Lucius and proimed, ¡°Royal Consort, whose real name is Lucius Rosenfield rather than Julian Rosenfield, is a spy sent by Anthor.¡±

    At first, the grand hall sank into a dead silence, but an unsettled din exploded among the crowds shortly after. All eyes focused on Lucius, and Lucius felt like a deer being forced into a corner and had no way out.

    Silvan continued his usation loudly, ¡°As many of you know, the real Julian Rosenfield is a special person for human¡¯s Luminion belief. He imed that he had heard God¡¯s voice since he was ten years old and performed miracles on several asions, and since age fifteen, he periodically entered into a trance state, during which he made many prophecies that were proved to be correct shortly after. He had no memories of what he said in those so-called ¡°Epiphany¡± moments, but his words were carefully recorded by other priests and kept as a state secret, and not even Julian Rosenfield himself was allowed to read it.

    ¡°And ording to one of his prophecies, humans can one day defeat Vampires with a bioweapon. The weapon is derived from an Elder¡¯s blood, which contains the Seed of Origin that shapes all vampires¡¯ bloodlines. And if they unleash the weapon on us, all vampires will be significantly weakened and crippled, making us easier to kill.

    ¡°His prophecy even provided forms and technologies for such a weapon, and Anthor founded a special Division Nine to study his prophecies and develop the said weapon. However, they didn¡¯t have any ess to Elders¡¯ blood. When Your Majesty requested them to send Julian Rosenfield to Eternia, they saw an opportunity.

    ¡°They wouldn¡¯t send the real prophet to us, of course. Instead, they sent Julian¡¯s identical twin brother, Lucius Rosenfield. And he came here with one real purpose: steal an Elder¡¯s blood from us. However, Elder¡¯s blood is almost impossible to acquire, so their secondary n was to gain ess to a First Generation¡¯s blood. And worst of all, they have gotten it.¡±

    And then Silvan continued to recount how he intercepted The Durchville Witch¡¯s blood, how he used it to ckmail Lucius, and how Lucius traded it back in the desert.¡±

    ¡°His loyal servant, the ex-vampire hunter Florian Edelstein, has escaped after Lucius Rosenfield¡¯s ¡®death¡¯ and transported the blood back to Anthor. They have probably started to build the weapon.¡± Silvan bowed in shame as he spieled, ¡°I admit it was my fault. I endangered all vampires¡¯ lives for personal gain and regretted it deeply. I will submit to any punishment for it. However, I cannot let the real traitor stay so close to the crown.¡±

    Lucius felt like an unembodied hand was choking at his throat, tightening the grip with each word that came out of Silvan¡¯s mouth. But he kept all the panic within him and scoffed, ¡°I admire your imagination, Silvan. And I¡¯m amazed you hate me so much that you¡¯d rather incriminate yourself to frame me.¡± And then he turned to look at Dorian, and thetter gave him a slight nod as if trying to reassure him that he didn¡¯t need to worry and that Dorian trusted him.

    And that look of faith stung Lucius poignantly, for he knew he didn¡¯t deserve it.

    Dorian said confidently, ¡°I knew about Lucius¡¯s identity from the beginning. It¡¯s a special agreement that I made with Anthor just to end the war. And the rest of your usations are groundless. Making up stories about my consort won¡¯t do you any good, brother.¡±

    Another wave of murmuring undted across the room, and Lucius regarded Dorian with astonishment. He didn¡¯t expect Dorian to admit his real identity publicly and even made up a story to make it legit. Dorian was probably already nning to return his true identity to him so he didn¡¯t have to assume the false name anymore.

    However, Silvan was not discouraged. His lip corners lifted slightly, forming a calcted smile.

    ¡°I have a witness.¡°He said simply while signaling Sebastian Beaumont with a look. Beaumont stood up and ordered a guard, ¡°Bring in the prisoner.¡±

    Dorian frowned. He didn¡¯t like where this was going, and a sick feeling began to rise in his stomach.

    And Lucius was petrified.

    Witness? What witness?

    The door of the Hall of Imperial Assembly opened once again, and a guard walked in, leading a chained prisoner. It was a middle-aged man who was fitter and taller than most ves. He was surprisingly unblemished, and the way he looked at Silvan as if the vampire was the most sacred and beautiful being in the world was... unnerving.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.

    The man nced at Lucius, and his expression was full of guilt.

    Silvan said, ¡°This man is a mole Anthor nted among us four years ago. His real name is William Brook, an experienced special agent of Division Nine. I caught him when he was trying to retrieve the Durchville Witch¡¯s blood from a deposit box. After about two days of interrogation, I managed to breach the defensive wall in his mind and get a confession out of him.¡±

    Lucius¡¯s heart sank.

    What he feared came true. Silvan captured the liaison.

    Dorian¡¯s brows furrowed deeply as uncertainty crept into his mind. He quickly nced over at Lucius, and for a fleeting moment, he saw a glimpse of fear.

    Dorian never used his soul magic on Lucius. Never even attempted to probe his emotions, as it was a form of invasion and attack. But it would have been an easy task. Unlike most other Apostles, especially Azreal line Apostles like Silvan, who were trained to guard their minds and make them extremely difficult, if not impossible, to breach, Lucius was just a regr human with no special training. If Dorian wanted, he could breach the shallowest level of Lucius¡¯s mind and sense his emotions without him knowing it.

    But Dorian didn¡¯t want to do it because it would be a sign of distrust and suspicion. And he promised Lucius that he would trust him. Probing Lucius¡¯s mind as if he was an enemy would be an irrevocable betrayal. And he refused to destroy the love they finally confided in each other unless it was something he couldn¡¯t ignore.

    Silvan began questioning William Brook, who answered every question with borate details. He listed the names of all the higher-up agents and officers, including Dan Emerson. Then he even divulged significant detailed information about the bioweapon, though he only had fragmental knowledge about it. He then confessed how he was ordered to check the deposit box daily while transporting dead meat out of the city and how he nned to send the blood back to Anthor.

    Lucius sat there, listening to the man revealing everything he had tried so hard to hide, and he felt as if he was floating in a puff of mist and everything around him distant and unreal. His name sounded strange and unfamiliar, as if it belonged to someone else.

    He didn¡¯t dare to look at Dorian. Neither did he brave enough to imagine his husband¡¯s feelings. He sat strict and frozen, knowing that no matter if Dorian chose to believe him at this instance, the seed of suspicion had been nted, and it was only a matter of time before Dorian found out everything.

    The only thing he could do was wait. Waiting for the judgment.

    Dorian didn¡¯t speak for a very long time while the ruckus grew louder and angrier with each answer William Brook gave. Most of the aristocrats and the council members already took Silvan¡¯s word as truth at this point, for they had never trusted a human among them in the first ce. The only one who was speaking for Lucius was Darius.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not forget Lilith Line¡¯s ability to manipte and infatuate a lesser mind.¡± Darius remarked loudly, ¡°How do we know if the man is telling the truth rather than what Prince Silvan wants him to say?¡±

    Several council members were nodding in agreement.

    Lilith lines¡¯ hypnotic magic could ensnare their prey¡¯s minds, forcing them to fall in love with them and serve them loyally and unconditionally like dogs. And the burning desire and fervidity in Brook¡¯s eyes must result from such a spell.

    Lucius used to wonder why Silvan didn¡¯t try to use the love spell on him topel him to do his bidding. Perhaps he worried Dorian would have noticed the trace of his magic.

    Silvan looked around each face and rejoined confidently, ¡°All the information he just gave can be easily proven with more investigation, and if you don¡¯t trust the truthfulness of his word, anyone from the Azreal line can prate his mind and take a thorough look. I¡¯ve broken his mind wall, so there won¡¯t be much resistance. With such a deep dive, his mind will likely be fried afterward and won¡¯t be avable for more use, so I would suggest Your Majesty do the diving so you can see everything.¡±

    William Brook trembled to hear such a cruel, possibly worse-than-death fate. But the enchanted look he had for Silvan hadn¡¯t changed. The piteous look anguished Lucius in unexpected ways.

    What would it feel like to be hurt by someone you love?

    He had done it to Dorian, and he soon, too, would probably find out.

    If Dorian dived into Brook¡¯s mind, he could tell if William Brook was lying for Silvan or if he was merely telling the truth under Silvan¡¯s coercion.

    And Lucius knew which one was true.

    There was no more way out.

    He was trapped. And it was only a matter of time before Dorian found out everything in that poor man¡¯s mind.

    Ere long, Dorian finally opened his mouth after the long silence and his countenance unreadable.

    ¡°Since you don¡¯t have any real evidence, Silvan, I will not lend you any credibility.¡± He paused and turned to one of his guards, ¡°Take them both into custody. I will dive into the human¡¯s mindter.¡±

    Just as the guard pulled the trembling man up from the floor, Lucius suddenly said calmly:

    ¡°No need to torment him anymore. There is no point.¡± Lucius was surprised at how even his voice was, and he felt not much of anything except exhaustion. After all this time, such a result was unavoidable. Lucius had always known it deep in his heart.

    Lucius turned to Dorian, taking in the disconcertment and disbelief on the King¡¯s beautiful countenance, feeling as if a knife was slicing his heart piece by piece as he spoke, ¡°It was all true, my love.¡±

    Book 1 End.

    ___________

    A/N: Book one is finished! However, Lucius and Dorian''s story has not ended yet. What would happen to Lucius after the big reveal? What was Asmodian¡¯s role in all of these? And would Dorian ever love Lucius again after such a betrayal? You will find the answer in the sequel story ¡°<b>The Vampire King¡¯s Toxic Consort</b>.¡± I have already started posting the second book, you should be able to find it in my profile (though I''m not sure if it will show up normally as  will review the first few chapters submitted).

    Here is the link to <b>The Vampire King¡¯s Toxic Consort: </b><i>https://./stories/fantasy/1278353</i>

    If you like my work so far, please follow me and leave me any feedback. Your support means the world to me!

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!