That afternoon it was raining in the Roveaven Empire. Sitting in front of the window, still wearing his pajamas and wrapped up on the blanket, the melancholy atmosphere matched perfectly with Lucian's mood.
The wedding of Jesse and Victoria Shang would be at dusk, however, the eighth prince dismissed Argus by saying that he would only get dressed later. His servant was worried about the master, who repeated the routine of facing the window in silence since the tea party.
No less. Lucian didn't expect Magnus to be... so cold to him.
His forehead leaned against the ice-cold glass, watching the misty mountain in the distance. His mind insisted on repeating the moment when Magnus ended their conversation, casting that look that clearly suspected Lucian. A look that made Lucian regret being honest with his fiancé.
"That's the most vicious thing I've ever heard from you, Lucian."
These were the only words spoken by Magnus before he left.
From the beginning, Lucian made it clear that he intended to use Magnus in the same way that he would let him use it too. A superfluous relationship where one would be useful to the other, although Lucian really likes Magnus and wants him entirely for himself. As they got to know each other better, and even slept together, Lucian found himself ambitious and possessive of the Grand Duke.
This seemed right for him.
But now... what was left?
Lucian should have known that Magnus would not believe his story of having a gift. Right, it was something ridiculous that not even Lucian liked to say, yet everything was ridiculous. His whole reality was ridiculous and unbelievable.
"I want to go home" Lucian muttered, watching a drop of rain fall through the window.
Closing his eyes, he strongly wished that when opening his eyes could be back to his boring room from his apartment. That the alarm would sound at the bottom warning that it was time to get up to go to work in the office. Even having the same boring routine of always seemed better than facing dilemmas like the one he was dealing with now.
Luciano would be a thirty-year-old single man, who is afraid to get involved with people and prefers to spend his time reading stories on the internet.
That day, Lucian did nothing but sit in the window watching the rain. He only went out of that corner to have lunch and afternoon snack. When the pocket watch that Stephen gave him pointed the evening, Argus forced his master to come out of his melancholy corner and get ready for the wedding.
As he stared at his own reflection in the mirror, Lucian wasn't surprised anymore. Would he have gotten used to being Lucian? It was himself, that skinny man with long hair, who was now bound by a ribbon. His new identity.
No more the man with short brown hair.... no more Luciano.
When his coat was put on, Argus stepped away and stared at his master.
"His Grace awaits you downstairs, Your Highness."
Just knowing that Magnus was at the entrance of his palace made Lucian anxious. Since the tea party they had not seen each other. Again his mind was loaded with memories of those words so cold full of disbelief by his fiancé.
Lucian didn't want to see Magnus.
He was ashamed.
Magnus would make fun of him, say that he was crazy enough to believe he had a vision for the future. That it was ridiculous his idea of killing Magnus.
Still... he had to do it.
Leaving his room and walking through the corridors of his cold palace, Lucian tried to delay his arrival. The muddy fingers clenched slightly, feeling the frostiness in the fingertips. Despite this, his heart did not accelerate, nor was his breathing unregulated. He kept calm as if he was just waiting for the worst-case scenario.
As soon as Lucian reached the top of the stairs, he automatically looked for his fiancé. Found Magnus facing the window, wearing that wine-tone costume and black hair tucked back. An imposing figure even from the back.
Hearing the sound of footsteps, Magnus looked over his shoulders, and Lucian turned his gaze down as he walked down the steps slowly.
It's going to be okay. You're not doing all this just because you want Magnus for yourself. You're doing it so that both of them survive. Lucian repeated those words to himself, trying to ease his frustration and hesitation about seeing Magnus. Disappointing someone loved was the worst feeling.
Arriving at the end of the staircase, Lucian hesitated to go down the last step. His lips tightened into a thin line, and his eyes trembled slightly for feeling ashamed to call himself a "seer" or "prophet". Such titles were too heavy for his shoulders.
A gloomy finger raised Lucian's chin. The diamond eyes laden with hesitation met the stoic crimson ones. The delicacy of Magnus's touch surprised Lucian a little, while the prince forbade himself to create hopes.
"You definitely surprise me, Lucian. Always making those faces that don't match with you at all."
Lucian didn't answer. He couldn't, actually. A knot formed in his throat, preventing him from saying anything.
Magnus' fingers slid through Lucian's jaw without allowing him to look away. As he wrapped his hands around the golden hair, Magnus rubbed his thumb gently across the alpha's cheek.
Such a simple gesture ignited a great flame within Lucian. The shiver that snaked his back made him comfortable with that simple touch. His cheeks have a subtle peach tone, although he usually does not express such a shy side to his fiancé. Still, there he was.
"Where is your arrogance that you always show, Lucian?" whispered Magnus.
The subtle widening of eyes of the eighth prince did not go unnoticed by the Grand Duke. He was gathering in his own melancholy because of the fear of having spoiled everything they had. Lowering his eyes slightly, Lucian held Magnus' wrist, preventing him from moving his hand away and showing at the same time that he liked that touch.
"Do you regret getting engaged to me, Magnus?"
Lucian didn't have the courage to see the omega's reaction. However, he felt the strength of those crimson eyes on him. A shadow appeared between them, and Lucian felt the space between them diminish. In a matter of seconds, much less than thousandths, Lucian felt the warm breath of Magnus beating on his neck along with the warmth of his skin.
"That's a very silly question" Magnus whispered, rubbing his lips around Lucian's neck "It seems my fiancé loves to say nasty things."
If before Lucian did not feel anxious to face his fiancé, with only that intimacy Magnus managed to make him crazy. Was he being teased and mocked? He was excited and annoying at the same time.
He was using those words again.
"Isn't a silly question. You said the same thing that day..."
"Think of the scenario where you are able to kill me" Magnus looked up at Lucian, still leaning over his prince's neck. They were so close to the point of hearing each other's voice in mere intimate whispers "Do you really think that you would now be able to hurt me?"
"I don't think" Lucian admitted "I don't want that either."
"So it is ridiculous to think that such a future would happen."
It was a moment of accomplishment for Lucian.
Ah. It makes sense.
Magnus again rubbed his lips into Lucian's skin, dangerously approaching his gland behind the ear. That gland the hybrids had and were responsible for producing their smells. An area so sensitive and intimate that with a mere kiss from Magnus, made Lucian sigh and feel the blood running through his body.
The tips of Magnus's teeth pinched the skin on his neck. Lucian bit his lower lip preventing — with all his might — a moan from escaping. When the omega moved away enough to check the alpha state, Magnus could feel Lucian's smell being emitted. A mere provocation and an alpha would take the chance to cover an omega with its aroma.
That made Magnus smile and nose up.
"Let's go. We still have a long way to the Grimwood property."
Magnus held Lucian's elbow and led him out of the palace. Nearby was the Grand Duke's spotless carriage, which would take them to their privacy. The instant Lucian came in, sat down on the bench and the porthole was closed, Magnus closed the curtains and unexpectedly sat on Lucian's lap.
The act was so sudden and surprising that Lucian hardly believed what he saw and felt. The weight of that wonderful ass in contact with his thighs and the sweet smell of wine surrounding it were able to free the prince from his bad mood.
"That's kind of dangerous, you know?" whispered Lucian, facing the Grand Duke with seriousness.
"Indeed, it is. But it seems I need to teach my fiance what his proper place."
Lucian leaned his head slightly.
"And what would be my place?"
"We are from the same glass, your madness is identical to mine and it draws my attention." Magnus held Lucian's hand and raised it to within inches of his own face "so do what you do best, try to manipulate me into your clutches as I make you more and more obsessed with me, Lucian."
The phrase "your madness is a bit like mine" seemed to have an insane meaning for Lucian. Magnus was a villain who made no effort to get what he wanted. He drugged Stephen so that he would sleep with other alphas. Hired bandits to get rid of him and even challenged him to a battle for Maverick's hand.
If there was something that Magnus did not hesitate to do, it was precisely what he wanted regardless of the method.
And Lucian has done the same since he came into this world.
He also drugged Magnus. He used his morals to force him to marry. Demonstrated his jealousy in front of Maverick and even showed himself willing to be used in all ways by the omega.
None of them would be considered a healthy couple in their modern era.
Lucian's hand went to Magnus' neck, rubbing his thumb through his adam's apple. There is no trace left of his melancholy now that the omega has given him the opening to be obsessed with it.
"Even if I'm a crazy person who believes in predicting the future?"
"Don't worry, I'll make good use of it too."
Shit.
He was perfect.
Lucian did not take long to attack the omega's neck and kiss it with all his desire. The alpha's smell began to cover the omega while he marked that skin with hickeys. When Lucian's lips brushed Magnus' eyes, both reflected a burning desire that grew.