Chapter 4- Back to Reality

Lucern’s POV

My body stiffens as I jerk to look at the woman laying beside me. “Morgana?” I ask, still not believing what my eyes are so clearly telling me. 

“Who else would I be, my love?” She asks, raising one eyebrow in question as she looks up at me from her place on the bed beside me.

A frown forms on my brows as I try to wrap my head around what the devil was happening. I was sure it was Jamari that was in bed with me. Though, now that I think about it with a clear head, it is probably a good thing that it wasn’t Jamari that was in bed with me. I do believe that having her even once would be enough to tie me to her forever. 

“What is on your mind Lucern?” Morgana asks me, concern crossing her features as she sits up in bed to get a better look at me. Her silk nightgown falls back over her exposed breasts and stomach at the movement, catching my eye momentarily. 

Morgana was a beautiful woman and once upon a time would have been enough to hold my interest for the rest of our long days. But ever since Jamari stepped into my Realm it has been hard to appreciate the beauty that is the woman I have loved for centuries. 

With hair the color of a Raven’s feathers, and skin as white as alabaster, she is the embodiment of the dark beauty often written about by poets. Her wide, silver eyes look to mine in question when I don’t answer her question.

I let out a heavy sigh, running my fingers through my hair in exasperation. “How did we…” I let the sentence lie, waving my hands back and forth to hopefully show Morgana what I mean. I’ve never been shy about my sexual needs or desires and have talked about them freely with Morgana many times before, but the guilt of imagining Jamari in bed with me has been eating at my gut since realizing it was Morgana in bed with me.

Morgana many times before, but the guilt of imagining Jamari in bed with me has been eating at my gut since realizing it was Morgana in bed with me. 

Morgana raises her brow in question once more, eyeing me curiously. “Make love?” She asks quietly. Grimacing at her words, I nod my head in answer. Morgana sits up straighter in her spot beside me, turning slightly to better view my face. 

“I returned late to our rooms after visiting with my coven in the Mortal Realm.” She pauses to stare at me. My eyes avert of their own accord as guilt crashes through me at what has happened. “You were laying in bed peacefully when I climbed in beside you, but as soon as our bodies touched you sat straight up–you startled me.” She interupts herself.

After letting out a sigh, she continues. “It was like you came alive.” Her eyes widen in wonder. “I haven’t seen you that animated for a very long time.” Meaning, since before Jamari came in and messed with my head. More guilt eats at my stomach. “You launched yourself on top of me and...well it was over rather quickly.”

Morgana leans back against the headboard, giving me a moment to digest what she has said. Is it possible that during my dream sex with Jamari I inadvertantly acted out the final few minutes with Morgana instead? Does that mean that I left Jamari once again before she knew how desperately I wanted her.

There have been many instances of dream sex with Jamari, dreams that I suspect we share and aren’t just my own, and in each one I pull away before giving into her. Now, when I finally give in and stay with her, I might have been ripped away from her and left her incomplete once again.

This is getting out of hand. I think it is best if I don’t sleep at the same time as Jamari any longer to avoid future temptations. I have committed myself to Morgana and Jamari is already entangled with three other creatures. There is no room in her life for me. No matter how much I wish that there was. 

“I fear I have accosted you while asleep Morgana.” I turn to look into her silver eyes. “I apologize if I hurt you in any way.”

Morgana snorts as a response. “As if you could ever hurt me.” She says, a tentative smile spreading across her face. Snuggling back into the blankets beneath her, she beckons for me to join her in sleep. 

I shake my head in the negative, lifting my body from our bed reluctantly. “I find that I am wide awake now so I will head down and meet with Count Adrian and get an update on how many vampires are still missing from the Realm.”

Disappointment flashes across Morgana’s face before she smoothes out her features and nods in agreement. “Then I shall see you when I awake.” She tells me, closing her eyes for sleep. 

Snatching up the joggers laying on the floor near the bed, I pull them on quickly and move through the room to the door for the hallway. Once out in the hall, I lean my head against the closed bedroom door and take a deep breath in. 

I must find something to occupy my time to keep me away from both women. With each passing day, it grows harder to stay away from Jamari and the guilt that hangs onto me from my growing desire to claim her is slowly killing me everytime that I am around Morgana. 

Yes, it is best that I avoid both women until I can get my feelings under control and decide what I should do. 

With that decided, I push away from the door and run right into the woman I just told myself I was going to avoid. Her eyes lock on mine as she lets out a startled gasp. The emerald green slowly fades to blue as I stand there, rooted to the floor. 

“I’m sorry.” She murmurs, moving to walk past me. Unconsciously, I find myself sidestepping to block her exit. She steps back with a start, tripping herself in her haste to stop. My arms reach out to steady her, refusing to let her go once our bodies touch. 

She looks up at me with questioning eyes, her beauty taking my breath away as I stare down at her. “Lucern?” She asks, her voice coming out a sweet murmur barely above a whisper, a question in the one word she spoke. 

“You should be more careful, my Sweet.” I whisper, my voice husky from the desire growing within me at the small contact. 

A blush creeps up her face at the endearment, causing a grin to spread across my face. Without thought, my head begins to bend down, closing the distance between Jamari and I. Being here in front of her in the flesh after the dream that we shared effectively ripped apart all arguments my mind has given me for staying away from her. 

At this moment, the only thing that matters is this beautiful creature wrapped up in my arms. My body stills at that thought. When did Jamari get wrapped up in my arms? Does it even matter? A hiss of breath leaves Jamari’s lips when my head continues its downward descent towards her lips. 

“Jamar– oh.” The sound of Levi’s voice pulls me back to where I’m at and who is currently in my arms. I lift my head to glance at Levi’s still form standing up the hall staring at us quietly. My eyes roam his face in search of the jealousy and possessiveness that should be there, but find none.

Time stands still as we all stare at each other in the hallway, everyone afraid the spell would be broken once someone moved a muscle. After what feels like an eternity, the sound of approaching footsteps comes echoing along the hall. 

“Levi.” Come Kenji's voice. “Did you find her?” His voice sounding closer with each word. His footsteps falter as he comes upon us standing in the hall, his brow raised in question as they roam over Jamari’s body in my arms. 

After giving Jamari’s upper arms a gentle squeeze, I step back from her, nodding my head at Levi and Kenji before turning and walking away. The sound of Levi’s voice, follows me down the hall. “I’m sorry for interrupting Red.” He tells Jamari lovingly as their voices fade away.