Lucian’s POV “You should have seen Nikolai, he could barely even walk. The elders nearly beat him to death. You pushed him directly into the trap.” Azariel laughed.“Be careful child, you might choke on your meal. Table manners.” Ivana scolded him.“Nmm, I don't think I want to ever leave. The food here is simply delicious or I should take one of the maids who cooks these dishes along with me.” Michael said in between mouthfuls of food.“Keep quiet Michael and eat.” Ivana warned.“Ughh. You're so obsessed with being quie—” A fork flung at him stopped his words.“Hey! What did you do that for? You're as brutal as ever, Ivana.” He complained.“Any news from Landonsville?” Gaius who had been quiet asked.“Nm, it is as Lucian speculated. Some of the higher-ups knew about your imprisonment and some might even have a hand in it.” Azariel commented and the dining room went silent except for the clinking of forks against the plate.It was as I had expected, they would certainly feel betraye
Iris's POV “Kael.” I called but got no response. “If you're hiding show yourself immediately, I don't play kids games.” I taunted but still no response.I guess he was gone. I looked up at the book and sighed, I really wanted to read it. Maybe when I see him next time, he’ll get it for me.“The guardian’s name is Kael? Coolll.” Eloise chuckled.After giving the book one last look, I walked away from the shelf deciding to pick another book.I felt a whoosh above my head. I looked up and a book landed on my head before hitting the ground.“Aww.” I yelped, rubbing my head.“Are you alright milady?” Sntha asked with concern.“Yeah, it's just some book.” I said as I bent to pick up the book.I turned to its front cover, lo and behold, it was the same book that I was yearning to read. My instinct tells me that Kael had a hand in this.Swiftly, I ducked to the other shelf and peer led at the back but found nothing. Maybe the earth knew how much I wanted to read it and here it was.“I’ll tak
Lucian’s POV I watched Azariel fall to the ground with a thud with no emotions.“Quite dead, as a doornail.” I muttered.“Azarielll!.” Beom cried as he bent, holding Azariel's heartless body.With a yell, he sliced up the rogue that had pulled out Azariel's heart before looking at me with many emotions flickering in his eyes; confusion, fear, sadness, and a hint of rage.“You seem so unbothered…” He muttered.I sighed, before bending. “You are more flustered and sad about this than me, despite the fact that we are closer. Is there something you're not telling me?” My lips curled.“I can't believe you, Lucian. Your friend is dead and you're so…” He shook his head.“Now, I won't watch you call him dead. We have kids to save, leave him, he’d be fine.” I patted his shoulder.Beom darted his eyes from the lifeless Azariel to me. Then he rose to his feet, during his knees.“You bastards.” His lips trembled as he glared at me.“Let's go now. There's no time to waste, lead the way.” I smirk
Iris's POV I froze on my seat, my eyes widening as my breath came to a halt. Then the dagger dropped to the ground with a clicking sound. If it had moved a bit, my eyes would have been damaged.“Oh my! Thank goodness.” Samantha exclaimed as she stood by my side.She and Eloise had both jumped from their seats and rushed to my side when they sighted the dagger.“Let's move away from here, this place isn't safe for you, milady. It seemed like someone threw it intentionally. I’ll report this to Ivan.” Samantha said, looking at those surrounding us suspiciously.I stood to leave, but glanced at the mysterious people sitting. I stared at the man with dark hair and he swiftly turned, as if feeling my gaze on him. I looked away immediately with my heart beating fast. Who were they?“I guess that's enough for today's tour.” Eloise sighed.They both escorted me to my room and I let them go as they might have things to do as well. I dropped on my bed with a sigh, shutting my eyes momentarily.
Lucian's POV Beom carried the two boys on his shoulders as we walked through the forest. Some children's corpses were hung up on a tree with their stomach slit. I bet this was the mutants' way of warning whoever dares to follow them.Beom hadn't noticed this, so did the boys. I gripped his shoulders and turned him to the other side.“Lucian what are yo—” “Shh. Just keep quiet and move.”“But we are going the wrong way.” He protested.“Alright. Let's see who’ll traumatise the boys now.” My lips curled.He stared at me skeptically before slowly dropping the boys.“Stay near him and don't look back okay?” He said to the boys who nodded slowly.He glanced at me once more before taking a step forward. “Oh shit!” He cursed as he stumbled to a side of the forest, vomiting.I knew he would react this way, typical Beom. Even if I had told him to forget about it, he certainly wouldn't agree but would insist on knowing why I had changed the route.“Why? Why the fuck are they doing thisss??!!
Lucian’s POV “Wow.” I heard Roman whisper beside me, Uriel was astonished as well.“Scary uncle, how did you do that?” Uriel asked, his eyes widening.“I have it in me.” I chuckled.Beom was still surprised as he stared at me, saying nothing. Then he bent, calling the boys over.“Don't go telling others about what scary uncle did okay? This is our own little secret. Pinky promise?” He stretched out his finger which Uriel hurriedly clung up to.“That's childish, even after doing that doesn't mean a secret would be kept. I give you my word, I won't say a thing. And if I do, behead me.” Roman said with a serious look.Beom looked at him bewildered. “Come here Roman.” “Look at me, whether you say it out loud or not, nobody is going to behead you, okay? Don't bear such thoughts in mind.” He ruffled his hair playfully.Beom rose up, casting me a worried glance. I was sure it was about Roman. The boy was saying and doing things that weren't expected from a child his age. Now come to think
Lucian’s POV I wondered if Nikolai had an idea of what their boss was doing. I doubted it because if it were so, Baran would have informed him even if Nikolai was still a bit suspicious of him.“Your master would be very mad to know he has subordinates that are very dumb with the brain of a chicken. What a pity.” I shook my head slowly.“I promise you, your death would be slow and painful. You have been rambling for the past few minutes.” He growled.“Ah, you're mistaken. It's the other way round, it's you who has been rambling. Let's get this over with, shall we? Your disgusting smell is making me lose brain cells.” I sighed.“Lucian, what the hell are you doing? You're making him more riled up, he might hurt the boys!” Beom whispered in my ear, panicking.“Shh. Don't be a mosquito.”Beastmen were known for their awful smell, and they always get tense and angry if someone mentions it. They sometimes kill or harm those who make fun of them. Knowing how powerful they were, people knew
Lucian's POV “Where did the things go?” Beom asked the boy.“They went to attend to something important before they changed our location.” Another boy answered.“I see. Don't worry, we'll get you boys to safety.” Beom said as he branded his claws. He them snapped off the chains that bounded the boys one by boy. All the boys eyes brightened as they caressed their wrist which were red as a result of the chains.“Where did the things pass when they were leaving?” Beom asked.“They said some words and the ground open, over there.” The boy from earlier answered, pointing at a corner in the room.“Do you remember the word?” “No.” He shook his head slowly.“Do any of you remember the word?” Beom faced the rest of the boys.They shook their head, meaning they didn't know what the word was.“Well…the rest of the boys were asleep when they left. They sprinkled a kind of dust, which made them asleep. I didn't inhale the dust, but I pretended to be asleep like the rest.” The boy revealed.“If
Lucian’s POV“They are back.” Ivan informed me as I trained.I hummed in response, and continued training. Dodging the bullets that came my way. There were several programmed machines, whose aim was to shoot out bullets. I was dodging each and every one of them without using my powers. I had quick reflexes, so I didn't find them quite hard. I imagined a situation whereby my powers were taken away from me, and I could only chuckle.Ariel had mentioned earlier that he was going to watch a fight at the black market. I knew Ariel too well to know that he got bored of those fights. So, he definitely had other intentions. He revealed that Vonn Averaj, the younger brother of Konstantin Averaj would be present at the fight.Vonn Averaj was a human, despite the fact that his brother was a god. Konstantin’s mother, who was a human, married another human after her first husband, who was a god, died. Vonn was their son, a step brother to Konstantin.He was known for his love for women, and his a
Iris's POV “What's wrong Rhea?” I whispered.“It's nothing, just slight pangs of headache.” She whispered back.“Which means you haven't required well, you should have stayed home till you got better.” I sighed.“I promise, I'm fine. Let's focus on this man here before he kills us with his suspicious stares.” She muttered.“Who are you? And what do you want from Konstantin? You don't really look like you’re from the brothel.” He sat up, his eyes alert.I could see his slowly reaching out for something in the pillow, he didn't trust us.“If you're this suspicious of us then why did you send those beautiful ladies out?” I asked, and he paused in his movement.“Yes, they are indeed beautiful. But they don't compare one bit to both of you, I thought you were high class brothel ladies prepared for me by as the champion. But with the question you asked, you aren't.” His eyes peered at us.“What should we do?” I whispered as we stuck together.“Ariel probably wants us to lure him or somethi
Iris's POV I froze on the spot, unable to look away as memories of the past came flooding. The beatings, the tellings, the whips. I trembled, unable to move.Meanwhile his lips slowly morphed into a smile, a taunting one. He realised he still had the effect on me, that I was still scared of him.“Hey! Move red hair what the hell are you standing there for?” A gruff voice pushed me to the side and I staggered.My father then lowered his hands to the belt he was, caressing it as if to remind me of the pain he had inflicted on me with them. It was like I blanked out, and I could only see him.What the fuck was wrong with me? I thought I had gotten stronger, I thought I would be able to face him someday without fear. But here I was, immobile and shaking like a leaf.“Stop it.” I muttered, repeatedly.His eyes never left mine, his taunting smile still present.“Iris! Look at me!” I heard a familiar voice snap, and felt a pair of hands on my shoulders that shook me rigorously.I shook my h
Iris's POV I sighed for the umpteenth time as I tried to push away memories of the incidents that had happened yesterday. I groaned at the remembrance of how I was easily flustered, when he was just trying to apply medicine to bruises that I had ignored.This was the second time this was happening, and it was all my fault. When he asked me to strip and threatened me with my mother, it turned that he was only trying to check if I was injured from what I told him.But my body had been reacting otherwise. I guess that's what you get for being a virgin all your life. A pang of guilt hit me as I thought of the words I said about his family.Honestly, I expected him to hit me or something but he didn't. Flashbacks of how he beat my father because he saw marks on my shoulders, came with full force.He saved me from the rogues when I tried to escape home, the floweries incident, he came to save me. To think of it, he had been my saviour anytime I got into a mess. Yet, I still couldn't stop b
Lucian’s POV Punching Lucian was the only way I could vent my anger and frustration. He enjoyed the beating as the mad person he was. He knew who Iris was, yet he had put on the perfect facade.I had asked her to strip not because I was angry at her or anything, but because I knew she'd be hurt. With what she explained to me, the cab driver would definitely have hurt her. The red lines on her face told it all, and I knew Lucian didn't hurt her.If only I had met him alive, he’d have preferred to be sent to hell. Iris said Lucian saved them, and I knew he’d have definitely killed the men.My blood boiled that they had the audacity to touch and hit her, and they got away with it by dying before I got to them. Maybe I shouldn't have asked her to strip, because when she did, it took a lot of fucking control to hold myself. I couldn't lie I felt sexually attracted to her, I had let her get to me.I had never been affected by any woman this way. I had known it would get to something like
Iris’s POV I rubbed my ears to see if I had heard wrong, but from the look in his eyes, he wasn't joking.“I won’t repeat my words, and if I do, I promise you'll hate me more than you do.” I heard him say, and I gritted my teeth.“You're kidding me.” I seethed.Who the hell did he think he was to order me around? Do I look like some kind of stripper? If he needed one, he should go to a club; I don't care.I’d had enough, taking one deep breath, I rose from the bed and made my way towards the door. But on getting to the door, I halted, turning to face him.“Look, I’ve explained everything to you. I don't get why you're still…pissed or whatever. What else do you want? I’m sorry if….I made you worry, that's if you even did.” I muttered.“I didn't try to escape.” I added, but he still said nothing, his cold eyes watching me.I sighed, before reaching out for the door handle to unlock it.“If you dare step out of that door…I’m afraid your parents' life would not remain the same.” He said
Iris's POV My heart thumped rapidly, that I feared those in the room could hear it. I sat, glued to the seat without being able to make any movement. Lucian stood by the door, staring into my soul with those cold blue eyes.The mad king on the other hand, didn't seem ready to leave. I was screwed, he had definitely misunderstood and with the way he was looking at me, he looked like he would tear me apart at any moment soon.The plan was to explain everything to the mad king, so that if the search party got here, Lucian would understand. But instead, Lucian had found me first.“I can explain.” The words jumped out from my mouth as Lucian took a step forward.Still locking gazes with me, each step was like a death sentence to me. He stood in front of me, his height towering. Then he withdrew his gaze and now faced Lucian, the mad king.I was in between them, feeling so damn uncomfortable. Looking at them up close, they were the same height. But Lucian, my nightmare seems to be slightly
Lucian’s POV My brows furrowed, as I clenched my fists. Her scent that I perceived in the car boot earlier, wasn't a mistake or a coincidence, she was indeed in the boot. Which meant she had probably tried to escape along with her new friend.“What's wrong Lucian? What did Ivan tell you?” Azariel asked upon noticing my quietness.“Let's go back to the council, now.” I muttered.I would visit Konstantin later, but now; finding Iris was more important. Maybe it was because I went a little easy on her the last time she attempted to escape, and now she thought she could do it freely.If only she knows….When I find her, I’d have to teach her a good lesson so she wouldn't dare assume for once that I was a good girl. That's the thing with people, you show them a little leniency, and they’d take it for granted.I dashed out of the shack, walking to the car with Ariel and Azariel behind me. This time, I drove by myself, rage coursing through my veins. I was sure she didn't escape to her home
“Well, well, well. Look who we have here, what a coincidence.” She smiled. “Aren't you meant to be at your pack now?”“It's a long story.” I muttered as I explained everything to her, from how the cab driver brought us here to how he attacked us with his men, and finally Lucian, the mad king coming to save us and how we got to the hospital.“It's understandable that Lucian killed those men, he can't stand the likes of them. But he let his driver bring you and your friend to his hospital? That's new.” She looked surprised.“He has definitely caught interest in one of you, or both of you; maybe.” She laughed lightly but I wasn't finding it funny.He was interested in who?I subconsciously imagined the scene of him flaying his wife, and it was enough to send shivers down my spine.“Thank you for the information. I’ll immediately leave with Rhea.” I muttered quickly and she burst out laughing.“You really are as quick as a horse. Is that how much you're scared of him? Don't worry, he won'