Chapter 2

Lucien suddenly shoved me away and closed one hand around my throat.

"Why should I believe you?" he said coldly. "If the curse is not contained, I may die. You risk nothing but a few shameless jokes. Are you a spy sent by the holy orders?"

He released me, then searched me from head to toe with ruthless speed.

"No one has ever neutralized my lust-curse," he said. "Every month, a hundred women must sacrifice their lives, or the curse tears me apart. What sorcery did you use to withstand it?"

He found nothing.

Of course he found nothing. There was no charm, no medicine, no talisman. I was simply feeding on the curse he thought would kill me.

"I do not know," I said innocently. "Maybe I fell in love at first sight. Maybe we were lovers for several lifetimes. Why not believe that?"

I blinked up at him.

Succubi had their methods. One look, one softened breath, one little pout, and even the Demon King himself looked away.

"Who sent you?" he demanded, though his voice was not as steady as before. "What kind of lie is that?"

"If you do not trust me, Your Majesty can keep looking for the other ninety-nine. But I will say this first: if I prove I can bear your curse, you may not let anyone else have you."

I traced circles against his chest.

"Give me a chance, Your Majesty."

Lucien caught my wandering hand. His breathing was heavier now, his eyes flickering like coals.

"Fine," he said. "You will be the first. But understand this. The curse is fatal. If you are lying, you will be the first to die."

I melted toward him like warm sugar. "I understand perfectly."

Fatal? It was a feast. I could have devoured him whole.

Lucien looked at me like I was an exotic creature he had found in the forest.

"What kind of woman says such things with a straight face?" he muttered. "Are the holy orders trying a new tactic?"

It seemed no woman had ever been warm with him before. Yet he was undeniably gorgeous. A man like this—if not for his violent temper and the curse riding his body—would have had women fighting over him.

I stared at him for too long, savoring the sharp sweetness of the curse rolling off his skin. He turned away first.

"We will see how long you can pretend."

He swept out with his robes flying. His back looked imposing, but I saw the slight stumble in his steps and the red at the tips of his ears.

"Put her in the east wing," he ordered. "First room."

I called after him, "Wait. Your Majesty, I want to keep my friend with me. But can you exempt her from the consort registry? You only need me, right?"

Lucien paused and looked between me and Elodie for several seconds.

"Granted."

Once we were taken to our room, Elodie and I jumped in place with our hands clasped together. Halfway through, she stopped and stared at me with worry.

"Camille, can you really do this? He looks terrifying. His skin is gray, and the whole palace is afraid of him."

"Terrifying?" I laughed. "He is gorgeous. If you are scared, leave him to me.

"When I touch him, my blood heats up and my whole body burns. I think this is what love feels like."

The door opened.

Lucien stood there.