MasukEvelisse Thornhart POV"My throat and chest are burning with such a heavy pressure," I whisper, shifting uncomfortably on the velvet cushion.Lucien turns his sharp green eyes toward my frame. We are trapped in the center of a royal gathering at the Velvet Blood Court, celebrating my mortal illustrations for the Eternal Crimson Palace archives. Leaving is out of the question."Is the ache severe?" He watches my teeth dig into my lower lip, his immortal senses catching my distress. "Grant me a fraction of a minute."A rush of relief washes over me, though it cannot endure. I watch the high court curator messaging on her communication device. She concluded her introductory blood toast, and now the other ancient elites are offering their formal addresses. We are positioned near the rear exits, allowing Lucien to glide effortlessly over to her side."Pardon the interruption, my eternal mate requires a brief intermission," Lucien informs the curator.The elite looks up in utter astonishmen
Evelisse Thornhart POV"You have been feeding me fabrications from the very instant our paths crossed," I whisper, my eyes blurring with hot human tears as I stand frozen by the study door. "Every sweet syllable out of your mouth—how much of it is actually real?""Princess," Lucien says softly, his deep voice carrying a soothing, quiet frequency. He steps toward me like I am a panicked creature he might accidentally startle into flight. My human instincts are screaming at me to run from this room. "Direct your steps to me."I ache to throw my body against his chest, but I force my feet to anchor to the floor. I was a naive fool once, but I refuse to let my heart be broken twice."You cannot trust a word this monster utters, Evelisse," Alistair cuts in, his face contorted with anger. "He is using your flesh for his own political schemes. He possesses details he should never have discovered." He looks at me like I am completely brainless. "The vampire council? The high authorities? He i
Lucien D'Artois POVEvelisse’s tracking message arrives shortly after I enter my own gates. I attempted to return to my tasks in the study, but the raw memory of her skin against the obsidian stone was too overwhelming, forcing me to abandon the room. It was an actual physical agony to watch her drive away from my citadel tonight, but I had to grant her that space. As desperately as my inner beast craved locking her away in my deepest chambers, I knew it wasn't the proper hour. At least not yet.The digital text contained only three words: Come claim me. I bolted from the citadel instantly.Thank the dark gods Odette Viremont was nowhere to be found. Most nights she occupies the private estate of Gideon Valmont so they can indulge in their forbidden desires without court scrutiny. I cannot fault their choice. Since crossing paths with Evelisse, my entire existence revolves around separating her from the world.There are still immense secrets Evelisse does not comprehend, and the hour
A month ago, Alistair wouldn't have noticed if I vanished into the Blackmoor Haven crypts for days. Now, with this horrific Sebastian Montclair alliance, he is tracking my every step. I am going to have to force him to see that I am no longer his to trade."Does your bloodline trouble you?" Lucien asks, fastening his dark shirt. I want nothing more than to abandon the clothes and crawl back into his cold lap."My father is searching for me," I tell him, reaching for my lace bra. "I must return to the manor.""Your home is inside my blood citadel," Lucien offers smoothly."I desire that more than anything, but I must face him. I need to do this. He is the only blood relative I have left in this world."Lucien's green eyes scan my face for several tense seconds before he finally gives a slow nod. "Very well." I can see the raw reluctance in his jaw, but he is yielding exclusively for my sake."Thank you." I rise onto the tips of my toes to press a soft kiss against his cold cheek before
Evelisse Thornhart POV"Daddy," I moan, my eyelids fluttering open in the darkness of the leather sofa. I smile immediately against his skin when I realize the heavy, freezing sensation of his body isn't a dream. My mind must have crashed completely under the weight of our intense encounter.Lucien releases my nipple from his cold lips, his green eyes burning down into mine. "I need you."I suck in a sharp breath, my heart jumping. I am not entirely certain my human ears heard him correctly, but my soul desperately hopes I did. Why would an ancient, pureblood immortal ever need a fragile human like me?"You need me?""Yes, princess. I need you." He shifts his heavy frame, pinning me flat against the cushions until I am completely trapped beneath his cold muscles.I crave the freezing weight of his immortal body holding me down. The sensation of being entirely dominated by him makes my pulse race with safety. Deep within my chest, I know his inner beast will protect my life, making the
Lucien D'Artois POV"Do you enjoy provoking my inner beast?" I demand the moment Evelisse crosses the threshold of my private den at the blood citadel."No, sir," she whispers, ducking her head immediately.It is a useless attempt at submission. I already caught the tiny, wicked curve of her lips before she looked down."So not only do you deliberately violate my curfew rules, but you dare lie straight to my face?""I am deeply sorry, sir.""Your flesh tells a completely different story." I begin a slow, predatory circle around her trembling human frame, watching the pulse jump wildly in her throat. "Are you prepared to surrender your underwear to me today?""No."Her chin snaps up instantly. The smug little smile vanishes from her lips, her wide eyes reflecting total shock."You will keep them on," I command, halting right behind her shoulder. "Strip away every other layer of your academy uniform. Leave only the white ruffles from the atelier. Then stand directly against my obsidian







