Semua Bab MARKED BY THE VAMPIRE PRINCE : Bab 11 - Bab 20

Lucian’s POV There was something so poetic about walking into my father's domain knowing fully well he despised me. The hall was exactly as I remembered—cold, grand, and drenched in old power. My father sat atop his glamorous throne-like chair that remained from a time when Vampires still considered themselves Kings. My dear father, Cassius Vaughn, had refused to let go of the power that comes with being King and insisted I walk in his very entitled shoes and prepare to take over his throne. “Lucian,” he said, his frown at my casual suit very apparent. I step forward, offering a slow, lazy bow to the king himself. “Father.” His gaze lingered on me for a bit too long and I could tell what was coming next—an unbearable long lecture. I waited for him to begin, hands tucked into my pockets. “How long do you intend to disgrace your lineage? You’ve had your fun roaming about, but it’s time to return and act like a proper prince.” And there it was. “You're not living up to your stat

Aritzea’s POV This was a mistake and I should have known. A terrible, idiotic mistake. I could feel it the second the elders opened their mouths. “Well arrange for you to move closer to Prince Lucian,” one of them said. “To ensure smooth cooperation, that is.” I tilted my head. Closer? What did they mean by closer? As in, the same district? A house nearby? A room in the same building? “And by closer,” another elder continued, oblivious to the rising tension, “we mean she’ll stay at his residence.” His what? No. No fucking way. I turned to my brother, already knowing there was no damn way he was agreeing to this. But again, before he could put in a word, he was cut. His frown deepened even more that it already had and he turned to Lucian “I refuse.” Lucian’s voice seemed serious. Very much unlike how he'd been the entire meeting. I blinked. He leaned back in his chair, looking completely unimpressed. “There’s no reason for her to stay at my house. We can work together just fin

Aritzea’s POV I stormed down the hallway, my irritation growing with every step. The water in my room wasn’t working. The water. Of all the things that could go wrong, this was what I had to deal with? I’d been prepared for… well, a lot worse when I was told I’d be staying here, but at the very least, I expected basic functionality. It was a minor inconvenience. A stupid, stupid inconvenience. But after the day I’d had, it was enough to send my patience spiraling into the abyss. I marched down the hall, bare feet silent against the polished floors. The house was too big, too modern, all dark glass and sleek minimalism. It felt more like a luxury hotel than a home. Then again, I doubted Lucian saw a difference. After all, all this shiny stuff and yet, apparently, plumbing was where he drew the line. Did vampires even take baths? Whatever, I had better things to think about. Reaching the study, I lifted my hand to push the door open—only for it to swing inward before I could tou

Lucian’s POV The morning air bit colder than usual, or maybe that was just me. It hadn't felt cold when I'd been in the kitchen with Aritzea. But now, away from the house, everything felt frigid. My fangs ached—no, itched—with a restlessness I hadn’t felt in years. It wasn’t the usual craving. This was sharp, gnawing and coiling behind my ribs like smoke, refusing to sit still. I hadn’t fed in nearly a month, which wasn’t particularly unheard of for me. I didn’t particularly like blood. Most of it tasted like copper and regret. Even the premium bags Armand sourced from certified, morally clean donors made me feel vaguely sick after a while. I could go a month or two, sometimes longer if I distracted myself well enough. But now? Now it was clawing at my throat. I leaned against the sleek side of my car, fingers flexing like I could scratch the hunger out. I closed my eyes. Breathe. Control. Focus. It worked for just a second. But then she slid into my mind like she belonged there.

Aritzea’s POV The house was quiet. It was just me here. Oh, right. Excuse me—just me and my new prisoner. But he wasn't important. I curled up on the worn leather couch, dressed in jeans and a loose sweater, thumbing through the file Lucian had left behind. It was thicker than I'd thought, filled with detailed records—more than I expected, honestly. The vampires had been watching the hunters for a long time. Each page was a slow burn of anger. Routes, ambushes, kidnappings. Some attacks mirrored the ones we wolves already knew about—individuals disappearing along forest borders, scouts taken without a trace. But then there were the things we didn’t know. Things they hadn’t done to us. The hunters weren’t just murdering vampires. They were experimenting on them. One report detailed a vampire locked in a sun-sealed room for days, kept just barely alive to test how long they could survive extreme starvation. Another had been dismembered and pieced together with surgical