Semua Bab MARKED BY THE VAMPIRE PRINCE : Bab 21 - Bab 30

Lucian’s POV The morning before the gala, I spent my time swinging between being completely unbothered to completely over my head thinking of what I was about to do. And no, I'm not talking about the gala. I twirled a silver pen between my fingers, leaning so far back in my chair that all it would take was one nudge and I'd go sprawling down to the floor. And honestly, it was a tempting option. Perhaps the floor would be an easier alternative than the reality of what I was about to do: asking Aritzea to be my date for the gala. As it turned out, I was excellent at avoiding that. Two weeks and I hadn't said anything. We talked about the gala a few times, yes, but I hadn't asked her to be my escort. The gala was tonight, and I only had so many hours left to stall before I asked her. I stared at the ceiling like it might offer a solution. It stared at me just as blankly and I exhaled a breath, sharp through my nose. I wasn’t nervous. Lucian Vaughn did not get nervous. I was...strat

Lucian's POV The gala was in full bloom by the time I stepped inside. Gold lights washed over glass walls and polished floors, painting everything in warm, expensive hues. Laughter swirled in the air, backed by the soft clink of glasses and the occasional hum of a quartet buried somewhere near the balcony. It was all textbook perfection—the kind of atmosphere built to distract—but my eyes were keen tonight. “Lucian!” Gideon’s voice boomed across the entrance, loud enough to momentarily silence the chatter around him. “You actually came!” He strode over with his usual cheer, arms wide like he was greeting a long-lost brother. His suit was a shade too bright, his cologne sharp and almost irritating, but his grin was genuine—or at least practiced well enough to pass as real. “I did,” I said smoothly, fixing a deep gaze on him and daring him to wrap his filthy hands around me. He stiffened for a second and put his arms down. However, he quickly recovered from that brief moment of

Aritzea’s POV I’ve fought rogue wolves with death wishes. Almost killed a manic vampire who ran about with his fangs out years ago. So, abrupt fights weren't new to me. But getting slammed into a wall by a human at a fancy party? That was new. The impact knocked the breath out of me, and for a second, my head rang with a high-pitched whine. I blinked hard, refusing to drop, my nails already lengthening as my claws slid halfway out. The man lunged again, and I met him head-on, slamming my forearm into his throat. He staggered, not enough to satisfy me, but enough to buy a breath. I twisted, planting my heel into his gut and using the momentum to shove him off. He grunted but didn’t stagger far, and the moment he hit the floor, he was already back up. A smile quirked his lips. Unnerving fucker. I didn’t wait. I launched forward—he ducked, I pivoted, claws grazing his side. A flash of blood bloomed red against his shirt. He hissed. “Sloppy,” I muttered. He grinned wider. I didn

Aritzea’s POV When we came back to the gala, nothing was amiss. “They'd already left the premises before you informed me,” Armand said once we reached a private corner. “But I've sent the team after them. They'll capture and bring them back.” “I’m going after them,” I said, already moving toward the exit. The people he sent were capable and whatver, but I didn't care. Rosalie had left me to be ripped apart by her goon. I was already planning how I’d personally rip her spine out through her mouth as soon as I caught her. Lucian blocked my path before I could shift into high gear. “No, you’re not.” I stopped, my brows rising as I narrowed my eyes. “Excuse me?” “There are already people on their trail. Let them handle it.” He said, tone final. I blinked at him. Was he serious? “Let them—you do remember that this whole thing, is being led by you and ME, right? Its nkt nust your vampires out there, Lucian. My wolves are out there too.” His silver eye flashed with irritation. “You d

Aritzea’s POV “What?” I blinked. Once. Twice. Maybe I misheard. Maybe Thorne didn’t just say what I think he said. But he didn’t stop talking. His voice, calm and smooth, cut through the heavy silence like a knife, somehow making everything feel worse. “I believe the mission will benefit from a shift in leadership,” he said. “New perspectives, new energy. The tension between current investigators has become a hindrance.” I stared at him stonily but he didn’t look at me. Instead, he kept talking like I wasn’t sitting right there. Like this was some distant, practical issue he was calmly unpacking instead of my actual life. “Though both Aritzea and Lucian are exceptionally skilled,” he went on, “they may not be the best fit for working together. Their differences in temperament, combined with the… strain of living together, have created unnecessary conflict. Which we can’t afford at this stage.” And just like that—he made it sound like Lucian and I hated each other. Like we were