LUCIUS' POV
I was forced to the floor, but I managed to drag Seline and cover both her and Dusk with my body as best as I could.
The explosion reached me, and a burning pain surged as flames briefly covered us. However, I knew the pain wouldn't last. I got to my feet immediately, raised Seline, carried Dusk in my arms, and we left with Naomi's scream piercing the air.
We made our way back to the Kingdom, and Marcus and his men were waiting. "She's gone. Completely," I said, and Ariadne rushed to me. "Alpha! You're hurt!" she exclaimed and cast a contemptuous look at the unconscious Dusk.
"Bring clothes for the Alpha now!" she screamed to the maids, and they immediately left to bring me clothes. "I can't take this anymore. Our Alpha can't keep hurting himself and the Kingdom just for one creature who isn't worthy of being the Luna," she said, dusting off my arm, and I swatted her hands away.
"Don't talk about her like that," I said to her. "Take her to my room," I said to the men, and Dusk was taken. "Thank you for today," I said to Seline, and she nodded. "I'll go take care of myself now," she said, bowed, and left.
"You keep hurting my feelings," I heard Ariadne say as I made to leave. I turned to her and scoffed. I wasn't fooled by her. I knew all she wanted was power.
"You keep rejecting me. I want to be by your side every day and take care of you the way a Luna takes care of her Alpha, but you're not willing to listen. You're not even stopping to give me a chance," she said, tears streaming down her face.
"I won't hurt your feelings if you don't feel for me, nor would I reject you if you don't throw yourself at me. I will be willing to listen and stop to give you a chance when you give up your insane desire to sit on the throne," I said, and scoffed. "A Luna who takes care of an Alpha. I'm afraid Dusk is already doing that, and I like it, and need no change," I said, and left her standing there, sniffing uncontrollably.
~
I changed into the clothes the maids brought for me and went to see Dusk, who was sleeping. "What did the Physicians say?" I asked Marcus. "They say she's fine. She's sleeping, and Seline says she doesn't sense a strange aura," he said, and I nodded.
"Early tomorrow, I want you to check Naomi's pond, tell me what it looks like, and if you sense anything going on," I said, and he nodded. "Is there anything you'd like me to do?" he asked.
"No. That would be all for today. You may leave," I said, and he bowed, then took his leave. I covered Dusk with the covers, and kissed her forehead. I locked the door and the windows to ensure she was safe throughout the night.
~
I woke up very late. The window was open, and sunlight streamed in. I looked at my side, but Dusk wasn't there. I sat up immediately and saw the door open. I swung my legs out of bed hastily but stopped as I saw her coming in with a tray of food. She saw me and smiled. Then she sat next to me.
"I never thought I'd be doing this, but I'm bringing you food in bed because I'm grateful," she said, her cheeks red, blushing. She looked up at me, her eyes bright. She smiled, and her smile went straight to my heart. I knew very soon I was going to have to ask her to be my Luna once more because, apart from my Kingdom needing a Luna, I needed her. I didn't think I could do without her, not after all we'd been through together. She was my perfect Luna.
"What's with that look? I brought you food in bed, but you look so distracted," she said, and I smiled. "What did you bring?" I asked, and as she opened it, I saw different meat dishes. I laughed.
"Why did you bring only meat?" I asked her, and she shrugged. "You need strength. I'm grateful for what you did for me. If it wasn't for you, I'd have been stuck in that water. Seline told me all you did. You saved her too," she said, and I smiled.
"Did she tell you she also had a big role in saving you?" I asked, and she laughed. "She wouldn't miss that. She bragged and bragged, not letting me rest about how she saved me with a little stone," she said, and we both laughed.
~
Later in the afternoon, Arya came to see me in my study. "Yes?" I asked. "A guard from the dungeon wants to see you," she said, and I wondered what a prison guard wanted from me.
"Bring him in," I said, and she returned with a prison guard. He came in and bowed low. "Straighten up, what's the matter?" I asked, and he looked up at me trembling.
"I was sent by your Beta, Ethan Marrok," he said, and I frowned. "How dare you bring me a message from a traitor?" I asked in anger, and he fell to his knees.
"He told me to relay the message to you no matter what. We told him to keep quiet, but he wouldn't listen. He kept bothering us..." he was saying, but I held a hand. "Get out," I said, and he swallowed. "I was told that I was to risk my life. Alpha, please let me relay my message," he pleaded, and I smirked.
"You'd risk your life to bear a traitor's message?" I asked, and he put his hands together. "Alpha, grant me permission to speak, please," he said, and I stood.
"Guards!" I called, and they came in immediately. Upon seeing them, the guard exclaimed. "Lady Ariadne is planning to murder Lady Dusk this afternoon!"