"Probably because it was Eugene who found him" Lucian lied, staying as calm as possible "He must have been surprised and released his scent unconsciously."
It was pure luck that the Cadec's bandage was hiding the bite, as well as covered with the collar of the social shirt. As long as the prince used his innocent mask as a front, he would have enough time for Eugene and Cadec to decide how to tell the news to the Grand Duke. Otherwise, he could not do anything else.
Magnus narrowed his eyes without commenting on it. The crimson eyes shone for his husband, and the gloomy fingers clenched his shoulder stealing his attention. Lucian looked back at him, wondering what his husband wanted there.
"If he fainted from exhaustion, I imagine that he will sleep for a long time."
"I believe so, dear." Lucian agreed to get out of bed and hold the omega pulse "Should we go back to the party?"
"No, I'm tired of hearing those ghouls. Jesse will take care of everything with Eugene."
Magnus held Lucian's hand and looked at him coldly before pulling him out of the room. Following him silently, the prince just took advantage of it as a loophole to keep the omega away from the First Prince. It would be the ideal moment to distract him.
The floor opposite the ballroom was well guarded by the Grimwood knights, who would surely cut the neck of any unwanted guest who dared to come. That was the direction of the couple's room, where they would have the privacy and silence they eagerly sought.
As soon as the door was closed, Magnus let go of his husband's hand and took off his coat. The long fingers loosened the tie and opened the first buttons of the shirt, bringing an exciting informality to Lucian. He could only watch his husband getting more comfortable, as if he was hypnotized by the dark beauty that Magnus Grimwood exhaled.
Those charcoal-black hairs were combed back, and now his exposed skin was flashy. Lucian stared at Magnus' neck thirsty. He already imagined himself getting drunk on his smell and kissing his skin until heard moans escape from those sweet lips. Whatever reason Magnus brought him there, the alpha intended to make good use of the next few minutes.
"You seem annoyed" commented Lucian while taking off his own suit.
"My mood was never the best."
Looking at him from the corner of his eyes, Lucian could see that Magnus really seemed grumpy. What was strange such a sudden change, since he seemed more relaxed after his heat. Perhaps something happened in the absence of Lucian at the party?
"I would give the world to know why you frown. Could you tell me?"
The prince sat on the bed and relaxed his back in the headboard feeling his body weigh more than normal. Staring at the ceiling, he had a strange feeling running through his body. There was a malaise, almost like nausea, and his chest squeezed causing a cold in the belly. The feeling was so strange and uncomfortable that it seemed to lead him to death.
"Frankly... you piss me off."
Blinking stunned, Lucian realized that Magnus was sitting between his legs. How could he not notice?
"Are you talking about me?"
"Who else?"
"Now, don't be mean" Lucian smiled sweetly as he wrapped his arms around Magnus' waist. Kissing his neck, felt the sweet smell of wine emanating from him, stronger than usual "Could you tell me what I did this time?"
"I should be the one to ask this" Magnus held Lucian's chin, forcing him to stare "Since that day in the temple you've been strange. It seems that I did not distracted you enough."
Was he worried? That's cute.
Lucian squeezed his arms around Magnus' waist and pulled him closer. He let the omega lay on his chest, and only then could he completely envelop him with its heat.
"I would say that you distracted me too much. A pity I can not continue distracted."
"You are insatiable, but that will not be enough to evade my question." Magnus extended his index finger and slid down the neck where he bit Lucian once "this makes it clear how much you needs your omega."
Raising his eyes in surprise, Lucian did not expect the bite to really do great things besides "marking territory". Holding Magnus' fingers that touched his neck, Lucian kissed them smiling sweetly, surrendering to the husband.
"Let's say I have found the answer to this gift of mine" he began, staring at Magnus' fingers as he organized his own thoughts "I don't know why I had it, but now I understand how it happened."
"Your gift? Is it related to the fact that the Emperor was in the temple that night?"
"Would it be crazy to say that I remember my past life?"
Magnus looked at him silently and raised his eyebrow looking skeptical.
"Your past life? By chance those doves gave you some funny tea?"
"I wish" Lucian laughed "Dreaming of my own death, with his death... all this would be a crazy story that I read in my previous life as someone completely different from what I am now."
"I'm not surprised, since when it comes to you, nothing is normal" Magnus looked at him seriously as he crossed his arms "Then tell me and I'll see how crazy that place made you."
Lucian agreed with his head, and then... he gave voice to what was disturbing in the last days. It was strange to tell that the Emperor and the Imperial Consort admitted to having performed a forbidden ritual to bring him back to life. Even more strange was to tell Magnus the fact that he had reincarnated as Luciano, and to have seen his life as Eighth Prince as if it were a story.
The more he brought out his greatest secret, the more uncomfortable he became.
That feeling in his belly and chest intensified making him more nauseous. Even his fingers were colder against those of Magnus, who looked at him with an indescribable expression.
The more words came out of his lips... the more ridiculous he felt.
"So, all this time you've been saying it was a divinatory gift, when in fact nothing else was that memories of your life?"
"I know, I'm a fraud."
"Ha! I'm glad that you know" Magnus opened a proud smile "You tricked the temple with this nonsense, and yet you're worshipped as a saint. I see that I got the best husband I could have."
Blinking stunned, Lucian tilted his head feeling confused.
"You're not mad that I lied?"
"Why would I? Whatever it is, you helped me with those two from the underworld. Absolutely everything you've done has worked."
Those words comforted a little of the pain that Lucian felt. And in a way it was a relief to take that weight off his shoulders. Although he did not repent in any way of his actions. Lucian would do it all again if he could.
"So far you have been concerned to know the reason for coming to what you thought was a story... but in fact, it is your first life." Magnus took his fingers to the chin while reflecting aloud "and it turned out that it was all thanks to the forbidden ritual that Their Majesties did just to bring you back to life. You're right, it sounds like a real madness."
Lucian lowered his head slightly, a little ashamed of being seen as crazy. Although that would be too little to make Magnus leave him.
"When I heard them say that, it felt like everything I know no longer made sense. More questions arose: why do I not remember my life as the Eighth Prince? How did all this come up as a mere story in another life? And why did the statue of the Goddess react that way when we got married?"
Magnus watched him in silence, noticing the pallor on Lucian's face. Surely he remembered that night when he saw Lucian come out of the bath with an expression never seen before. Even if he was in alpha's arms, Lucian did not hold him tightly that second. He was getting lost again in thoughts, sinking further and further away.
The omega just raised his chin once more, forcing that empty and lost look, full of anguish, to face him back. Having that pair of crimson orbs burning in front of him made Lucian shudder and become aware of her husband's presence.
"Remember one thing, Lucian. It doesn't matter to us, Grimwood. We have a problem on our hands that we must deal with more urgently. This nonsense of prophecies and past lives can be saved for later."
Lucian wanted to protest and say that it was not nonsense. That was important to him, because now it was how he faced a fucked-up identity crisis. However, the determination burning in those crimson eyes was like an order that should never be refused.
"Is this your way of comforting me? Ordering me to stop thinking about it?"
"Your goal was our survival, and for now we are here. The person behind our deaths... you are the only one who knows about your identity. Your goal is to ensure that this future does not occur."
"Yes, but the temple..."
"You joined them to wear them" Magnus slid his fingers across Lucian's face, and opened a diabolical smile "Keep using them until you accomplish your goal. The rest doesn't matter. Keep looking forward to this husband who is in your arms."
Lucian's heart sped up a few beats. The vileness present in Magnus' ambitious look was really alluring. Squeezing it against himself, Lucian leaned his forehead over the right shoulder of the omega, feeling some strings disappear to make way for the dark chains that Magnus wrapped around him.
Yes, Lucian could postpone all those for now.
There is no point in being distressed now. The real villain was still loose and desiring the political power that Lucian was acquiring.
"It's time to go for the first name" whispered Lucian, stroking Magnus' neck. When he raised his head, he contained an innocent smile masking his malice.
A shiver ran through the body of Magnus. The excitement made him come into tune with his husband. Like two people completely immersed in their own desires.