Elian's POV
*****
"Put a shirt on. Some of us are trying to eat in peace without your nauseating sweat." Aurora said with an eye roll after Lucian stepped into the dining room.
But as for Elian... He stared at him for a few seconds longer before he snapped back to reality and shook his head, his face heating up with a blush.
A small smirk curled up Lucian's lips as the Alpha king cleared his throat.
"Good morning, Lucian. How was training?"
Elian raised his head slightly, watching as Lucian merely gave his father a glance, most of his attention on Elian as he walked up to the seat directly across from him.
He sat comfortably, leaning back with a smug smirk, watching the way Elian tried to avoid his gaze by eating his food.
The latter gritted his teeth as Lucian's voice finally echoed. "Oh, it was fine, Father. But I'm not done. There's still sparring to be done against Beta Axel."
Elian furrowed his eyebrows, raising his head only to meet Lucian staring directly at him with that same smug smirk on his face.
But beneath that smugness, there was a glint in his eyes... A possessiveness that was both intoxicating and nauseating at the same time.
[Goddess, maybe you're the emotionally constipated mother-in-law.]
Elian rolled his eyes silently, smiling sarcastically at Lucian before he went back to eating.
But then... His impulsive thoughts won.
"I thought someone was talking about me staring at his body like he was a steak." Elian blurted, staring at Lucian again so he would know he was referring to him.
The latter's face was stoic now as he leaned closer from the other side of the table. "And who says I'm staring?"
"Oh, so you really were referring to me earlier?"
"Who else would I have been referring to?" Lucian shot back, matching Elian's sass.
Elian... Was impressed.
A sly smirk curled up his lips as a blue light flickered past his eyes, projecting an invisible screen.
[ALERT! Mate #1 Seduction Meter is at 23%, almost matching his possessiveness meter of 24%. New mission loading...]
Elian frowned, blinking erratically as he saw the loading bar on the screen.
There's no way...
'I've barely had time to rest after the first two missions.' Elian snapped in his head but the system didn't stop for a second.
[Yeah... Right. Your first two missions were child's play. If you want any chance for me, the 'Omega Ascension System', to actually live up to my name, then stop complaining.]
Elian glinted his teeth, his grip on his fork tightening as he watched Lucian staring at him with curiosity and amusement.
"What? Cat's suddenly caught your tongue?"
Elian tried ignoring him but Aurora suddenly groaned with frustration.
"For the love of the moon, can you stop pushing him?" She snapped at her brother much to Elian's surprise.
Lucian scoffed, his silver eyes lingering on Elian for a little while longer before he turned his head to his sister at the other end of the table.
"Push him? I'm literally sitting on my own—"
"Good. Then maybe give your attitude a rest. You aren't a kid anymore, Lucian." Aurora eyed him, dropping her glass of wine.
Lucian tilted his head. "Why so pressed, dear sister? I'm sure the Omega can defend himself without your meddling."
She was about to say something again, but Elian had had enough.
"Yes, Lucian. I can speak for myself." Elian's voice was firm, drawing the Alpha Prince's attention back to him. "I can speak for myself enough to note that you're an insecure, sexually repressed Douchebag who takes out his problems on others, including those beneath him. A glorified bully with a golden spoon up his ass."
Lucian's face reddened with anger, his eyes glinting with a dangerous light as Aurora chuckled where she sat.
But before things could escalate, a calm but domineering voice boomed through the dining room. "Enough of this foolishness."
Silence.
All eyes turned to the Alpha King, who glared at his children and Elian with well-hidden anger.
Elian felt like sinking into his seat but kept his head high, staring at Lucian with a sarcastic smile as he continued eating his steak.
[Speaking of "sexually repressed"...]
[Ding! The host is right with something. There has been some unresolved tension between you and the Alpha Prince since that first kiss. But fear not! This system is here to resolve it with a mission.]
Gods, no...
[Gods, yes, fruitcake!
New mission unlocked successfully: Push Prince Lucian's seduction Meter to 50%. Here's a hint, if his Seduction Meter increases, it can have some positive effect on his possessiveness meter.]
Elian clenched his jaw as he watched Lucian pick up a few pork ribs and devour them with ease, all while maintaining eye contact. The red sauce from the pork dripped down Lucian's juicy pink lips, a few drops trailing down his firm naked chest.
Elian subconsciously licked his own lips, swallowing hard as the System continued speaking.
[The deadline for this mission is... Tonight. Failure to complete it wouldn't result in any penalties... Except for a horny host who has three mates yet remains sexually inactive.]
Elian blinked, already at his wits' end.
Meanwhile, Lucian got on his feet, leaning across the table and reaching for a napkin close to Elian's right hand.
The latter held his breath as Lucian's fingers brushed against his, the brief and barely noticeable physical contact causing his heart to hammer against his chest.
"Lucian, you barely ate." The Luna Queen spoke worriedly but Lucian's face was stoic as he licked the fingers of his right hand, sucking on the middle one a little too long while maintaining eye contact with Elian.
Oh... Asshole!
He's doing it on purpose!
[No, he's giving you more signals than a male bird during mating season. The question is... Will you follow his dance?]
Elian held his breath as Lucian wiped his hands and mouth before flinging the napkin on the table.
"I've eaten enough, mother. Thank you for the meal, but I can't get behind in training."
The Alpha Prince's eyes glinted with a mischievous light as he stared at Elian one last time. Then he stepped away from the table and walked away, his almost pale muscular back dripping with beads of sweat that were all the more inviting to Elian.
'What's the reward for the mission?' Elian asked, letting out a breath as he poured himself a glass of wine and chugged down everything in one gulp.
He noticed Aurora glancing at him with curiosity, but he ignored that as the system rang with a ding in his head.
[The reward for the mission is a complete map of the host's continent.]
Elian's eyes widened.
Everyone in Lunaria knew basic things about the continent on which the Empire was located... Evaros.
But having a complete map which he could access on a whim in his head at any time?
Elian smirked slightly, puckering his lips before turning his gaze to Aurora who raised an eyebrow.
"Can you please take me to the spot my mates are training at?"