Chapter 18: Forbidden Desires

𖤐••{AZERIA’S POV}••⛧

As my maids loosen the clasps of my gown, I stand motionless, my head spinning with a thousand unanswered questions.

My brother’s words keep echoing in my mind. So does the furious look from Mother’s face and the uproar that swept through the court.

I haven’t seen the lords and ladies of Darkholme this riled up in centuries.

And somehow, the cause of all this chaos is a single human girl.

Azræl has always been a provocateur. But even I have to admit that he’s gone too far this time.

A knock sounds at the doors before they swing open right after.

I glance over my shoulder, and the moment I see him, my breath catches in my throat.

"Lucærys?" I say, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.

A smile curves Luke’s lips as he slowly walks toward me.

"Azeria," he says softly.

I turn to the maids. "Leave us."

They bow their heads before slipping out and closing the doors behind them.

I move to the stand where a decanter of bloodwine sits, then I pour two glasses for us. Just as I turn to hand him his, I freeze.

He’s standing so close there’s practically no space left between us.

His eyes, blue as sapphires, stay locked on mine as he slowly reaches for the wine glass. His fingers linger against mine for a moment longer than necessary before he takes it from my hand.

My pulse quickens instantly and I take a small step back.

"Luke, when did you arrive?" I say, failing to hide the nerves in my tone.

"Not too long ago," he replies, taking a slow sip of his wine.

"How long will you be staying?"

"I plan on staying a little while after Azræl’s wedding," he answers.

My brows rise before I can stop them, but I don’t say a word. I’m not really sure how to feel about that.

"So..." I say, moving toward the chairs by one of the tall windows. "What brings you to my chambers at this hour?"

Lucærys wanders over, casual as ever, and drops into the chair beside me. Then he leans in until our noses nearly touch.

"I wanted to see you," he whispers, then he gazes into my eyes for several heartbeats.

The second my throat bobs, his mouth curves into a smug grin.

He knows the effect he has on me.

He’s enjoying this.

A moment later, he slowly leans back in his seat.

"I also wanted to talk," he says.

"About what?"

"Azræl and his human bride," he replies, swirling the wine in his glass. "I’m just coming from his chambers, and while I was there, your mother stormed in screaming like a banshee."

I let out a quiet snort, quickly pressing my lips together to hold back my laughter.

"Calling her furious would have been an understatement," he continues with a chuckle. "She looked like she was ready to tear the whole castle down."

A small sigh leaves me.

"I knew she’d react that way," I say quietly. "And honestly, I don’t blame her. Why would Azrael risk angering the nine kingdoms over a mere human?"

"That is exactly the question I asked him," he says. "Imagine my shock when I found out that he abducted her."

"Yes." I nod slowly. "She’s in the castle as we speak."

His expression turns curious as he tilts his head.

"Have you met her?"

"Twice, but Azræl won’t let anyone near her chambers," I answer. "I practically had to beg just so I could see her the second time. He’s never been this protective of anyone."

Luke shakes his head as he chuckles.

"Azeria, you of all people should know how your brother can be regarding what or who he thinks belongs to him."

A slight frown pulls across my face. "No, this is different. Completely different."

I slowly lift my wine glass to my lips, but before I can take a sip, Luke reaches over and takes it from my hand.

"Luke, what are you doing?" I ask.

He doesn’t answer.

He simply sets both glasses aside, stands from his seat and steps in front of me.

My brows furrow.

Before I can ask what he’s doing, he lowers himself, grips the armrests of my chair and traps me between his arms. Then slowly, he leans in until his lips graze mine, sending shivers throughout my body.

"Lucærys," I whisper, swallowing the lump in my throat. "We can’t keep doing this."

He tries to kiss me but I turn my head away.

"Azeria, it has been so long since we last saw each other," he murmurs, his breath ghosting over my ear. "I spend every waking moment thinking about you. Everything reminds me of you. I’ve taken many lovers in our time apart, and still, none of them could erase you."

My heart pounds so violently against my ribs I’m sure he can hear it.

"Azeria. Look at me," he says firmly.

At first I refuse.

I’m afraid of what will happen if I do, so I keep my face turned away until his fingers hold my chin and he turns my face toward his.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me you haven’t felt the same way," he whispers.

Slowly, I lift my gaze to meet those piercing blue eyes, darkened with hunger and lust.

"What will Azræl think if he ever finds out about us?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. "You’re like a brother to him, Luke. Aren’t you the slightest bit afraid of what this will do to the two of you?"

"I care about him," Luke replies, his voice low and rough. "But I don’t give a fuck about what he’ll think. I want you, Azeria. I’m in love with you."

"No," my voice trembles. "You can’t be."

"I am, Azeria," he murmurs, brushing his lips against mine again. "And you’d be lying if you say you don’t."

My lips part, but before I can utter a single word, Lucærys captures them in a kiss. His lips are soft and warm as they move against mine, and before I can stop myself, my hands sink into his brown hair, pulling him closer.

Luke slips his tongue into my mouth, deepening the kiss. The air between us grows hotter by the second as we continue locking lips. But as I taste the sweet bloodwine on his tongue, my mind screams at me to break the kiss, to push him away. But my body sings a different song as I feel a wet ache between my thighs.

When Luke and I finally break apart for air, he rests his forehead on mine, and for a moment we do nothing but gaze into each other’s eyes.

I know this isn’t something I can walk away from anymore, because the war between my head and my heart is over, and my heart won.

A smirk tugs at the corner of Luke’s mouth. "Let’s take this gown off you, shall we?"

Before I even nod, he grabs the fabric at my chest and rips it with a single motion. My nipples harden even more the second the cool night air touches my breasts.

Lucærys doesn’t stop.

He keeps pulling and tearing at my gown until it lies in shreds at my feet. Finally, he rips my undergarments, leaving me completely exposed in the chair.

His gaze is so intense that I can almost feel the heat on my skin as his eyes travel down my naked body.

He starts fumbling with his own clothes until he grows impatient and begins ripping them off. Within seconds, he’s standing completely naked before me.

The heat between my thighs grows as my eyes move from his defined chest to his broad shoulders, leading to those strong, muscular arms. My gaze drifts lower to the carved ridges of his torso, following the thin trail of hair that leads all the way down to his erect cock.

Luke’s member is long, thick, curved slightly to the left and bulging with veins along the shaft.

He drops to his knees and pushes my thighs apart, resting my legs on the armrests of the chair. Then he leans in, rubbing the tip of his nose along my slick folds as he takes a deep breath.

"Hmm..." he hums deeply, his eyes fluttering shut. "I could breathe in your scent all day."

He reaches over to the table and picks one of the forgotten wine glasses, then he holds it over my stomach and tips it slowly. The dark, cold liquid drips onto my skin and trickles all the way down to my cunt.

Lucærys starts from my stomach, licking the trail until he reaches my cunt. The moment he thrusts his tongue inside my entrance, my back arches off the chair and a moan escapes me.

He pours more wine directly on my cunt as he devours me, relentlessly digging his tongue inside me, circling and sucking on my clit until I start seeing stars behind my eyelids.

"Luke," I let out a breathless gasp. "Fuck."

He pulls back and drops the empty glass back on the table.

"Turn around and get on your knees," he commands, his voice deep and rough.

I turn my back to him, kneeling on the soft cushion and arching my back.

"I’ve missed this cunt," he whispers, slipping his fingers inside me from behind. "I’ve missed how it feels to bury my cock deep inside you... to ravage you until you come all over my cock. Have you missed it?"

I open my mouth to say yes, but a moan slips out instead as he continues thrusting his fingers in and out of me.

"Say it," he growls. "I want to hear you say it."

"Yes, Lucærys," I whimper. "Yes, I’ve missed it."

The wet, squelching sounds of his fingers ravaging my cunt fills the room as he quickens his pace.

"Tell me you want my cock inside you," he commands.

My whole body shudders.

"Please," I beg desperately. "I want your cock inside me."

Lucærys grips my hips, and with a single thrust he buries his entire length inside me. Before I can cry out, he slaps his over my mouth.

My fingers dig into the armrests as he begins to move his hips.

There’s no gentle rhythm. The sound of skin smacking against skin echoes off the walls as he fucks me mercilessly. Every time his cock plunges into my cunt, the tip hits a spot deep inside that makes my sight blur.

His palm muffles every moan and whimper that leaves my mouth. Just when I start getting used to his brutal pace, he pulls out completely, leaving my cunt clenching around nothing.

He turns me around and scoops me up in his arms like I weigh nothing, then he carries me to the bed and drops me onto the sheets.

I immediately spread my legs for him and he kneels between them, easing his cock back inside my cunt. Then he leans down and captures my lips, and as his tongue explores my mouth, his hips grind slowly against mine.

I wrap my arms around his shoulders, bucking my hips to meet his, needing him to touch that sweet spot deep inside.

"Luke, please," I beg against his lips. "Fuck me hard."

His lips pull into a smirk. "As you wish, my love."

He slowly pulls out until just the tip of his cock remains, then with a single thrust, he slams his entire length back inside me.

"Oh, fuck!" I cry out, biting down hard on my bottom lip.

He sets a punishing pace, grunting heavily in my ear as he pounds me hard and fast.

"You are mine, Azeria," he growls. "And you’re going to take my seed, you hear me?"

I nod frantically, digging my nails into his back as my cunt begins to clench repeatedly around his shaft.

"Are you going to come for me?" he asks.

"Yes, yes, yes!" I whimper.

"Do it," he commands. "Wet my fucking cock."

My legs begin to tremble, my eyes roll to the back of my head, and a gush of release finally erupts from my cunt but Luke doesn’t stop ravaging me. With a few final thrusts, he lets out a loud groan and fills my cunt with his warm seed, then he collapses on top of me.

He nuzzles into my neck, and for a moment, our chests rise and fall in harmony as we catch our breath.

As soon as the high from my release starts to fade, guilt slowly creeps in.

What we’re doing is wrong.

It’s dangerous.

Every part of me knows that.

But when Luke looks at me as if I’m the only woman in the world. When he kisses me and his fingers graze my skin...

I can’t help but surrender, every single time.

Mother would lose her mind if he knew.

Azræl would never look at me the same.

Lucærys is more than just a cousin to my brother. He is his closest friend. Someone he trusts without question.

And here I am, lying beneath him, touched by him in ways Azræl would never forgive.

But I don’t want to let go of Luke, and I don’t want him to let go of me either.

The princess Azræl brought into Darkholme, the uproar in court, the marriage he’s forcing upon her—all of that should be what keeps me awake tonight.

But it isn’t.

It’s this.

The fear that one day, Azræl will find out what Luke and I are to each other, and I have no idea what he’ll do to me.

To us.

And still, I don’t move from beneath Lucærys.

I hold him tighter instead.