Chapter 86: Can I?
Selene walked through the winding caves before taking the third passage, which opened into a vast chamber. At its center stood a throne carved from jagged stone, its sharp edges resembling enormous spikes. A satisfied smile curved her lips as she settled onto it, pleased with how flawlessly her plan had unfolded.
Before long, a skinny young woman entered with her head lowered.
"My Lady... you have a guest."
Her voice trembled, and her entire body shook ever so slightly.
Selene noticed the girl’s fear but paid it no mind. Humans were fragile, pathetic creatures, but useful when they knew their place.
She had rescued this particular girl from two men who had intended to violate her. Not out of kindness, but because she had seen an innocent, naïve human who could serve a purpose.
"Let him in."
She already knew who was waiting outside.
The maid bowed deeply and backed away instead of turning around. The last time she had turned her back on Selene, she had been used as a blood source for one of Selene’s rituals. Even now, she had yet to fully recover.
Moments later, a tall man stepped inside. The maid quietly excused herself, leaving the two alone.
"How’s it going, Selene?" the man asked in a gruff voice, impatience dripping from every word.
"A good day to you too, Lord Morvane," Selene replied dryly. "It’s refreshing to know you’ve abandoned greetings altogether."
Lord Morvane ignored the sarcasm and sat on a nearby stone. He had no patience for pointless conversation. The only reason he tolerated Selene was because she possessed resources he desperately needed.
Otherwise...
He would have gladly torn her head from her shoulders long ago.
For now, however, he needed her.
Selene chuckled, amused by the hostility radiating from him.
"I’ve secured the girl," she announced, lazily brushing her fingers through her hair while watching him. "Though it seems you contributed very little. Yet here you are, expecting to reap the rewards."
"You found her through my son, didn’t you?" Morvane shot back with a scowl.
"You did absolutely nothing, Morvane."
The amusement disappeared from her face as irritation seeped into her voice.
"You can’t even bring your own son under your control, yet you expect me to hand everything over to you?"
She scoffed.
"You’ve got to be kidding."
A vein bulged on Morvane’s forehead as he slowly rose to his feet.
"I have my own way of dealing with him," he said coldly. "And if I hadn’t fathered him, you never would have found the girl. She fell for him...that was the only reason you succeeded." His eyes narrowed."So spare me your comments about my family and get to the point."
Selene suddenly burst into laughter.
Morvane frowned.
She was insufferable.
The urge to rip her apart grew stronger every time they met. Even the thought of drinking her blood disgusted him.
Her laughter gradually faded before she stepped closer.
"You’re looking at me as though you’d like to sink your fangs into me, Lord Morvane."
She rested a hand against his chest, her fingers tracing slow circles over the fabric of his clothing as she looked up into his eyes.
"Should I be worried?"
Morvane remained perfectly still as she traced her hands straight across his chest going lower and lower until she got to the hem of his trouser and she looked at him straight into his eyes as she traced the helm.
When her hand finally withdrew, she smiled knowingly.
" Do I turn you on, Lord Morvane?" She asked him,"Or perhaps," she murmured, "you’re simply easier to distract than you’d care to admit."
He cleared his throat and took a step back.
He had been foolish enough to let her invade his personal space.
It changed nothing.
One day, he would still separate her head from her body but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t have sex with her....he was also a man with needs.
"Come," Selene said, turning away. "It’s time you met your supposed daughter-in-law."
Morvane frowned at her choice of words but followed nonetheless.
They walked through another narrow tunnel until they reached the chamber where Saline was imprisoned.
Hearing approaching footsteps, Saline slowly lifted her head. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her mind and body.
She immediately recognized Selene.
The man standing beside her, however, was a complete stranger.
"Here she is," Selene announced.
The two stopped directly before her.
Morvane studied Saline with mild curiosity.
"Are you certain she’s the one?"
"Are you doubting me?" Selene asked.
Saline remained silent.
She was far too drained to speak.
Morvane...
She silently repeated the name.
Her thoughts drifted to her aunt and Lilian. They would surely come looking for her...and walk straight into Selene’s trap.
Everything...
All because of a man who had handed her over.
A vampire.
Her emotions were tangled beyond recognition. She desperately wanted to escape, yet where could she go?
For a brief moment, Xandros crossed her mind.
She immediately pushed the thought away.
No.
She wouldn’t be foolish enough to depend on him.
"She looks rather ordinary," Morvane remarked. "It’s hard to believe she possesses what you claim."
Selene laughed.
"I understand now why your son refuses to listen to you."
Morvane’s jaw tightened.
"What makes you think she’s ordinary?" Selene continued. "Your son became interested in her for a reason."
She folded her arms.
"She’s my sister’s daughter...the girl who disappeared with the box ten years ago."
Her smile widened.
"Now all that’s left... is finding a way to bring the others out of that cursed place."
Saline’s heart dropped.
The hidden kingdom had been exposed.
Thankfully...
It seemed they still couldn’t enter it.
"Let’s go," Morvane said.
"We have planning to do."
He walked out first.
Selene lingered behind for only a moment, flashing Saline a playful wink before shutting the heavy door.
Darkness swallowed the room once again.
A single tear rolled down Saline’s cheek.
************
"What do you mean Gina is missing?" Florence demanded.
The maid nervously scratched behind her ear, unable to answer.
"You may leave."
The maid wasted no time fleeing.
Lilian, who stood beside Florence, frowned.
She had seen Gina earlier that morning. In fact, Gina had threatened her before she walked away from her.
Could this simply be another one of Gina’s schemes to attract attention?
"Lilian... Lilian!"
Florence’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
She blinked.
"Is something wrong?" Florence asked gently. "Is there anything you’d like to tell me?"
Lilian forced a smile.
"No, Aunt. Everything is fine."
Florence studied her briefly before nodding.
"Wait here."
She hurried away.
She needed to find Kaelion immediately.
Ignoring the curious stares of everyone she passed, Florence continued through the palace in the wedding gown that was meant to remain hidden until the ceremony.
She didn’t care.
This was important.
Eventually, she reached Kaelion’s chambers.
Two guards stood outside.
They bowed respectfully.
"Is Commander Kaelion inside?" she asked.
"Yes, my lady," the guard on the left replied.
"I need to see him. It’s urgent."
"I’m sorry, my lady," the other guard answered. "You cannot see each other before the wedding. It is against tradition."
"I won’t be long. I just—"
Before she could finish, the door opened.
Kaelion stood in the doorway.
Relief instantly washed over Florence.
"Come in," he said softly.
For a brief moment, he simply stared at her.
She looked breathtaking in white.
Unable to look away, he stepped aside as she entered.
Once she was inside, he turned toward the guards.
"Don’t let anyone enter."
"Yes, Commander."
The door closed.
The instant it did, Kaelion crossed the room and wrapped Florence in a tight embrace.
"I’ve missed you," he whispered, burying his face against her neck as he inhaled her familiar scent.
Florence melted into his arms.
After a long moment, she gently loosened his embrace so they could look at one another.
Kaelion’s gaze drifted to her lips.
Immediately, she covered them with her hand.
"We have to wait until after the wedding," she reminded him with a shy smile.
He gently took her hand in his.
"I only want to kiss you," he murmured, his voice low and pleading. "Nothing more."
His face slowly drew closer to hers, his eyes never leaving her own.
"Please..."
He continued, his hand that was on her waist started moving making her feel wierd things.
"Oka-" Florence was about to agree when his lips crashed into her and she felt his cold lips against hers and without wasting time, Kaelion lifted her and placed her on the table in the room as his lips nibbled hers.
Florence felt his tongue graze her lips in attempt to part it as his hand left her waist and landed on her laps and then he she felt him part her laps so he could be between them and she allowed him to do so.
Kaelion placed his other hand behind her back to support her, and then he pushed the fabric slowly exposing her laps and when she tried to shift back but he stopped her with his hand that he placed behind her.
"Kaelion." She breathed out his name when he left her lips.
Kaelion look at her red face and then pecked her lips once more, his hands still on her bare laps.
He moved his hands further in, his gaze not leaving hers and get saw the way her lips parted a little.
" I want to kiss you there " He told her as his hand grazed the wet patched on her surface making her gasp in pleasure.
"Can I?" He asked once again stroking her harder this time.
Florence grinded her butt against his finger wanting more of what she felt but Kaelion shifted his finger away and she looked at him, " Can I kiss you there?" He asked her once again.
Florence who was shy nodded as she couldn’t take the absence of his finger after feeling it.
And immediately Kaelion went down on his knees.
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