Chapter 122: Lucien’s Secret
Lucien closed his rucksack halfway and sighed. "Can you both leave already so I can finish packing properly?"
They both stopped. Zuri tilted her head, studying his face. "Why do you look unhappy?"
He did not answer.
She leaned forward slightly. "Is it because you are leaving your mate behind?"
Lucien paused. He dropped the last shirt into the rucksack, zipped it, then dropped it on the floor. Then he spoke quietly. "It is more than that."
Zephyrion moved closer. "How have things been with your mate?"
Lucien ran a hand through his hair. "Chaotic. All Aveloria has been dealing with are wanderers trying to cause trouble. Council meetings. Attacks on the borders. Suspicious death in a pack. Plots within the court. Training. Strategies. We’ve barely had time to bond as mates. Every time we are together, something comes up, and she has to leave."
He stopped to look at Zuri, then at Zephyrion. "But that’s not what’s bothering me."
Zuri’s expression softened slightly. Zephyrion frowned. "Then what is?" he asked.
Lucien let out a slow breath. "The King does not trust me."
Zuri did not look surprised. "That is understandable. You are a rogue."
Lucien’s jaw tightened. "Regardless of what I am, I’m Aveloria’s mate," Lucien said. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "I’ve stuck by her side. I’ve gone against my own vows, my own commitments, to prove myself worthy. I’ve done everything I can to show that I can be trusted. And it’s still not enough. Not for the king. Not for the damn court. Not for anyone. To everyone, I am still a rogue."
Zuri watched him quietly. She asked, "What does your father think about you being mated to the heiress?"
Lucien sighed. "My father is the happiest man in the realm about it, for his own selfish reasons. He sees the bond as a way to gain freedom for the rogues. He thinks if I’m a mate of the future Queen, the bans will be lifted. We’ll be allowed to trade freely, to move freely, to live wherever we want."
Zuri nodded slowly. "And that’s exactly what the king is afraid of. The rogues have been banned from the kingdom for years. When they’re caught trying to sneak in, it means death. The king can’t just change that because his daughter happened to be mated to one of you. It would cause a rebellion among the established packs."
Lucien’s expression hardened. He grabbed his pelt of boar cloak and placed it over his shoulder. "It is not my fault that my forefathers chose to become rogues. I didn’t choose this. I was born into it. And now I’m being judged for something I had no control over. It doesn’t make sense." His voice was firm but tired.
Zephyrion sighed. "There is no time for you to mope around. We’ve got bigger things to do."
Lucien immediately looked at him. "I am not moping."
Zuri pointed at him. "You are. You’re standing there, packing your bag and talking about how unfair everything is. That’s moping."
He glared at her. "I’m stating facts."
"You’re moping with facts. And the only reason you’re moping is that you’re crazily in love with the heiress." Zuri said, smirked.
Lucien’s glare deepened.
Zephyrion grinned. "Oh, definitely. He’s got it bad."
Zuri laughed. "Look at his face. That is confirmation."
"I don’t have time for this." Lucien groaned.
Zephyrion chuckled before his expression turned serious. "Jokes aside, Lucien, as an adventurer and a hunter, you are not supposed to be tied to one place. That’s the whole point of our profession. We go where the work is. We don’t settle down. We don’t form attachments. You should exercise your free will. Travel. Move. Hunt. That’s who you are."
Lucien looked at him. "Is that your advice? Leave my mate?"
"If that would make you stop feeling less of yourself."
"I’m not feeling less of myself," Lucien argued. "I just—"
Zephyrion cut him off. "You never liked being confined. And most of all, you fear commitment."
Lucien didn’t respond. He just ran his hand over his face.
Zuri spoke up. "Have you considered telling the heiress the truth about yourself? Everything."
Lucien shook his head immediately. "No. That part of me will forever be a secret. How do I tell her that aside from being a Rogue and an adventurer, I get paid to fight off monsters?"
"That’s the honor of a hunter," Zephyrion said.
Lucien looked away. "I know. I wish I could be more open with her. I do. I am guarded as much as she is. I wish I could tell her everything." His voice softened slightly. "More than anything, I wish she could just leave it all behind. The kingdom. The responsibilities. The politics. I wish she would travel with me. See the world beyond the palace walls. Fight monsters. Perhaps. Just live."
Zuri laughed. "The heiress to the throne of Lycanthria? Leave it all behind to travel around with a rogue, an adventurer, and fight monsters? If wishes were horses, beggars would ride."
Lucien gave a small, sad smile.
"That’s not going to happen, Lucien. She has a greater purpose to fulfill. A kingdom to rule. People to protect. You can’t compete with that." Zuri added.
Silence stretched for a few minutes, neither of them uttering a word, when a bird sang.
Lucien broke the silence. "Tell me about the hunt."
Zuri’s mood changed instantly. Her eyes lit up with excitement. She clapped her hands together. "The pay is good."
Zephyrion nodded. "Very good."
"A village head reached out to the master. They need help destroying a monster named MonoValith." Zuri explained.
Lucien frowned slightly. "MonoValith? I’ve heard that name. Seven-headed creature?"
"Seven heads, yes. It can transform into any reptile. Snakes, lizards, crocodiles. It infiltrates villages and devours children. Ten children have been killed already. The village head is desperate."
Lucien nodded. "How many days of travel to reach the village?"
Zuri hesitated briefly. "About two weeks. Maybe a little less if we push hard."
Zephyrion and Zuri noticed the change in his expression immediately. Sadness passed across his face, though he tried to hide it.
Zephyrion smirked. "Are you missing your love already?"
Lucien shot him a sharp glare. Zephyrion held up his hands in surrender.
"What must be done must be done. If Aveloria needs help, she has her other mates to call on. Galen. Theron. They’re here. They can protect her." Lucien said firmly.
Zuri felt a pang of sympathy. She walked over to him and put a hand on his arm. "At least say goodbye to her. We don’t know how long we will be gone. Don’t just disappear." She said gently.
Lucien did not respond. After a few seconds, he gave a small nod. Then he walked out of the room.
Zephyrion exhaled slowly once he was gone. "That is worse than I thought."
Zuri crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "He is conflicted."
"He is attached," Zephyrion corrected.
Zuri shook her head slightly. "More than attached." She looked toward the closed door. "He has fallen in love with her."
Zephyrion shook his head. "He’s in a difficult position. Mated to a heiress, and he has to share her with other mates. Bound to a kingdom that doesn’t trust him. Expected to stay when his whole life has been about moving. It’s not going to end well."
Zuri sighed. "That is not something he is used to. And Nothing can be done."
Zephyrion looked at her. "You think so?"
"Yes, he will have to accept reality. He either accepts that he has to contend for the heiress’s love with her other mates or he walks away. Those are his only choices."
"And if he chooses to leave in the end?" Zephyrion asked.
Zuri was quiet for a long moment. "Then he breaks the mate bond, and he breaks himself in the process."
"There’s more to it. Lucien can’t reject his bond." Zephyrion sighed. "He’ll figure it out. Or he won’t. Either way, it’s his problem to solve."
Zuri nodded. "Either way."
Zephyrion studied her expression. "When do you plan to tell him?"
Zuri raised her eyebrows. "Tell him what?"
Your feelings. Zephyrion wanted to say, but he bit back his words.
"I mean...when should we tell him about the master’s plan?"
Zuri rolled her eyes as she crossed the room to grab Lucien’s sword. "Not now, Zeph. Master said he would do the honors. You stay in here while I tour the palace walls." She opened the door to leave.
Zephyrion nodded in disagreement. "You shouldn’t go out with a sword. You could get caught as an intruder."
"Not me." Zuri transformed into a full-armored Lycanthria guard.
Zephyrion shook his head and waved her off as he settled on the bed.
