22. virtues & vendettas

22

virtues no one leaves the grounds for any reason. But that would cause chaos within my own Society. Taking privileges isn't something I want to play around with.

"Fuck you. I know someone within these walls is responsible, and I will fucking find out who and deliver their head to you on a stick," he threatens, and I know Viktrum's words are true. He isn't afraid to fight back if he has to.

"Your claims are baseless. I dare you to touch one of my men."

"As if you didn't already kill one of mine."

"I wondered when you'd ask about that." I think back to the way his lacky's heart pumped in my hand as I squeezed it to a pulp. The way it felt to end someone's life and how liberating it was.

"I had a reason for sending him," he says, trying to validate his actions.

"And I had a reason for ripping his heart out of his chest," I say with satisfaction playing on my lips.

"The treaty has already been broken, Rivian. You do realize that don't you? Even if my men are wrong, and I am accusing you inaccurately, a war will break out and you'll have to decide whose side you're taking. Your Society could be next. So if I were you, I'd tie your bitch down real fast-"

It takes me half of a blink of an eye for me to have his back slammed onto the ground by his neck and my fist in his chest.

His heart races in my grip, I can feel the pulse begging for life as I tempt to rip it from him. His veins squirm against my palm as I threaten to pluck them out one by one.

"If you ever disrespect my wife ever again, I'll personally tear your heart to shreds with my fucking teeth. Do you understand me? No treaty will get in the way of what I would do to you."

He gasps for air as I remove my now bloodied hand from his insides, wiping off the red liquid over his suit jacket before getting up off the ground and nodding to the guard that stands by the door.

"Get him the fuck out of here," I direct him, and Viktrum whines his way to his feet before exiting the premises.

"What do you want me to do?" Zharus turns to me, his eyes wide at the whole scene that just took place.

"I want you to explain to me why you were on that video Viktrum just showed me." I use my tucked cloth to wipe the rest of the blood off my hands as I look Zhar dead in his eyes.

"You-you think that was me?" His voice seems to crack as fear laces his tone.

"Zharus. I know it was you." I would recognize that walk anywhere. I know how tall he is and how he keeps his arms straight to his side as if they'll make noise when he walks.

"Okay, fuck. I was visiting my-"

"Your lover," I finish for him.

"I didn't think anyone would follow me." He drops his shoulders, tension fading as he realizes I'm not mad.

"Does anyone else know about your little tryst, Zhar?"

"Just you and him. At least I thought. I didn't think we'd ever get caught."

"You know it's nothing to hide from."

"I'm not hiding, Rivian. I just-I know crossing societies isn't really something that's encouraged these days."

"I don't need an explanation, Zhar. I just need you to be more careful. Luckily, you're not recognizable. I only know it was you because of the way that you walk," I admit to him and something uneasy lines his expression.

"I'm sorry, Rivian. They probably saw me leaving their compound shortly after they found Dominek's body. I led them here, dammit."

"We don't know when they found Viktrum's brother. They probably just saw you and took it as their answer. Whoever killed Dominek will be found. Just keep a low profile from now on. Maybe tell whatever-his-name-is to come here next time. But no more late-night rendezvous, got it?" I try not to be too hard on him. I know how high emotions are about to get when everyone realizes I might need to start cracking down. At least until I can solidify my marriage and claim title.

"Yes, sir," he answers.

"For now, we'll wait for the Faction to contact us. I'm sure Viktrum is on his way over there right now with that footage. They'll want to investigate and who knows what else. I don't know what's about to take place but we need to be prepared."

I think back to just one of the many times my father had locked me up in the cold basement. It was the first time the Faction got involved, I can’t remember what for. But I was a teenager and I was left with no food, and no water. So I can’t be sure what the Faction will do moving forward.

"Once Lucynda and I marry, we can restore blood strength to the Society and hopefully we'll no longer be on anyone's radar."

Restoring blood strength is a big part of the blood bind, the sanguis religo . It’s going to allow for the Society to amplify the strength of their control which eliminates weaknesses and accentuates respect. So if anything, it would be easiest to find out if we truly do have rogue.”

"And what if the culprit is within Hollows, Rivian? You told me to keep an eye on everyone who left and well, last night, most of the kingdom was out at play."

“Just look out for suspicious behavior. It’s all I can do right now until I figure out what the plan should be. The wedding is in two days.” I try my best to seem delegatory. But really, I could care less about any of this mess.

I have my own agenda to abide by, but I have to feign administration for appearance until I get this over and done with.

"Got it. Anything else?"

"Yes. It's been a minute since I've chatted with my brother. Have him meet me in my office in two hours," I tell him, knowing that defiant Travois will probably decline the request, but I might need him to be with me on this, if he isn't the one against me.

I don't wait around any longer, leaving Zharus in the great hall while I move on to find Lucynda.

I already know where my little sin is. I can smell her from here. Sweet nectar with roses and body wash. Or maybe that's the scent that still lingers on me because I can still feel her on my skin.

I wish I would have made her come. I wish I would have taken what I know to be rightfully mine. She looked so beautiful bent over my desk like that. Jesus, just recalling the image of her squirming under me has me so fucking hard as I walk toward the back of the mansion where I know I'll find her outside by the cliffs.

I exit through the back doors and walk into the fresh crisp air; fall is heavy in my lungs as I breathe in the October evening before me. Just as I thought, Lucynda is sitting at one of the gazebos near the edge of the cliff. The sun is setting beyond the horizon of the waters as the waves crash against the rocks below and the moon hangs majestically in the sky.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" I say as I approach her by her side.

She's since changed out of her dress from earlier, now dressed in a pair of leggings and an oversized T-shirt. Still, the allure in her is not lost. Her hair is pinned back into the infamous braid I've grown to love, and her eyes shine in the moonlight against the midnight sky.

"I never imagined it to look this ethereal up close." Her words are laced with wonderment.

As I stand next to where she sits, I can hear her soft breaths escape her lips, slightly parted as she focuses in the distance.

I've watched her for long enough to know that all she's ever wanted was to see the world for all the charm it holds and to feel the draw of magic it has to offer. To escape her mind and travel to places where she can feel again. Maybe I should have led with that argument as opposed to selling her this idea of revenge. But I know that no matter how much beauty the world has to offer, she's not so oblivious to the darkness that creeps in the shadows of those elusive, alluring wonders.

She is the perfect example of that.

"What are we, Rivian?" Her sweet voice breaks the moment of peace. There's pain cemented in her voice, and I will admit that it kind of affects me.

"It's complicated," I tell her, knowing that I can't tell her the real reason I've been so up and down with her. How I desperately need to feel her satisfaction in any way I can but at the same time, I can't actually allow myself the luxury because when she finds out why I've really brought her here, she'll hate me more than she promises to love me. I'm sure of it.

I did what I had to two years ago when I found her, because something called to me to save her. I didn't expect that night to lay out the map to my revenge. I didn't expect for her to be pinned to me as my anima vinculum . I can't help that I want to use her for my retribution but also let her know how fucking obsessed I'd become with her after all this time.

Lucynda looks away from the night sky for a moment and messes with the hem of her shirt. I can't be bothered to be the only person to take responsibility for my contradicting actions though. She has also displayed two different ideas of who she is and what she wants out of this.

I know she craves the same thing I want. Finding solace in knowing that her justices have been fulfilled and that her enemies have been condemned. But I’m not oblivious to her thoughts of otherworldly sacred ideas that our heart can commingle in dances of love.

"Why don't we uncomplicate it then, Rivian?" She turns her head to look up at me and I almost turn away, but I allow her eyes to stare into mine.

"Look, I don't want us to fight or be in this war with each other. I don't even really know why it would be that way to begin with. I get it. You're The Dark Prince, whatever that means. But if I am going to be your queen, I think I ought to be given a chance to do just that. But if you truthfully don't want us to be in a relationship, like a traditional husband and wife relationship, then I'm putting my foot down on the touches and kisses and…" She moves her head to look back at the water. "And I can’t allow you to feed on me.” I can see confliction bury itself in her head, I feel it too as I study her.

“But I won't deny that I might become jealous," she admits and that idea stirs deliciously satisfying thoughts in my head as well. “I chose to be here, maybe for my own selfish reasons but regardless, if I can be honest, I am actually kind of scared.” She closes her eyes for a beat, allowing herself to revel in her confession, showing me the vulnerability that I crave in all of her darkness. “I'm scared of what this all means for me, and I don't think that you should be scolding me or leaving me on cryptic one-liners or just straight up ignoring me all the time."

Her words spill from her perfect lips like a velvet-wrapped lava. Soft in some places yet fiery in others. I'm not the only one battling the line of right and wrong here. But hers is more black and white than mine. Her line is split between fighting her attraction for me and holding anger against my throat. Mine is similar but it goes deeper than any one person would be able to understand.

But she's right. I can't be creating this pointless war between us, especially with what's going on outside of the Society walls. All at the cost of me fighting myself to not let her get under my skin, when all I fucking want is to get under hers.

"You're right," I tell her. Opting to not touch all the topics she listed but giving her the simplest version of the answer I know she's wanting.

"I am?" She seems surprised at my admission, her brows lifting and her mouth doing the cutest little half smirk.

I walk closer to where she sits and watch her wince in nervousness as I sit next to her on the bench.

"Do I scare you?" I ask her, using my fingers to brush loose stands of her ice-colored hair away from her cheek.

She closes her eyes again, her lashes feather against the soft constellation of freckles that scatter her cheeks.

"I'm not sure," she admits.

"Do you trust me?" I run my finger down her cheek and across the healed-over scar on her skin.

"I want to." Her words are hushed, making sure that they are only for my ears only.

"What do you want me to teach you?" I ask her as I drop my hand from her face. I want to keep touching her, the feeling so gratifying that it's hard to force myself to stop.

She opens her eyes, finding eye contact with me.

"Something. Anything," she says.

Everything seems to stand still for a few moments as we look each other in the eyes. The sounds around us simmer down to that of just her heartbeat. The only light that seems noticeable is the one that shines from the glow in her eyes, illuminated by the moon. The only air I allow myself to feel is the one coming out in soft pants from her pink lips.

I hate that I have to do what I intend with her. In any other circumstance, things would be different. I wouldn't have a second thought about giving her the chance she deserves to truly be with me.

I can feel her nervousness start to eat at her. She put the ball in my court and she's waiting for me to make a move. Will I agree to this madness and entertain the idea that I can have both my revenge and an epic love? Or will I keep leading her on only to seek out my selfish needs and stab her in the back in the end.

"Show me, Rivian." Her sincere words bring me back to the moment where the sounds of water and wind mix in a charming dance against the Earth, and I finally let the cold evening air back into my lungs.

"Show you," I repeat back to her.

She sucks in her bottom lip and rises her shoulders to indicate her own inhale.

"Yes," she whispers.

I stand from the bench and straighten my suit jacket before reaching my hand out to grab hers.

"Very well, little one. Right this way."