Chapter 77

“I love you too.” Lucianne said.

Xandar’s onyx eyes returned to its original lilac shade, welling up in tears of happiness as he pulled her

into a deep, passionate kiss with more love than lust. When their lips parted, he whispered, “Thank you,

baby. I love you so, so much.”

He held her for a moment before he remembered that they were headed for safety. Reluctantly, he

loosened his arms around Lucianne before holding her hand and leading her t o his villa where he

parked his car.

Before Lucianne could get in, thinking that Xandar was going to drive them back to the hotel, he trapped

her body and turned her around in one swift motion. Her mate smiled widely as he said, “Have dinner

with me?”

Lucianne narrowed her eyes, “Why do you sound like you’re confident that I’ll say yes?”

He moved impossibly closer to her as he said, “Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because you just got wet

under my touch, and if I remember correctly, my Queen, you told me that you love me less than five

minutes ago. But I don’t mind seducing a yes out of you if that’s what you want. In fact, I would prefer it if

you didn’t say yes right away. It gives me a chance to do this.” His head inched towards her neck and he

kissed her deeply there, eliciting a moan from his mate.

Lucianne gave up, “Al-Alright, yes.”

She felt his smirk at her neck as he teased, “So soon, babe? I was just warming up.” As he was about to

plant a second kiss, Lucianne’s hands held his face and pulled it away from her neck. He groaned in

annoyance, and after getting herself out of her daze, Lucianne said firmly, “We should go now, my King.”

He sighed and kissed the back of her hand before opening the car door for her and reluctantly uttering,

“As you wish, my Queen.” She chuckled at his dissatisfied look.

Xandar drove them to a nearby restaurant with an impressive ambiance. “Table for two, please.” He told

the maître d’hôtel who bowed slightly and responded with a polite smile,” Just a moment, your

Highnesses. I’ll be right back.”

Lucianne’s eyes roamed the place: the marble floor, the decorated pillars, the chandeliers. What caught

her attention most was the long aquarium along the side, partitioning the kitchen from the dining area. A

few customers started looking up from their plates when they saw the two of them waiting to be seated.

Xandar noticed the not-so-subtle stares and whispers. Some who haven’t seen Lucianne’s photograph in

the news were wondering whether this woman was a business associate or the future Queen they had

been hearing about. They couldn’t see that Xandar and Lucianne

were holding hands because the desk at the restaurant entrance blocked their view.

Thanks to his Lycan hearing, Xandar caught all of the murmurs of his people. But his beautiful mate

seemed oblivious to the attention that she was garnering. To put his subjects’ guesses to a halt and their

minds to rest, Xandar smiled broadly as he let go of Lucianne’s hand. His arm then stretched over her

shoulder, and his hand rested there, stroking it lovingly with his thumb as he pecked a kiss on her

temple.

The King was very satisfied with the shocked gasps and excited squeals he heard from the dining area.

Lucianne’s hearing didn’t catch any of those things. She thought Xandar was just showing her affection

like he always did, so she matched his smile before pecking him on his jawline, then returning her sights

to the fish swimming around the corals in the aquarium. Xandar was chuckling on the inside when

Lucianne’s kiss only made his subjects even more excited than before.

“Apologies for keeping you waiting, your Highnesses. Right this way, please.”

They followed the head waiter in, and the chatters seemed to die down when they walked past their

tables. Lucianne was still clueless so she just kept following the waiter with Xandar’s hand still glued on

her shoulder. Suddenly, she felt something fall on her foot with a thud.

Lucianne halted in her steps, and looked down before gasping in shock. Xandar’s gaze was pulled to

where his mate was as she squatted before the little girl who felt right on over her feet.

“I am so sorry, sweetheart. Are you alright?” Lucianne asked in a hushed, worried voice as she helped

the three or four-year-old to stand back up. Her mother came instantly, face reddened i n embarrassment

as she stuttered, “Oh Goddess, I a-am so sorry about that, your Highnesses.”

Lucianne remained squatting as she looked up at the nervous woman, and said with a gracious smile,

“Oh no, don’t be, ma’am. I wasn’t exactly looking where I was going. I should b e apologizing.”

Instinctively, Lucianne reached for the little girl’s arms to check for any scratches and bruises, before

looking at her legs. She then locked eyes with the girl before she asked with a smile, “What’s your name,

dear?”

“E-Evie.” She said shyly, holding a sketchbook close to her chest.

Lucianne continued to smile as she asked in concern, “Are you hurt anywhere, Evie? Do you feel any

pain?”

She blinked those large adorable lilac eyes as she shook her head before saying, “Thank you, pwetty

lady.”

Lucianne tugged her stray blonde hair behind her ear before she said, “It’s just Lucy, dear. I’m glad

you’re okay. You probably should get back to dinner now, hm?”

Evie glanced up at her mother before she asked Lucianne, “Are you really our Queen, pwetty Lucy?”

Lucianne blinked in surprise at the question but Xandar, who remained standing, was smiling broadly.

Lucianne knew that this girl’s mother was waiting for her answer as well so she decided to say, “Well,

Evie. Not at the momen-”

“But she will be one day.” Xandar gave a gentle squeeze on his mate’s shoulder before he squatted next

to her and asked Evie, “Would you like pretty Lucy to be our Queen, Evie?”