Chapter 17

LUCIEN

As always, Yrra was dressed and groomed to perfection for me. And that wasn’t me being cocky. She always did this when I visited. Which was why I normally informed her in advance.

She looked as provocative as ever, with a pushed-up and barely covered chest, fully revealed midriff, and skirt that clung to her every curve. Her hair and makeup were done flawlessly.

She walked to me with her arms outstretched and raised, which pulled up her top to reveal more of her bare stomach.

“Yrra,” I said, giving her a polite smile, embracing her with one arm.

“I’m so sorry to have made you wait.” She held the hug long enough for me to get annoyed. She then pulled back, but not away.

“Please, let me give you a kiss as a reward.” She cupped my jaw and paused, likely waiting for me to approve.

I normally tolerated and went along with her shameless flirting, but I wasn’t in the mood today. Maybe I wouldn’t ever be again. So I didn’t respond.

She leaned in and kissed me, then tried to slide her tongue between my lips. But they were closed tight. Instead, she licked my facial hair stubble.

She wrinkled her nose in repulsion. “Ugh. It’s like kissing sandpaper.”

She then looked at me with pleading, teasing eyes, arms still around my neck. “Can’t you give the queen one tiny kiss?” She pouted.

I gave her a flat smile. “Glad to see you are still the same, Yrra. Bold as ever.” I pulled her arms away from my neck. “No king yet?”

“You haven’t proposed yet.” She smiled playfully.

“You know that will not happen.”

She sighed. “A queen can dream.” She spun around and stood beside her brother along the balustrade. “What brings you here on such short notice, King Lucien?”

“Prince Elric can tell you more later, but for now, I need your help,” I said.

“~Help~?” She brought her hand dramatically to her chest. “The king of Zaxonia is asking for ~my~ help?” She let out a forced, theatrical laugh.

“He needs ~our~ help, Sister,” Elric corrected.

Elric and Yrra were as close as royal twins could be. Their fights were legendary.

While Elric had been born a minute before Yrra, she got the crown when he refused to comply with his father’s stipulation of getting a wife.

“Your kingdom is renowned for trade and is the most centrally located of them all,” I hurried to say before any bickering began. “Most do not go from one kingdom to the next without at least stopping in yours.”

I had their full attention, so I continued. “Someone is smuggling Zaxonian silver from my kingdom, and I need to find out who.”

“So you want us to do checks at the border?” Yrra asked.

“Yes. At every border crossing. And check the black markets for any objects that contain the silver. I need you to be my eyes and ears.” I looked them in the eyes to show I was serious.

“Ordering extra border checks and raiding black market dealers isn’t cheap, King Lucien.” Elric looked at his hand, picked at his fingernail, and looked back at me.

Elric, always the politician. Shame, he would have made a good king.

“Excuse me, Your Majesties, there’s a…a problem.” A female servant stood in the terrace doorway, head facing down, shoulders hunched, hands fidgeting nervously.

I recognized her as the one I ordered to watch over Nicolette. An uneasy sensation gnawed at the edges of my mind.

Yrra stepped toward her. “What’s the problem, Sellie?” she asked.

The servant turned to me. “The problem is for His Highness, King Lucien.” Her shoulders hunched more and her head bowed lower.

My heart skipped a beat. “Well? Speak!”

“My liege, the woman…she’s…gone.” She spoke the last word in barely more than a whisper.

Fully panicking now, I quickly asked which room she was in and transported there immediately. Yrra, Elric, and the servant appeared moments after.

I saw it right away, through the door to the attached bathroom. “Why was she in this room? No mirrors I said!” I turned to the servant and pointed to the mirror.

Yrra crossed her arms over her chest and stepped in front of her servant. “It is just a mirror, Lucien. Why are you so upset?”

I growled at Yrra. “I told your servant no mirrors! To find a room with no mirrors!”

“King Lucien, who cares about the mirror? Shouldn’t we look for your woman? She may have been taken. We need to send out the guards,” Elric said.

“No. I know where she is.” I marched toward the balcony.

“Who is this woman anyway? Why didn’t you tell me you brought a woman? Do you love her?” Yrra’s voice was strained and rose in pitch as she spoke.

I had no time for her jealousy. I climbed onto the balustrade. “I need to return to my kingdom. Right now,” I said over my shoulder.

“Don’t worry about the silver. We will help you, King Lucien,” Elric said.

Six wings began growing from my back.

Elric and Yrra had seen me transform many times, but the servant hadn’t.

I heard a muffled scream and assumed it came from her. Then I heard a thump, which I bet also came from her when she fainted.

“Lucien, stop! You’ll be seen!” Yrra shouted from behind me.

I only ever changed when needed, and preferably only at night. But I had to do it now, in full daylight. I needed to go back to New York and find her.

I jumped off the balcony and scales erupted along my skin. It always felt like ultimate freedom and power in these first moments.

Then I released a growl. The low, guttural growl of a kirillian.