To Wed A King

A Bond of Thieves

Adeline slowly sat up, her eyes watching the open door, her chest heaving slowly. Her eyes filled as she watched the emptiness. Evander never came, not even once. She had been filled with so much hope that he would come to her. Because given the same cards, she would have put everything at stake to see him.

She shook her head and got off the bed, then slowly pulled the dress upwards, then zipped it. Without even looking at it, she slowly walked out, where a handmaiden was waiting.

The caravans were arranged, but Lucan's horse would be travelling alone tonight. Lucan was sitting inside the carriage, his eyes trained on the main entrance of the inn as he waited for Adeline to emerge.

Slowly, she appeared, her steps slow, tears glistening in her eyes, her hair falling back. The dress was modest and extremely beautiful, and he sighed.

She was looking around for Evander, her lips parting, her eyes sweeping across the various unrecognisable faces. She finally found him amongst the men who would walk beside Lucan's carriage. He looked malnourished, beaten up, with wounds that showed he had not been attended to the same way she had been attended to.

"Evander," she said, and he met her eyes.

They immediately clouded with anger, and he turned away, his expression stoic. Tears rolled down her cheeks, her chest heaving with pain.

"His Majesty is waiting, my lady."

She swallowed, then walked slowly towards the carriage, and subsequently, Evander. He immediately went on his knees and then stretched his hand for her to step on.

She knew she would never be able to do that. She looked up to the carriage. Lucan was watching her, his brows furrowed as he waited for her next move. She bit down on her lips but stood there, unable to go further.

Lucan gave a small curse before moving out of the carriage. He kicked Evander out of the way, then carried her, carefully avoiding her wounds, then lifted her into the carriage.

She immediately turned to Evander, whose eyes were lifted to her now, tears of anger covering his eyes, his fists clenched.

The carriage door closed, and she turned away, tears filling her eyes rapidly. Lucan came back in, and he settled beside her, his back straight, his eyes closed.

Th journey started slowly, and Lucan did not say a word for the first few minutes of the trip. He watched his front like a ritual and barely moved.

Adeline, however, struggled to keep the tears at bay. The small transparent part at the top of the carriage door was neither wide nor long enough for her to see Evander through, and her mind kept bringing back the vision of him from earlier, how he has fallen to the floor from being a loved and respected Prince. She turned to the door again, her lips parting a little as she strained to try to catch a glimpse of him.

"Looking at him will only hurt you more, Princess," Lucan said, his eyes cold and rooted to the view right in front. "You keep looking at something you will never have."

Adeline's fists slowly clenched, her eyes closing briefly. "Never? You say it like you would live forever."

Lucan turned to her, his right brow raised. "Do you think you will be able to kill me?"

"Do you think I would not try?"

He turned away, adjusting. "There is nothing I would put beyond you. But if something ever happens to me on your account, the exact same thing will happen to him. If you believe killing me would reunite you both, you are very wrong, Princess."

"You are a bastard."

"No," he said, holding her gaze. "I am a king. An emperor. And I do not accept defeat. And I am possessive. You are one of the things I own. Ever since I conquered Corvalon for you, you became one of the objects in my palace, and I do not like it when people steal for me."

Adeline broke into a mirthless laugh. "You are the thief, Lucan. You..."

"Who gave you the permission to call my name?"

Adeline swallowed. "You are no king to me."

Lucan watched her for a brief moment, then suddenly grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her towards him, his eyes wide.

"Say my name again. If you dare, princess. Say it."

Her eyes were wide, her chest heaving. "Lucan. Lucan is your name."

He raised a brow, astonished that even his threatening stance had not worked. He let go of her roughly, his brows raised.

"You are one stubborn woman, and I look forward to breaking that pride."

Adeline turned away and said nothing, her teeth gritting hard, her chest heaving. She grabbed her arm and slowly massaged the point he had held her. His nails had dug into her skin, and she could feel the small points of pain spread across her arm.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, exhaustion washing over her. She turned to Lucan, who was silently watching her, his eyes thin, like he wanted to burrow through her soul.

She turned away, her expression stony, her chest heaving with mounting hate.

It made Lucan smile. For some reason, watching her loathe him was a more attractive trait than the perfect proportions of her body or the well put features of her face.

He turned away, his smile small as the imposing tall buildings of Vahrenhall started to come into view.

"This will be your home now, Princess."

"Like it is to so many others whores."

Lucan smiled. "I know. But you shall not be one of them anymore."

Her brow raised, her heart thumping in a silent hope that he had finally given up on her.

He slowly turned to her, his fingers gently lining her chin.

"I have decided, Princess, to tie you in a bond whereas the world will curse you if you dare look at another man."

"What?"

He smiled a bit wider, enjoying her confusion. He was right about how beautiful she looked when she was confused.

"I intend to make you my wife."