The cold air swept on Blair's face as they glided into the air. Blair couldn't help but be amazed at the experience and the view.
She had never been this far from the earth before. The only similar feeling she had experienced was jumping over the cliff with at least bearable height in her wolf form. However, flying was different. She truly felt fascinated, that she even partly forgot the feeling of nervousness she felt a few moments ago.
Blair was too focused on the experience. She even closed her eyes and didn't notice that Lucien was staring intently at her. He was amused with her expression. He couldn't help but be affected by her smile.
The moment Blair opened her eyes, all she could see was Lucien's golden irises staring right at her. His eyes were sparkling as they reflected with the moonlight. She suddenly felt sheepish with his stare. That was the first time she felt that kind of awkwardness with someone else.
Blair couldn't help but look away, feeling the warmth of her skin as red crept onto her cheeks in the form of a blush.
On the other hand, Lucien's concentration was still on her. He was enjoying the sight of Blair as her cheeks and ears reddened under the moonlight that he overlooked that they were heading straight towards a tall rosewood tree.
Lucien immediately flipped around to dodge that trunk, causing Blair to shrill with the sudden shift as she abruptly threw her hand around Lucien's neck. From that moment on, Blair never loosened her grip on Lucien.
That enhanced the feeling of amusement in Lucien, and he smirked.
They reached the castle and got in through the open window of Blair's previously-assigned room. They landed steadily as Lucien skillfully balanced them both. However, all the flying made Blair's head fuzzy. And that the moment Lucien loosened his grip on her, she swayed, losing her balance.
Good thing that Lucien guessed what was coming, and he immediately caught her in his arms.
"Are you okay?" He asked Blair and slowly helped her to bed.
Blair sighed and shook her head.
"I don't know. I suddenly feel dizzy. It could be because of the flying. Maybe I just have motion sickness," she replied.
There was no reason for Lucien to ask more. “Rest well, then,” he said before preparing to walk out of the room.
He doubted that Blair would still make a plan for another escape with the way she looked at that moment.
'She must have been tired from running,' Lucien thought.
He was about to grab the doorknob when Blair called him. Her voice sounded as exhausted as she looked.
"Lucien, why?" she asked.
She didn't exactly know what she should tell him. A part of her was glad that he saved her from Dante. However, at the same time, she also wasn't sure if she was supposed to feel relieved to be back in Lucien's palace.
"Why what?" Lucien's brow furrowed.
"Why did you save me?” Blair clarified. “I escaped. I didn't trust you. But you still came after me."
"Why do you have to ask me why? I know that you ran away and were trying to escape from me. However, I haven't heard your decision yet. If you prefer to go back to the wolves and be that stinky wolf's bride, then be my guest. I'm just simply giving you a choice which I’ve yet to hear the answer of," he answered.
"Then, what are you planning to do with me now?" Blair asked worriedly.
Blair was expecting him to get infuriated, to tie her up so that she wouldn’t be able to escape again. Maybe he might even hurt her or make her suffer so that she would learn her lesson.
However, the angry, roaring voice that she was expecting from Lucien turned out to be just a chortle.
"I don't have any change of plan. I gave you two nights to decide, and I'll wait for the decision until then," he firmly said.
"One more thing Lucien," she breathed as she gazed away from him. There was a question that had been burning in her mind and she was finally unable to reign in her curiosity.
"Hmmm?" He stood by the doorway, waiting for her to say more.
"Why do you need a pretend wife?" she spouted.
Silence hung in the air for a long time after Blair voiced her question. Lucien didn't say a word and seemingly had no plan to answer that question at all. He simply stared back at her, expressionless.
Blair looked at him, and she knew exactly what Lucien's look meant.
She had no way to make him answer; she understood. Blair simply smiled faintly and nodded in understanding. However, her tough facade quickly broke when she winced in pain. Her feet started to sting again, the wound from before still fresh.
Lucien noticed her change in expression and asked, "Are you okay?"
Blair nodded without looking at Lucien.
"I... I'm fine. It's just a little prick I got when I ran in the forest," Blair answered.
Lucien came to check on it. The scent of her blood was starting to get stronger.
"The wound is open, and it's bloody,” Lucien observed. “Are you sure that you are okay?"
"I am. I’m a wolf, anyway. I can heal in no time," she assured.
"I didn't expect you would take longer to heal than we vampires but, okay, I'll leave you to rest, then. I’ll bring some change of clothes later on." Lucien slowly shut the door, leaving Blair alone in her room.
Finally allowed to be by herself again, Blair let out a low groan as she cowered over the discomfort of her injured foot. She pulled her made-shift dress up and saw her discolored toes and bulging veins all over that foot.
The wound had already stained the bed with blood. She didn't realize that it had been bleeding so much.
*****
Lucien went downstairs, and with a glass of alcohol in hand, he paced around the fireplace, his mind busy. He smiled over the memories of his day. It had been quite some time since he felt that rush of adrenaline.
His days had been boring for a while. He had been spending it with uninteresting people and the days had bled on one after another. The appearance of Blair pumped him up with excitement.
He had always loved a good challenge and it seemed like the wolf girl might be someone that could provide him with just that.
‘Was it the girl herself?’ he wondered, ‘Or was it the challenges she posed?’
Regardless of which one it was, it still meant one thing: that thrilling rush Lucien so desperately craved in his life could be found with Blair around.
Lucien was about to pour another glass of his favorite whiskey when he suddenly heard a long, high-pitched sound, like frantic whining from upstairs. It must have been Blair, and how ear-splitting and guttural the sound was, she sounded like she was in a lot of pain.