As they walked, Eloise couldn't help but notice Lucian's reaction — his breath quickening, his crimson eyes darkening with an unmistakable desire.
The way he looked at her, his gaze lingering on her with a mix of hunger and curiosity, sent a shiver of excitement through her.
This was the first time she had seen her nephew like this, his expression raw and unguarded, filled with a need she hadn't witnessed before.
She had tried to close the gap between them with intimate touches in the past, but he had always remained composed, uninterested, and distant.
Now, however, his eyes betrayed a longing that made her pulse race!
Eloise felt a flush of heat rising in her body, her own desire igniting at the sight of his intense reaction.
Lucian was no longer the boy she had known; there was something decidedly more male, more primal, in the way he responded to her now.
The realization that he was finally showing such overt attraction made her skin tingle with anticipation.
It was as if he had awakened to the sensual games she loved to play, and this shift only heightened her own arousal.
Her eyes gleamed with excitement, reflecting the charged atmosphere between them.
Eloise could feel the electricity of his desire, and it made her grip on his arm tighten slightly, a subtle sign of her pleasure at his reaction.
The warmth of his body against hers, coupled with the way he drank in her every move, created a heady mix of attraction and promise.
For the first time, she felt a shared hunger that made the air around them crackle with unspoken possibilities.
Her lust was only heightened when she realized how intensely her nephew was reacting to her touch.
Soon they approached a set of grand doors guarded by two imposing figures in black, intricately designed armor.
The guards stood motionless, their eyes hollow and unseeing, like puppets awaiting commands.
Their armor, polished to a dark gleam, was adorned with ornate silver patterns that resembled twisted vines and skull motifs, perfectly matching the grim purpose of their existence.
Eloise gave the guards a curt nod, and they responded immediately, opening the heavy doors in eerie unison without uttering a word.
Lucian noted the lifelessness in their eyes, the sheer void that spoke of a life snuffed out and repurposed for servitude.
"They're death guards," Eloise explained as she led him through the doorway, "raised solely for protecting the Royalty. They don't speak unless required to relay information, so you can safely ignore them."
She offered Lucian a reassuring smile before the doors closed behind them with a decisive click.
Lucian glanced back at the imposing figures, their lifeless eyes and imposing armor sparking his curiosity.
"They are interesting! Why don't I have a few of these for myself?" he asked, his tone half-serious, half-playful.
Eloise chuckled softly, shaking her head.
"Do you think it's that easy to raise them?" she replied, her voice tinged with a mix of amusement and caution.
"Finding suitable candidates alone is a daunting task. The process is grueling, and even then, only one in ten survives. Many perish, their bodies unable to withstand the transformation. It's a costly endeavor, not just in resources, but in lives."
She gave him a pointed look, her eyes narrowing slightly. "They aren't not something you can simply order up like some fine wine."
Lucian considered her words as the doors closed behind them with a decisive click.
The room they entered was lavish and inviting, draped in deep crimson and gold, with velvet curtains that framed tall windows.
A grand chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm, inviting light that glimmered off polished wood furniture and delicate crystal decanters.
The scent of incense hung in the air, mingling with the subtle aroma of aged wine and leather-bound books that lined the walls.
It was a room designed for comfort and discretion, a space where secrets could be shared without fear of prying ears.
Eloise guided Lucian to a plush sofa upholstered in burgundy velvet, her hand lingering on his arm as she gestured for him to sit.
The touch was electric, sending a ripple of awareness through him.
She sat beside him, close enough that their thighs brushed, her gown pooling around her like liquid silk.
She reached for a crystal decanter on the low table in front of them, pouring a rich, dark red wine into two glasses.
The deep red liquid swirled in the glass, catching the light in a way that was almost hypnotic.
Eloise handed Lucian one of the glasses, her fingers brushing his as she did. She took a slow sip of her own, her eyes never leaving his as she savored the taste.
"I'm really glad you came, nephew," she said softly, her voice a velvet caress, "it's been too long since we last saw each other."
She set her glass down and turned to face him, her hand resting lightly on his knee.
The touch was gentle, almost casual, but Lucian felt the heat of it spreading through him like fire.
She leaned in closer, her smile soft but sly. "Last time, at the banquet, you barely let me near you. I couldn't even give you a hug. Do you have any idea how sad that made me?"
Lucian glanced at her, a smirk playing on his lips.
He took a sip from his glass, savoring the taste before setting it down.
His gaze lingered on her, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"'I' was young and naive back then," he said, his tone laced with mock seriousness, "'I' didn't realize you were so... genuinely worried about 'me'."
He let the words hang, his voice teasing as if he'd nearly said something else entirely.
Eloise raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of feigned hurt and humor, "you always were a bit too guarded, Lucian. Never letting me close."
Lucian chuckled, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Maybe I was just too blind to see how much you cared," he replied, leaning in slightly, "or maybe I didn't know you had such a... generous side."
He stopped short, catching himself, his smirk growing wider, "but I'm starting to 'see' it now."
His eyes, however, betrayed the hunger that simmered just beneath the surface, the undeniable pull he felt toward the woman beside him.
Eloise's lips curled into a sly smile, her eyes narrowing in playful delight.
"My, my! When did you become such a flirtatious boy? I never expected this from you," she teased, her fingers tracing small circles on his knee, sending jolts of heat through his body, "what can I do for you, my little prince?"
Lucian leaned closer, his gaze traveling over her with a boldness that spoke of his growing desires.
"Well, there's something I've been meaning to ask you for quite some time," he said, his voice low and edged with a seductive purr.
He let his eyes linger on her chest, the generous swell of her breasts straining against the tight confines of her dress.
Eloise arched an eyebrow, her interest piqued.
"What do you mean, nephew? I would be honored to help you with anything," she replied, her tone laced with anticipation.
She shifted slightly, her hand moving up to rest on his shoulder, her touch firm and confident.
"Oh! anything, you say!?" Lucian's voice dropped lower, a hint of wickedness creeping into his tone as he lifted a hand to brush a stray lock of hair from her face.
His fingers grazed the soft skin of her neck, drawing a slight shiver from her.
"Are you sure you can handle it!?"
Eloise's breath hitched slightly, her pupils dilating with excitement.
"You know, Lucian," she murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper as she leaned in, her sweet breath warm against his skin.
"Since we're talking about favors… I think there's something I'd like you to do for me, too," her eyes sparkled with a dangerous light, the tension between them thickening like a charged storm.
Lucian's intrigue deepened, his smile turning devilishly sharp.
"Oh? And here I thought I was the one coming to ask for favors," he murmured, his voice dripping with amusement.
He leaned in closer, his lips hovering just inches from hers, the tension between them so thick it felt like a magnetic pull neither could resist.
His eyes, dark with a mix of mischief and lust, roamed her face before locking onto hers, the heat in his gaze sending a shiver down her spine.
"But if there's something you need, my dear Aunt," Lucian whispered, his voice dripping with seductive promise, "you know I'm always eager to please."