CARMILLA
Carmilla stood in front of the washbasin, scrubbing her face with cold water. "Damn it," she muttered to herself, cussing under her breath as she washed away the remnants of her cum off her fingers.
As she rinsed her face and patted it dry with a towel, her thoughts returned to Lucian. She felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she realized what she'd just let herself do. She'd been so caught up in the moment. It was unlike her, and it made her feel vulnerable.
She went back to bed and tried to get some sleep but her mind was still racing with thoughts of the palace, and of her plan. She lay awake tossing and turning, the sheets tangled around her legs.
She groaned into her pillow, frustration building up inside her. She punched the pillow a few times, trying to release some tension.
Unable to sleep,she threw off the covers and sat up in bed. She ran her hands through her hair, beginning to go over her plan again. Applying for a job as a maid seemed like the best way in.
But what if she got caught? What if someone discovered her true nature? Her heart began to race at the thought, and she took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. "This is for dad."
She wondered how long she could go without feeding. Two months was her limit, but she didn't want to test it. As a Sanguinarian empath vampire, she could feed on energy instead of blood, but caution was always better.
Her thoughts turned to her cover story. She'd tell them she was an orphan, living on the streets, a gamma werewolf with limited skills. She'd stick to that.
Still unable to get any shut eye, she got out of bed and walked over to the dresser and picked up the beetroot juice. "Here goes nothing," she muttered to herself.
LUCIAN
Lucian groaned as his alarm blared. He growled, slamming his hand down on the nightstand to silence it. "Seriously?" he muttered to himself.
As he lay there, his mind began to wander back to the events of the previous night. He thought about her, about the way she'd moved, the way she'd looked at him.
"What is wrong with me?" Lucian thought to himself. He'd always been in control, always been the one calling the shots. But around her, he felt like he was losing his grip.
With a sigh, Lucian tossed off the covers and headed for the shower. He stood under the warm water, letting it cascade down his body. He closed his eyes, feeling the tension melt away.
"Get it together Lucian," he murmured to himself. He stood there for a few moments, savoring the warmth.
Just as he was stepping out of the bathroom, Miguel strolled into his room without knocking. He glared at him, his eyes narrowing. "You should really work on making some friends, Miguel."
Miguel chuckled, "Yeah, whatever. With Santiago and Hue out of town, you're stuck with me, bro." He grinned. "Hey I was thinking we could squeeze in a fencing session?"
Lucian shrugged into a lilac shirt over his black sweatpants, "When are your minions getting back?"
Miguel raised an eyebrow. "Minions? My friends are coming back soon," "I hope."
Lucian snorted. "I bet they got tired of your ass and ran away to that 'special mission'."
Miguel chuckled. "Oh, please. You don't even have friends, Luke."
Lucian laughed as he ran his comb through his dark hair. "Well, the Zeta doesn't need friends, does he?"
Miguel snorted, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. Let's go fencing. I'm going to kick your ass."
"Kick my ass?" Lucian asked, a grin spreading across his face.
"Affirmative," Miguel replied. "You're getting soft, Lucian."
Lucian chuckled. "Soft? Me? Never."
As they walked down the corridors, servants passed by, greeting them with respectful bows. Miguel nudged Lucian, a sly grin spreading across his face. "So... last night?"
Lucian groaned, rolling his eyes. "What is it, man?"
Miguel's smirk grew wider. "You were out working huh?"
Lucian responded, "Ohh yea, I was out doing grown up Zeta work. Not that you would get it, Your brain is still stuck in the year you turned 12."
"I'm just curious how Zeta work gives you a boner," Miguel continued
Lucian laughed, "Okay, I wasn't doing any work. I was lazying around, dancing ballet. You dumb ass. Let's stop by mums' first."
Miguel chuckled, shaking his head. "You're such a weirdo, Lucian."
Lucian shrugged. "Hey, it's all part of the grown up job."
Miguel raised an eyebrow. "The job of being a pain in the ass?"
Lucian chuckled. "Naa that's just a bonus."
As they approached the queen's chambers, Lucian could hear the sound of her laughter. He smiled, feeling a sense of warmth in his chest. His mother was one of the few people who could make him feel like he was home.
"Let's go see what Mum's up to," Lucian said, walking into the open the door to her chambers.
Miguel followed close behind, a grin still plastered on his face.
Queen Myrrh's face lit up as her sons entered the room. Her hair was being braided by a servant, and her husband, Alpha Thane, sat beside her, whispering in her ear. Lucian's expression turned sour at the sight of his father, and he muttered, "How lovely."
Miguel nudged him and chimed in, "Hey Mum, Hey Dad."
Alpha Thane's posture straightened, and he slipped his usual mask, the one he had on when he was with anyone but his wife. He barely acknowledged them with a curt nod.
Queen Myrrh beamed as Lucian approached her, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek. He forced a polite smile as he greeted his father, "Good morning, Your Highness."
His mother's brow furrowed, and she asked, "How did my boys sleep?"
Lucian smirked, "Mother, you only have one boy here," he said, nodding toward Miguel. "I'm a grown man now."
Miguel rolled his eyes, "Yeah, Mum, let Lucian gloat. I'm still your baby, and I slept amazingly well. How about you?"
Queen Myrrh's laughter filled the room. "I slept wonderfully, thank you, darling."
Miguel turned to his father. "And you, Father? Did you sleep well?"
Alpha Thane cleared his throat. "I slept fine, thank you. Have you boys had breakfast?"
Lucian's tone turned icy, "Oh, how thoughtful of you to ask, Father. As if you actually care. Come on, Miguel, I'm starving."
Alpha Thane ignored Lucian's jibe.
Miguel asked, "Aren't you and Mum joining us for breakfast?"
Alpha Thane replied, "No, we've already eaten. You boys go ahead."
Miguel chuckled as they strolled out, "Can't you at least try to like the man?"
Lucian scowled, "That was me trying, trust me."
Just then, Victor appeared, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Oiii, Miguel, Luke."
Lucian's lips curled into a smile. "Where's your respect? It's Zeta Lucian to you."
Viktor's grin grew, and he said, "Greetings and salutations, Zeta Lucian," as he took a mock bow, his dark hair swooping forward.
Lucian's laughter echoed through the corridor, "What are you doing here, Viktor?"
Miguel smiled, clapping Viktor on the back. "It's not like he needs a reason to visit his friends, is it?"
Lucian's eyes sparkled. "Yea, my bad, Viktor. You don't need a reason to be here. How's your dad?"
Viktor rubbed his chest smiling, "Be still my heart, such kind words Luke, what's the occasion? My dad's fine. I'm actually here with him; he has a meeting with yours."
Miguel's grin grew. "Well, we were about to grab breakfast and fence. Now you're here, you can watch me disgrace your beloved Zeta Lucian."
Lucian smiled as they got to the kitchen, "Big words bro, big words."
Lucian, Miguel, and Viktor strolled into the kitchen, where Claudia greeted them with a warm smile. "Boys, to what do I owe this visit?"
Miguel grinned mischievously. "Fill our bellies, Claudia. We're starving."
Claudia chuckled, dishing out steaming plates of grilled fish, cheese, and bread.
Lucian smirked, "I knew there was a reason I liked you, Claudia."
Miguel nodded in agreement, taking a bite of his fish. "Yeah, we need all the energy we can get especially with the new alliances being formed between the Nightshade Pack and the Ember Pack.
Viktor, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up. "I heard the Nightshade Pack is trying to forge a stronger alliance with the Ember Pack instead of ours. Do you think it'll work out?"
Lucian shrugged, his expression skeptical. "I doubt it. The Nightshade Pack has always been too proud to compromise. But hey, stranger things have happened, right?"
Miguel chuckled, "Yeah, plus it's dad's business not ours."
After finishing their meal, they thanked Claudia and left for the training grounds. Viktor sat on the ground, still looking a bit full, "How do you guys intend on fencing? I'm so full I can barely move."
Miguel laughed, swinging his sword, "Easy Viktor. Lucian is allergic to weakness."
Lucian grabbed his double katanas and sheathed them behind him. "Viktor, quit laying around like a bag of potatoes, will you?"
Viktor laid down, saying, "Knock yourselves out. Oh, by the way, Lucian, I got some information about that girl."
Miguel and Lucian circled each other, their swords clashing. Miguel's brow furrowed, and he said, "Girl?"
Lucian shrugged, "Remind me to cut off Viktor's tongue, he doesn't seem to treasure it."
Viktor laughed, "Sorry, Zeta. I didn't know she was a secret."
Miguel asked again, "Who's this secret girl? Is she the reason for that little scene last night?"
Lucian lunged at him, saying, "Mind your business, she's none of yours."
Viktor asked from his spot, "And what scene are you referring to, Miguel?"
Miguel laughed, his sword flashing in the sunlight. "Oh, why don't you ask your Zeta here? Lucian returned home with a boner after saying he was out vampire hunting."
Viktor choked on his laugh, his eyes watering. "Oh, did you meet her Luke? What's the story?"
Lucian's sword swung dangerously close to Miguel's face as he said, "There's no story, both of you shut up."
Miguel pressed on, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Come on, man, who is she?"
Lucian smiled, "like I said, she's none of your business. Plus I'm not sure I'll ever see her again."
Viktor said, "So you did see her, huh? Well, you won't be needing the information I have, then."
Lucian immediately stopped and said to Miguel, "Time out. What information, Viktor?"
Viktor smiled slowly, "Oh, nothing much, just where she might live. She dissapeared when I was tailing her, but you could start from the street I last saw her. It's three lefts from that bakery we had that vamp attack."
Miguel said, "Oh, sweet, we could go check it out."
Lucian frowned, "We? You are not to go anywhere close to there. And Viktor do you not understand confidentiality?"
Viktor frowned slightly, his eyes narrowing. "I didn't know you were being discreet. And there's nothing wrong if we accompany you to go look for her, right?"
Lucian said, "Look for her? Yeah, right, like I'll go on a wild goose chase to track her down. Please, that's never happening." He sheathed his sword and walked away.
Miguel called out, "I know, right? What are the odds of that happening?"
Viktor smiled, "He's going after her."
Miguel responded, "Ohh Yea I know."