To Love, Once Again

Chapter 50

'How do we move forward from here?' Sera thought, as Lucien stands and hugs her in his arms, which she returns, wrapping her arms around her neck.

'If you only knew how much I loved you.....how much I still love you' Lucien thinks, tucking a stray hair behind Sera's ear and gazing into her starry eyes. Her deep and wondrous brown eyes, sucking you in deeper and further, until it felt like it felt like the secrets of the universe was within your grasp.

Sera takes in the beauty of this man, who desires with so desperate a passion that he was willing to shed tears for her sake. Bore his heart for her, for all the world to see.

His lips start tickling her neck as he kisses the delicate, thin skin there, her clavicle, her chin, unable to contain his happiness that she hadn't left him. With soft hands, Sera pushes his face away from her.

Shoulders sagging like a dog that's being disciplined, Lucien stops his advances.

Though he wanted to breathe in more of Sera's scent, take in and taste more of her sweetness, he stops. It was hard, when one moment before this, Lucien had thought that all would be lost to him. Almost, Sera could see imaginary ears perking down and tail sagging down with it.

"Is there something wrong?" Lucien asks.

"We need to talk."

"I thought we just did?" Lucien tilts his head at her, heavy brow furrowed, unsure.

Pulling his hand towards the large leather-backed chair behind the desk, and pushing Lucien down to sit, Sera pulls up her own pink brocade chair so that the faced each other.

"No, we need to talk about each other, get to know each other better. Like what did you do the past 5 years I was gone?"

Lucien didn't want to think about the 5 years Sera was gone. Those were dark times, terrible times. All light had disappeared in his life, time spent killing and hurting, hurting and killing. Unsure when he would go berserk and accidentally hurt an innocent. Heart starved for Sera's warmth and touch. It was a vicious cycle he'd only begun to break out of after news that he might be able to bring Sera back. 

"I fought, most of the time.." Lucien hesitates, unsure of whether he should say it.

"..but I made sure to keep your promise"

Awkward silence.

"What promise?" Sera didn't remember any promise. She'd made a point of never promising Lucien anything during her first stay in Thornmere as Queen. Promises were important to her, and after signing the magic contract that bound her life to fulfilling what the old King wanted, even more so. By making any vow or promise, she was bound to fulfill it. No promises meant it kept her from committing to life here, reminding her that she was going to go home after this ordeal was all over and she gave birth to an heir.

This was also why she never responded to Lucien's 'I love you's. It would be better for the both of them.

"I'll show you, if you're willing to come out with me.."

It was easier to show her than tell her. Lucien felt like he'd used up all his luck to finally be able to Sera about the wedding and the plan behind it. For a man more used to actions than words, it would be easier for both of them if he showed her.

Lucien wasn't confident about his words being enough. Speaking to the woman you loved was completely different from speaking to a subject or one of his men.

Picking up the brush and new dress the knight had brought, Lucien gives a small smile.

"You'll need to change first. I'll be your maid"