My back hit the wall quite harshly as Lucien's arm came to rest beside my head against the wall, making me feel trapped and caged. I masked my emotions even as my stomach turned in anxiousness and Lucien's amber eyes bore into mine intensely.

His other hand rested on his sword and I took in his appearance for tonight.

Lucien's burgundy cloak was on, boots and a pair of black pants, cobalt blue shirt and laces made of white dye were suiting him. In the bland kingdom colors I'd thought he would look bad but it still did noting to reduce his handsomeness.

Blast the gods. Someone blast the gods!

Please!

I drew in a breath, preparing myself to ask him why we were here - alone - and what had him so desperate when he broke the silence himself.

"Who bit you?" His voice was low as his eyes burned the skin of my neck where Damien's fang marks were. More importantly his voice was dangerous and dark.

I gulped.

Then I gasped softly when he brought his face closer to me, so close that I could feel the heat radiating off his body and his lips millimetres from mine. I realized Damien hadn't told Lucien of this encounter.

"Answer me, Cara." His voice was forceful and before I completely thought over my words, I was speaking.

"Are you and Damien truly best friends?"

Lucien blinked, tilting his head slightly to the side. "Brothers. Our bond is stronger than blood brothers."

Firstly, I was just surprised he answered me at all and secondly, the passion in his voice when he spoke of Damien was heart wrenching.

But then.....

Why the fuck were they both getting me alone to answer secrets they were keeping from each other?! 

"I see."

"Now....." when Lucien's finger brushed my neck, I blushed furiously and felt my heart pounding. "Who was it." It wasn't even a question at this point.

And something in his tone made me answer him honestly. "Damien."

I was surprised myself that I wasn't addressing him as Prince Damien instead by his name straight away. But it seemed right. Associating the title seemed just...wrong. Like I couldn't bring myself to say it. Especially with Lucien. 

Lucien's eyes snapped up to meet mine and I inhaled deeply at the churning emotions in his amber eyes.

I fucking love his eyes.

But then, Damien's are electric.

WHERE THE FUCK DID THOSE THOUGHTS COME FROM?!

I tried to stop my cheeks and neck from heating up in embarrassment but it didn't work. Judging by Lucien's twinkling eyes, I'd say he'd already noticed my loose reign on emotions tonight.

"Why did he bite you, exactly?" His tone was cold as usual.

"Aren't you 'brothers' and 'best friends'? Why are you asking me then? How am I to know?" I snapped back.

He paid me no heed and narrowed his eyes. I was just glad he didn't mention my flaming cheeks. A muscle in his jaw ticked and he looked away from me.

"When did he even see you?" He hissed.

I shrugged, "When he was draining my fellow maid of her blood." 

Ouch.

I'm being too crude but I can't help it. This is too much. 

"What are you trying to achieve by drawing attention, pet?"

There it was, the stupid nickname again. "Actually, I'd rather stay in the shadows which is proving to be difficult."

"And you're telling me the girl who escaped from a vampire gathering isn't plotting much?" He rose a brow, going ahead showing emotions around me and my eye twitched. He knew what he was saying.

"I don't have the energy to plot. Or the time. And you, General, are more than aware of that." I gritted my teeth, glaring at him. 

He smirked coldly, not denying. "I try."

He just gets on my nerves so easily! 

If only he would act this way in the courts and parties, I'm telling you he could give Damien a run for his gold coins. 

"Spying on a slave?" I asked sarcastically and his eyes shone with amusement.

"I don't swoop that low." He let his eyes travel over my body and I snickered at the irony.

"Your eyes have no problem doing that though." I whispered and he brought his eyes back up. He smirked once more before it was gone.

Men are perverts. Be it supernatural or human. Exhibit A is in front of me.

"You're healthier."

"You'd know." I rolled my eyes.

"As a matter of fact, I would, pet."

"Of course, considering you were the one who brought me to this hellish place."

"You're still holding onto that?" He almost seemed amused, his lips tugging upwards and I gave him an incredulous look.

"Yes! Yes, I'm still holding on to that! You ruined my life and took away my freedom!" I glared at him and he finally let his smirk stay, merciless and cold.

The nerve.....

I slightly moved to create more space between us but that just resulted in Lucien narrowing his eyes further and boxing me in completely.

So much for personal space with these damn supernatural males.

"Did he hurt you?" The question was so out of the blue and off topic from the most cold-hearted person I knew that I thought I was hallucinating now.

"Surprisingly.....no." I honestly answered and looked him in the eye but it seemed to become too serious so I brushed it off with a comment that was true and a mockery as well. "But I'm sure the Queen wouldn't punish you for this little slip."

I'd thought he would've continued with the ruse and made me forget whatever emotion he had let slip but instead I saw a flash of irritation in his eyes before they returned to being cold.

Why irritation though?

Ah. Because General Lucien doesn't care.

We simply stared at each other and my breathing was no longer even. My heart did flips and I didn't like the feeling. 

Or maybe I did.

When I felt excessively overwhelmed, I looked away to the side.

I know. 

I'm showing emotions. I shouldn't but that isn't as easy with him or even Damien for that matter. This person isn't the same to me for some reason. 

I hate him. I do. But I can't deny whatever I feel when he's in close proximity either.

My eyes fell on his hand caging me in. I tilted my head curiously.

Oh his left hand, he wore a ring.

A ring with a stone that instantly caught my eye and I blinked. It was simple yet beautiful, fitted in the middle with a small green stone. I don't know why I hadn't noticed it before.

"It's Jadeite." Lucien's quiet voice made me snap out of the daze.

"What?" I asked, still confused and a bit off-guard. Lucien brought his left hand down and held it between us so the ring was visible.

"Jadeite." He stared me in the eyes. "Like your eyes. A rare jade-colored stone."

Like my eyes?

You moron, I'd just managed to stop blushing!!

My breath caught in my throat and I subconsciously bit my lower lip. His gaze flicked to my lips before locking back with mine. I swallowed.

"It's..." I looked at it again. "Very beautiful." 

And it was.

"It's not an ordinary ring." He said. Though I was once more taken aback by his words. Lucien was offering me information. How often does that happen?

Of course I'd figured that.  He wouldn't wear jewelry just for the sake of it! Unless something served some sort of purpose, it was of no use to him.

I shakily breathed, blushing once more and Lucien glanced down at the piece of jewelry adoring his hand. 

"It was a....memento. A gift, I suppose." His eyebrows scrunched up in slight confusion I think. Like he was concentrating on something, focusing. Remembering but not quite.

He shook his head and glanced at me once more holding me captive to those amber pools of heated gaze. His next words shocked me.

"Not everyone can see it. The Queen, Damien and few more people are the only ones." He searched my eyes intently. "And now you."

I blinked, eyes widening before I schooled my features back. "W-what does it do?"

He smiled slightly but then it was gone. "Protects me from illusions and lets me see through them." His amber eyes were fixated on my jade green ones.

Woah, what? How? Why?

Before I could say anything, he was in my space again. His amber eyes holding me immobile and his voice was husky and low. "And when Damien says you're his again? Tell him..." He moved his face so his words were directly being spoken into my ear, his hot breath tickling me, "Finders, Keepers. And I was the finder."

 A tingle ran down my spine and I blinked rapidly, confused and stunned and blushing. I suddenly had an urge to...touch Lucien.

I'm sorry, what?!

NO!

I thought I made it clear that I could only take one obnoxious supernatural male a day! Not even one actually!!

The number was going to hike up to three by tonight though.

He didn't let me formulate a reply and simply grabbed my wrist once more to start dragging me back in. 

This time though, I didn't fight Lucien even a bit, letting him lead like one would in a dance. But it was only because his words were echoing in my mind and I was stunned.

Finders, keepers? He was laying claim over me?! A ring providing protection from illusions that only few in the whole of Vammal could see? But why? 

And then...once again I questioned all that had happened.

Why me?

"We should head back. The Fae will be here any second now."

•○•

So before Lucien left me immersed in my thoughts deserted in the corner of the hall right below the Royal Dais and next to the table where the Celeran and Valeryn Royals would dine, he informed me that no vampires would 'bother' me here since this was a corner specifically for the Royal's 'feast' or commonly known as blood bags for the night. It'd be just my luck if I would become one of the serving maids for the royal table.

It didn't bring me any comfort, frankly speaking and Lucien's move sure as hell drew some eyes. Including the Queen, and Damien who I think had been about to come out after us himself. 

"Don't worry, I'll see to it that Damien doesn't drink from you again." He whispered to me and then vanished to talk to King Harold. 

A lot of reassurance that brought me.

The Jadeite ring....

I refrained from thinking of all else he said. The ring will be the only thing I allow myself to think about!

Lucien actually told me about it. Was that a trick though? A ploy? It could be. I'm not trusting anyone here but....

I looked around, trying to shake off the feeling of Damien's eyes on me more often than not, and waited with bated breath for the Fae to finally enter.

Like my mind had been read, they did arrive.

All commotion in the Great Hall stopped and there were only some excited and hushed whispers as the Fae entered.

My eyes didn't focus on the guards and few ministers they had with them. They zeroed in on the two Royals within seconds.

Princess Sera who was the epitome of Fae beauty.

And King Arion who was far too handsome for a King I though must've been three or four or more centuries old and looking....well, old.

But like Lucien and Damien, he looked no older than twenty three and such and managed to draw the eye of every female in the vicinity towards him in the most captivating manner I'd seen so far. Men were looking at him in awe as well.

I felt my heart skip a beat. Like the other slaves, I should've kept my head down but it was only slightly bent. My eyes were observing everything.

As if we were drawn to one another, our eyes met even across the great distance from this end of the hall to that.

My throat went dry and my knees felt like jelly. I couldn't keep myself from breathing in deeply so I wouldn't show too much emotion.

I realized how big of a mistake I made in that moment when I locked eyes with him and yet there was nothing more to be done.

And if I said I loved General Lucien's amber pools, and Prince Damien's electric orbs.....then then there was no doubt that I was instantly captivated by King Arion's grey eyes that were brewing a storm at sea.

Oh, boy.

•○•

AN~

So? How was the chapter?!

Lucien and Cara were back alone and had some heated arguments hmm? *wiggles brow*

And what about the ring?

Arion is finally here too!! He has arrived with Sera! What do you think about their first encounter??

Do vote and comment you guys, thanks a ton and keep it coming! My exams are also on so yeah. Ugh. Anyways, hope you enjoyed!! Recommend too!

And I mentioned that I scored 3rd position in the Ruby Awards right? Haha, yeah! I can improve but this was an achievement. 

Also, sorry for the late update. I have had the draft but I was going to post it well...today because my exams, as I mentioned before, will start from 15th to 26th so I won't be here. Sorry but ya lol.

Stay safe, stay amazing and till next time!

~Skyler