CHAPTER 101: _MAIN COURSE MEAL

(Warning: Mature Content Ahead.)

Elian’s POV

*****

Fortunately, there were no sightings of the Umbra Beast till dusk.

Elian and Axel didn’t leave the room while Lucian went in and out occasionally, checking in on the guards and getting updates on the situation in the palace from his father.

But Elian was restless still, even with Axel having him in his arms throughout most of their time in the room. They were currently sitting on one of the beds in the room, catching up.

"So... Your plan was to let the second explosion in that manor create an opening. Not blow me up." Elian remarked with an awkward chuckle after Axel explained what happened when he and Lucian were searching for him.

Axel chuckled as well, wrapping his arms tighter around his waist from behind and pressing a kiss on his neck. "That’s right. Why would I want to blow up that pretty face of yours?"

His tone at the end was teasing, his warm breath on Elian’s breath causing the latter to shudder with need.

[It only took you till dusk... But looks like you’re about to get some, fruitcake!]

Elian ignored as usual, arching subconsciously into Axel’s kiss on his neck as it got deeper.

"The fact that you were able to escape being bound on your own." Axel rasped on his neck, like a man starved of water. "You always find new ways to make me proud, Elian."

His right hand trailed from Elian’s waist, up his shirt and then to his collar, exposing Elian’s collarbone.

"Oh, I wouldn’t give myself too much credit..." Elian smirked, tilting his head to give Axel space to kiss his collarbone. "Although, you might have to show me a few moves to defend myself next time."

[Oh, you shameless little thing.]

"I’ll show you some moves." Axel’s voice went dark all of a sudden as he adjusted his sitting position, kneeling on the bed behind Elian. "There’s this..."

His left hand trailed to Elian’s pants, touching his already rock-hard erection.

Elian gasped involuntarily, closing his eyes as Axel trailed his hand further into his underwear, his palm gently cupping his length.

[The fact that I’ll have to watch your depravity for the rest of your mortal life... I mean, I’m not complaining but still...]

Elian’s breaths were shaky as Axel stroked his dick gently, like he was taking his time to feel every vein throbbing. As he did that, his kisses along Elian’s exposed collarbones increased in intensity.

"A–Axel..." Elian managed to find his words, barely, caressing his face with his right hand. "What about Lucian? He could walk in at... At any moment."

Axel withdrew his lips from his neck for only a moment, leaving his mouth close enough to still make his breath hit.

"Let him... Maybe he could join." Axel rasped with a teasing voice, causing Elian’s eyes to widen with surprise.

Where did this new freakiness come from?

[ALERT! Mate #1 incoming in 5... 4... ]

Crap, spoke too soon.

Elian shakily held his jaw, trying to shove him back. "A–Axel... He’s... Lucian—"

[And... Action!]

Suddenly, Lucian opened the door, stepping in with his eyes glued to a holographic projection from his communication ring. "So, my dad said the security check in the palace has already brought out three spies from Estella. If we can—"

Elian tried shifting away from Axel, even with his dick throbbing in his palm, but the Beta was more relaxed, still keeping his body glued to him.

Until Lucian raised his head, his words dying in his throat.

Elian stiffened, his face heating up as hot sweat dripped down his body.

Lucian froze mid-step, his eyes lifting from the glowing projection on his ring and straight to Axel’s hand.

Which was still on Elian.

Lucian’s jaw clenched so hard Elian thought his teeth might crack.

The golden light of the hologram flickered against Elian’s flushed face, and suddenly the projection meant nothing—because all Lucian could see was the Beta’s fingers wrapped possessively around what he wanted to claim.

The hologram fizzled out with a snap when Lucian shut it off. Silence filled the room, heavy enough to suffocate.

Elian swallowed, sweat gleaming at his temple, his eyes wide.

Was it guilt he was feeling? Lust? Or maybe both.

"Is this," Lucian started, his voice low and sharp as a blade, "what you were doing while I was outside making sure you weren’t torn apart in your sleep?"

Axel didn’t flinch.

In fact, he didn’t even stop stroking Elian lazily, like he wanted to test how far Lucian would go.

"Relax, Alpha Prince," he rasped, smirking against Elian’s neck. "I was keeping him warm."

Lucian’s eyes glinted with a dangerous light. A low growl left his throat as he took a single step forward.

"Warm," Lucian repeated, each syllable bitten out. "That’s what we’re calling it now?"

Elian finally found his voice, though it cracked. "C–can you both not look at me like I’m the main course?"

[Correction: You ARE the main course. Buffet style, in fact.]

The system’s snark echoed through Elian’s mind but Lucian didn’t need to hear it; his instincts probably screamed the same thing.

Lucian took another slow step forward, then another. He reached down, grabbed Axel’s wrist, and squeezed until the Beta finally—reluctantly—pulled his hand free.

"If you want to touch him," Lucian growled, his eyes locked with Axel’s, "you’ll do it with my permission."

[Oh, those words aren’t going to end on a good note.]

Elian’s breath hitched, caught between arousal and sheer panic.

Then—

The lights suddenly flickered. The shadows along the far wall stretched unnaturally, crawling upward like ink spilt across a painting. The air grew cold.

Elian’s eyes widened in alarm, his gaze scanning the room as his heart hammered against his chest.

It wasn’t just an alarm creeping into his nerves. It was recognition.

The Umbra beast hadn’t left.

Elian stumbled back, clutching his chest while Lucian’s rage sharpened into deadly focus.

"It’s still here," The Alpha Prince snarled, stepping in front of Elian instinctively as Axel’s lightsaber hissed to life behind him.

As soon as those words left the Alpha Prince’s lips, the room plunged into darkness.