CHAPTER 198: _EVEN IF IT KILLS ME

Elian’s POV

*****

[What’s got you in such a sour mood?]

Elian’s jaw was tight with anger as he stepped out of the Ascension platform, walking into the hallway of the palace’s last floor.

’You’re joking, right?’

[Nope. Serious as a granny asking for rent. I think your reaction to Kyren was excessive. Emotionally constipated.]

Elian turned, strutting through the corridor with one room set in his mind.

Lucian’s.

Fuck, even thinking that felt odd. Searching for Lucian for a reason outside of needing him to complete a mission felt—

[Like you ticked off the god of selfishness and scooted over to the goddess of selflessness? Yeah, I can understand why that’s nauseating for you.]

Elian’s face heated up with a blush but as always, he ignored the system’s jab. Too bad the bastard had more of that where it came from.

[Oh, so now you hear how it sounds, huh? All Kyren did was reveal himself to his literal blood family. And you’re getting pissed at him, why?]

’I’m getting pissed because it’s once again a decision he’s making for—’

[For himself? Without thinking about how Lucian or you would feel about it?]

’Yes, I—’

[Ding, Ding, Ding! Congrats! Resident omega discovers a major flaw by projecting on his mate.]

Elian was flustered. Speechless.

This was one of those rare moments where the system said things that made him do some serious self-reflection.

Was he... Was he mostly angry at Kyren because he was angry at himself? Angry at how he’s used his mates to ascend all this while?

’Maybe I’m a bad person after all.’ His mental voice was filled with guilt and a tinge of sadness.

He now felt like turning on his heel and finding Kyren instead.

However...

[Heck no. Trust me, Kyren is more than capable of handling whatever emotional wrench you throw his way.]

’Why do you suddenly sound like his biggest fan?’

[I don’t have any favourites among your mates. Technically. But I insist on carrying on to see Lucian because of the new mission attached to him.]

Elian nearly froze, his right foot tugging on the ground when the system let out those magical words.

New mission.

[Yep! But this mission is going to make you more selfless than the jolly old red guy when it comes to your mates.]

Elian’s brows knitted at that comparison. ’A–A dragon?’

[No, Santa Claus. Anyway... New mission loading. Standby.]

A mission bar flickered into existence in front of Elian’s line of sight at the same moment that he finally got in front of Lucian’s door.

He paused, keeping his hands lowered beside him and blinking anxiously at the door.

Elian’s mind reeled through the look on Lucian’s face after Kyren’s impromptu revelation.

The confusion. The glint of the same arrogant light he used to see in him before his amnesia.

But most of all... Hurt.

Hurt at being lied to.

Would the Alpha Prince’s mind be able to handle his presence with all these factors listed?

[Well, fruitcake... Think no further!] The system chimed right when Elian raised his right hand to knock.

For some reason those words made his stomach churn nervously.

[Ugh, relax would you? Don’t worry, I won’t tell you to ignite a world war.]

Yay for him.

[Yet. Anyway... DING! New mission unlocked: Help prince Douche—sorry, charm—ooop. My processor’s a little full trying to decide on a name.]

Elian rolled his eyes, letting out a breath before knocking on the door. He waited for only a few seconds, already sensing Lucian inside through the mate bond.

But when he finally opened the door, the system finally decided to be serious.

[New mission: Help Lucian Stormborn regain all the memories he lost. Mission deadline: Before the break of the first glow tomorrow morning.]

[Mission rewards: 5 points increase to your current stats AND two free mana boosters... For whenever you decide to purchase a mana core.]

Mission deadline before tomorrow morning?! How was he supposed to help Lucian regain his memories before tomorrow?

Elian’s head spun but he didn’t have the chance to argue with the system about the deadline, his eyes brightening up when he got a view of Lucian’s room.

The space was dimly lit, the brightest source of light being a hologram projection of twin crescent moons flickering on the wall over the bed.

And as for Lucian himself?

The Alpha Prince stood close to the foot of the bed, his hands on his waist. Aurora stood a good distance away from him, her lips parted like she’d just been about to say something.

And whatever she’d been about to say seemed like it was going to light a fuse in Lucian’s head.

Elian couldn’t have that happening now, could he?

[That line of thought is not selfless at all.]

Elian blinked, his mind snapping back to reality. His lips curled into a smile as he waved at the siblings. "Hey. Sorry, I guess I came at a bad time."

Lucian’s silver eyes softened, his shoulders relaxing. His face lit up with a warm smile, his lashes fluttering.

"N–Never a bad time with you, Elian." He said tenderly, taking a step forward.

His eyes were fixed but oddly distant, almost like he was in some kind of trance.

But then—

"No, Elian." Aurora walked toward him, her footsteps echoing. "But it won’t hurt to give a little heads up before walking in, would it?"

She had a sly smile, a clear sign that she was just playing around.

However, while Elian’s cheeks flushed, Lucian sneered.

"At least he had the decency to knock before barging in."

Aurora glanced over her shoulder at her brother. Although Elian couldn’t see her face from this angle, he could tell she gave him a snarky smile.

Their sibling dynamic never ceased to amuse him.

"Welp. Good luck with that one, champ." Aurora finally brought her eyes back to Elian, clapping once.

She inched closer, her lips ghosting centimetres away from his ear.

"No, seriously. Good luck, Elian." Her whisper was soft, caring.

She tapped his shoulder once, flashing him one last smile before gently brushing past him, opening the door and closing it softly behind her when she stepped out.

"Finally," Lucian grunted, causing Elian to blink at him. "She’s been so fixated on proving a point since she stepped in."

Elian tilted his head slightly, watching as Lucian walked toward him. The Alpha Prince placed his hands on his cheeks, caressing them like he was admiring a work of art.

"When Kyren was... Spouting all that bull crap about being our cousin, all I could think about was you." Lucian muttered with guilt. "Is this the kind of family drama you’ve had to face since we met?"

Elian tried forcing himself not to smile awkwardly, looking away briefly while rubbing the back of his neck.

[Wouldn’t you like to know, weather boy?]

"Let’s just say..." Elian managed to bring himself to speak, a wry smile stretching his lips. "Kyren’s big revelation is tame compared to most of the family drama we’ve faced within these walls."

Lucian chuckled, a genuine sound that made Elian’s heart flutter.

"We," Lucian repeated the word like it was honey, lowering his head. "Us as a pair. That’s the one thing the Dark Hand made an effort in erasing and it..."

His throat bobbed, his eyes glinting with something raw.

Something deep that made Elian question for the umpteenth time: was helping him regain his memory really worth it?

"It’s making me feel like I lost a part of myself, Elian." Lucian completed his sentence with a sigh. "I want to remember you. I want to remember us."

Elian’s heart beat quickened when the Alpha Prince finally withdrew his hands from his face. But then Lucian proceeded to pull closer, wrapping his hands around his waist.

[Aw... Post amnesia Lucian has to be the most romantic thing in the fucking world.]

Exactly why the thought of giving him back his memories made Elian nauseous.

[And why the new mission is important... You need to learn how to do things without thinking of your cut out of it.]

Yeah, yeah... Fuck all that shit.

[You’re a real piece of work.]

"Elian?" Lucian snapped him out of his reasoning, grabbing his chin. "You... Spaced out. I guess that’s something that happens a lot with you."

Elian blinked, his breath hitching when Lucian’s thumb brushed over his bottom lip, tracing it like he was trying to memorise the shape.

"I can’t stand this fog in my head," Lucian whispered. "Every time I look at you, it feels like there’s something right here—" he touched his temple "—something screaming to be remembered."

Elian swallowed hard, his voice soft but steady. "Then I’ll help you remember. Everything. No matter what it takes."

Lucian’s eyes softened, his usual arrogance melting into something painfully sincere. "You’d really do that for me?"

"I’d do worse," Elian murmured before his mind could censor the words. "Even if it kills me."

Lucian smiled faintly. "I’m hoping it never comes to that."

[Oof. Bold words, fruitcake.]

Elian stiffened. ’Don’t start.’

[Just saying. People who say ’no matter what it takes’ usually end up needing a resurrection spell, or at least a therapist.]

Elian’s lips twitched.

[Anyway... enjoy the romance while it lasts. Timer’s ticking. And you really don’t wanna see what happens if this mission fails.]