CHAPTER 230: _JUST THE TWO OF US

Lucian’s POV

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The echo of the slammed doors lingered long after Kyren’s magic faded.

Lucian stood still at the foot of the dais, the silence in the throne room so heavy it pressed against his chest.

He could still feel the pulse of Kyren’s power in the air — wild, ancient and untamed. And beneath it all, a slow, gnawing guilt that refused to let him breathe.

Elian hadn’t moved.

The Omega stood a few steps away, violet eyes glinting beneath the fractured sunlight streaming through the high windows. The expression on his face was unreadable — too calm and way too distant for Lucian’s liking.

He’d spent the night replaying every memory that had come crashing back into him. Every cruel word. Every moment of dismissal. Every pained look Elian had given him while he acted like a monumental jerk.

Gods, he remembered it all.

And he hated himself for it.

The Alpha Prince’s hands clenched at his sides before he forced them to relax. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.

His throat felt as though it were filled with ash.

When Elian finally spoke, his voice was quiet... almost gentle. And somehow that made it worse:

"I know you’ve gotten your memories back."

Lucian’s head lifted at that.

Elian wasn’t looking at him, not really. His gaze hovered somewhere over the throne — the same throne his father had once occupied.

"I’m glad," Elian continued, his tone calm in a way Lucian couldn’t match. "Truly, I am. You deserve to remember every part of who you are."

There was a pause, one that cut deep. Then Elian’s voice dropped, soft but sharp enough to pierce.

"But... Why have you been avoiding me since last night?"

Lucian’s breath caught.

He looked away first. Of course he did. He was the next Alpha King — and he couldn’t even hold his mate’s gaze.

Because what was he supposed to say?

That he remembered every time he’d hurt him? Every time he’d made Elian question his worth? That he couldn’t stand looking at the person he’d broken and somehow still... still cared about?

The silence between them stretched again, thick with everything unsaid.

Lucian swallowed hard, his eyes closing for a brief second before he forced himself to meet those violet eyes.

And for the first time since regaining his memories, he let the mask crack — just a little.

"Elian..." His voice was low, raw, the word itself a confession. "I didn’t mean to—"

He paused, not knowing where to start.

Elian was patient, taking slow steps forward. "You didn’t mean to what, Lucian? You can tell me... It’s just you and me here."

Lucian maintained eye contact, watching as his mate moved closer and closer to him. His heart beat so fast, so hard that it drowned out any thoughts his mind could muster.

Elian was right.

It was just the two of them here. But that was also just the thing.

"Exactly, Elian. Just the two of us." Lucian said as if he were afraid to admit it.

Maybe he was.

"Which means I’ll have to look you in the eyes for the rest of our lives knowing what I did." Lucian continued, trying hard to keep his voice firm. "That’s assuming you wish to spend your life with me. I–I couldn’t live with the guilt when my memories came knocking like a secret I wanted buried."

Elian chuckled softly, his lips curled in a soft smile. "The worst-kept secret in Lunaria. Considering the whole Empire witnessed you rejecting me the night of the mating ball."

Gods, did he really have to remind him?

Lucian lowered his head, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment and regret.

At that same moment, Elian finally got in front of him. The Alpha Prince’s body surged with warmth when his mate grabbed his hands, forcing him to look into those violet eyes again.

Elian’s touch was warm — grounding — and for a moment Lucian forgot how to breathe.

"You were a jerk back then," Elian said softly, though there was a teasing edge to his tone that pulled a weak huff of laughter from Lucian. "An arrogant, cold, impossible jerk."

Lucian winced, and Elian’s smile widened a little.

"But..." He drew in a breath, his voice lowering. "I watched you change, Lucian. Even before you lost your memories, you started to— I don’t know— look at me differently. You were trying. I saw it."

Lucian’s brows drew together, the words striking something deep inside him. "You did?"

"I did," Elian said simply. His thumbs brushed against Lucian’s knuckles. "But when I noticed you got your memories back, part of me was terrified you’d hate me again. That I’d have to start over— or worse, that you’d look at me like you used to."

Lucian’s chest tightened, guilt burning in his lungs like smoke. "I could never hate you."

"I know that now." Elian’s lips curved faintly, the smile hopeful. "Because even without your memories, you still protected me. You still chose me. Maybe that means something."

Lucian swallowed hard, his heart thrumming in his throat. "It means everything."

They stood there for a long moment, the silence between them no longer suffocating but soft. Through the sunlight and drifting dust, it felt as if time itself had stilled for them alone.

Then Elian spoke again, his tone quiet but firm. "After everything we’ve learned and everything that’s coming... we need each other now more than ever."

Lucian nodded slowly. "We do."

Their eyes met and this time, neither of them looked away.

Lucian leaned in first, his hand rising to cup Elian’s cheek. The Omega tilted his head, breath hitching, and when their lips met, it felt like a promise.

The kiss started slowly before deepening, hunger bleeding into it like wildfire.

Lucian pulled Elian closer, his fingers tangling in the back of his shirt as the Omega’s hands slid up his chest, gripping the fabric like he was afraid Lucian might vanish again.

Their breaths mingled, quick and uneven.

Lucian broke away just enough to rest his forehead against Elian’s.

"Elian..." His voice was low, husky with restraint. "Do you want this?"

Elian’s answering smile was soft but sure, eyes gleaming with something brighter than the morning sun.

"I want all of it," he whispered, his lips brushing Lucian’s. "All of you."

Lucian’s restraint shattered.

He kissed him again, this time deeper and rougher. Like he was making up for every lost second.

His hands slipped under Elian’s shirt, fingertips tracing the warm skin of his waist, drawing a quiet gasp from his mate’s lips.

And right there, in the throne room of his late father... Lucian finally stopped running.