The Vampire Prince's Toxic Consort (BL)
Chapter 33 A Decision

Dorian returned from Rovania three days later. It was a successful trip. The new Oracle was readily charmed by Dorian, and he renewed the trade pact with some amendments beneficial to Eternia.

Dorian arrived at Vermilion Citadel in a good mood, as if there was something...or someone he looked forward to returning to, and he didn’t bother to report to his father but went directly back to Lucius and his apartment.

The slave opened the door for him as Lucius was still sleeping. He gestured for Buck to keep quiet and soundlessly entered the bedroom. Lucius liked to roll all the covers around himself and curl into a giant shrimp while sleeping, with only a tiny opening revealing his face. His lips were slightly open, and he snored lightly like a cat purring.

Unsure what had gotten into him, Dorian crouched down next to the bed and watched Lucius’s sleeping face with a delightful and amused look in his eyes, which he was unaware of.

As if he felt something, Lucius’s breath rhythm changed and began to stir. His eyelashes fluttered several times, and those big, dreamy eyes fixed on Dorian’s face. For the first several seconds, he seemed a bit confused, and then a languid but artless grin bloomed on his sleepy face.

“Oh hey, it’s you,” Lucius mumbled, still half-asleep. An unfettered joy filled his heart as he saw the prince’s gentle eyes.

“You snored.”

“What? No way! I never snore.”

“You did. I recorded it.” Dorian waved his phone and smirked, “want to hear it?”

“You are so annoying.“Lucius rolled his eyes and made no attempt to untangle himself from the “spring roll” he had created with the comforter.

“Don’t you think you should be more enthusiastic about your husband’s return?”

“It’s seven in the morning! I only slept two hours! Must you always return at such ungodly hours?”

“Nothing in this country is ’godly.’“Dorian stood up, removed his jacket, and lay on the bed’s other side, stretching his wearisome body from the trip.

“How was Rovania?“Lucius turned to look at him.

“Very beautiful.”

“The scenery or the Oracles?”

Dorian chuckled, “both. Perhaps we should have gone there for our honeymoon.”

“Oh, we had a honeymoon? How come I was not informed?“Lucius jeered.

“We can still have one. Someday.”

“Someday,” Lucius said with a streak of wistfulness. They rested in comfortable silence for a while longer, and then Lucius said, “Osman requested to speak with me during the ball.”

Dorian turned to look at him, “he wanted to speak to you? For what?”

“Potential alliance.“Lucius paused for a while, and just as Dorian was about to urge him to spit it out, he said, “his daughter is in love with you. She wants to be your concubine.”

Dorian snorted, “very funny.”

Lucius didn’t laugh, and Dorian’s amusement also gradually died down. He frowned, “for real?”

“Yes. He said that since I can’t give you an heir, you must take a concubine sooner or later. And if you marry Emel, the Osman house will fully support you.”

Dorian sank into silence, and after a prolonged moment, he said, “why did you tell me this?”

“What do you mean? Of course I have to tell you.”

“You don’t have to. If you don’t want me to take another concubine, you can just pass it as a joke.”

“Is it a joke?” Lucius said flatly, “with his help, you can stop pretending to be a perfectly obedient son, take over Emberton and secure our throne. And once Mahmound, Durchville and the werewolves’ reinforcements arrive, you can finally avenge your mother. It’s a great deal.”

Dorian suddenly sat up, and his countenance was hidden behind the shadow of his fallen front hair.

“It is indeed a great deal.”

“Yeah.“Lucius tried to maintain the calm in his voice, though he was getting bitter.

“And you don’t oppose it?”

Lucius shrugged, keeping his nonchalant facade, “you need Osman’s support, and now it is presented to you on a plate. You should take it.”

“How generous of you,” Dorian commented acerbically.

Lucius began to rile up. He sat up and ruffled his hair peevishly, “I don’t understand you, Dorian. You said you needed Osman’s support! I thought you’d be happy to hear that there is an easy way to gain it!”

“It is indeed easy. But tell me.” Dorian turned to look at him. Indecipherable emotions flickered deep inside his irises, “do you not care at all if I take a concubine?”

Lucius returned him a troubled look, “you really want to know what I think?”

“Yes,” Dorian answered firmly.

“Alright.” Lucius blurted out without pause, “I don’t want you to take a concubine. Fuck, we’ve only been married for half year! You are MY husband, and how dare they even ask such a thing of me?! Weren’t they afraid that I was going to punch their face?! Bunch of jerks!”

And to Lucius’s surprise, his outburst put a tiny smile on Dorina’s face. The vampire prince seemed...relaxed a little for unknown reasons. And he was certainly pleased with the answer.

“I will not take a concubine,” said Dorian.

Lucius was stunned, “huh?”

“I don’t love her and don’t want to marry her. And she doesn’t know me either. It’s just some temporary crush. Also, I have no intention of taking a concubine in the foreseeable future. If this is the only way for Lord Osman to support me, then so be it.” Dorian glanced at him, amused, “so don’t worry, my decision is not solely based on what you just said.”

“Then why the hell did you make me say it!”

“It’s just something good to know.” Dorian grinned with a subdued smugness.

Lucius, in antagonism, threw the pillow over Dorian’s face. Dorian yelped in surprise, “hey!”

And as Lucius threw the second pillow at him, Dorian threw the first one back. And soon, it escalated into a relatively violent war. In the end, Dorian had to pin Lucius down in a full bed of feathers to stop the relentless onslaught.

Lucius was still struggling and thrashing like a fish in a net, and even Dorian, with his preternatural power, had some difficulty holding him still. After several seconds, Dorian decided to end the war by sealing Lucius’s lips with his own. Lucius let out a short whimper but soon melted into the kiss. They both closed their eyes, titillating and chasing the other’s tongue and teasingly biting their lips.

Lucius’s heart was awash with ineffable satisfaction. A thirst that he didn’t even realize was finally quenched. Their hands began to roam on the other one’s body, feeling the heat emanating from beneath the fabric. Dorian’s hand slid into Lucius’s thin nightshirt, and the coolness of the amorous touch met the warmth of belly skin, making Lucius tremble and moan.

Their bodies ground against each other, and their rhythm was so harmonious that it felt incredible. Dorian’s kiss scattered on Lucius’s neck and collarbone, and his fingers gently pinched the tiny nipple on Lucius’s breast. But as the prince’s hand slipped into his consort’s underwear, a memory, or to be more precise, a word, re-emerged in Lucius’s mind. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Findɴovel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Julian.

Lucius flinched and started to push Dorian, “no, stop.”

Dorian paused and looked at Lucius confusingly, “what?”

Lucius didn’t know how to explain, but fear had washed away his erotism. What if Dorian was pretending or confused he was Julian again? What if he called Julian’s name again?

How would he know that Dorian was making love to HIM, and not, consciously or unconsciously, using him as a substitute for his twin brother?

Lucius may be shameless for many things, but he didn’t think he could take this. He had lost his heart to Dorian. It was already bad enough. He couldn’t bear being a cheap alternative, scrapping for piecemeal tenderness like a beggar. Even though it was his supposed role all his life.

He’d rather not have it at all.

“What’s wrong?” Dorian asked with concern.

Lucius sat up embarrassingly, “I um...I don’t think we should do it.”

“Why?” Dorian frowned bewilderedly.

“Just...I need some time.” Lucius almost sounded apologetic.

Dorian sat back as a thought dawned on him, and he flustered, “if...if it’s about last time...I’m not drunk this time, and I know you are not him.”

“But you still love him, right?”

Dorian opened his lips to say something, but no words came out. He had always been yearning for the beautiful angel who saved him from desperation and destruction for the past six years, and now...now he had a consort who was so similar and yet so different from his dream.

Could he give up that dream completely? Would it be fair to Lucius if he promised something he wasn’t absolutely sure about?

But Lucius read Dorian’s hesitative taciturnity as a yes, and it broke his heart a little. For a little was the only amount he would allow himself to admit. He pulled a smile forcefully and said, “I’m sure you are tired. Let’s just go to sleep.”

He pulled the cover over himself and lay back down. After a while, he heard some fabric ruffling sound. Dorian took off his shirt and lay next to him. They were so close, and yet Lucius felt like he could never touch the prince.

Lucius lay there, struggling not to let the chaotic emotions overwhelm him. Why was he so stupid? He had no right to ask Dorian to forget about Julian, because he would betray him in the near future anyway.

It was all a lie. A mistake. And eventually, Dorian would hate him, be disgusted by him, and would never want to see him, kiss him, or even drink from him again.

And the very thought made Lucius tremor in consternation.

“Are you cold?” Dorian asked quietly.

“N...no.”

After a few seconds, an arm surrounded Lucius, pulling him into a firm, broad, warm chest. The closeness almost brought wetness into Lucius’s eyes, but he managed to press it down.

“Is it better?” Dorian asked softly behind him.

Lucius managed to answer, “yes.” He wanted to touch Dorian’s hand, but ultimately didn’t do it.

And they fell asleep like that.

Since Osman had become a dead end, and there were eyes everywhere in the court, monitoring Dorian and Lucius’s every move, acquiring control over the Royal Army became an unattainable goal.

Even though the King hadn’t stripped Dorian’s Crown Prince title, everyone expected it to happen soon. All the King and Devina needed was for Prince Silvan to make a splendid achievement, possibly in the invasion of the last stronghold of humanity on Eleth—Anthor.

Dorian and Lucius knew they were running out of time and had to act fast.

“The king is falling into hibernation, right?” Lucius said bluntly as he leaned back into the armchair and looked at Dorian and Darius, “what are the possible ways to...accelerate the process and end his suffering quicker?”

Darius raised his eyebrows in astonishment, “you are much bolder than I thought, your highness.”

“We don’t have time to play pretend, Duke Darius.” Lucius said blatantly and glanced at Dorian, “my husband said you can be trusted, and I believe him.”

But Dorian shook his head, “I want him to be conscious when I take his throne. I need him to feel all the loss and remember what he did to my mother.”

Darius sighed, “why are you so stubborn about this? I told you his guilt toward your mother won’t last long, and Devina will change his mind about you sooner or later. You can’t keep your position if he stays conscious for too long.”

“Stay conscious doesn’t have to mean staying in power.” Lucius commented and turned to Dorian, “if he is as weak as the rumor said, can’t you use one of your soul magic on him? Like when you get into people’s minds, utilize their fear, and get a hold of their souls? I heard there was such magic that you can trap them in their own head and drive them mad.”

Darius gawked at Lucius as if he was some extraterrestrial creature, “are you really that pure and good saint they said you were?”

“Nothing is pure and good in this world, my lord,” Lucius smirked unapologetically and didn’t bother to pretend to be Julian anymore. He was already committing treason by plotting against the crown with the Crown Prince and the Duke of Northcester. What’s the point of staying in character?

Dorian said in a matter-of-fact tone, “it can’t be done. His body is covered with powerful protective runes created by my great-grandfather Bizan, a first-generation vampire who had died before I was born. Those runes were tattooed into his skin and hidden by his clothes, warding off any kind of magic. I am not strong enough to break those runes. None of the currently active apostles can, as far as I know. It was what made him great and powerful in the first place, as he was believed to be invincible.”

“And yet he is still wasting away by a mysterious disease.“Lucius jeered, “so there is absolutely no way to breach the protection?”

“Perhaps...there is a way.” Darius remarked cautiously, “but it is very difficult, almost unachievable.”

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