A neccessary burden
1063 Words
LUCIEN’S POV
I had spent centuries building my reputation, One terrified glance at a time. One whispered rumor at a time. One execution at a time, Fear was useful. Fear kept people obedient, Fear kept them distant. Fear kept them alive. The irony was that most of the stories told about me weren’t even true. The truly dangerous things were the ones nobody knew. I stood before the fireplace in my study, watching the flames consume another piece of parchment.
The report had been useless, Another border dispute. Another council demanding my attention. Another problem that refused to stay buried. The knock on my door came exactly three seconds before it opened, Only one person in the kingdom possessed the courage—or stupidity—to do that. Killian walked inside.
“She Is trying to escape again.”
I didn’t look up.
“How many times now?”
“Three.”
A pause.
“Since dinner.”
I sighed, The sound felt strangely exhausting.
“She Is persistent.”
Killian laughed.
“That’s one word for it.”
I tossed the report into the fire, The flames immediately swallowed it. For a few moments neither of us spoke. I already knew why he was here. The question had been bothering him ever since we returned, Finally he asked it.
“Why her?”
There it was, The question everyone wanted answered. The question nobody dared ask, Except Killian. I poured myself a glass of whiskey.
“Because she was available.”
His eyebrows rose.
“Available?”
“Yes.”
“That’s your explanation?”
“It is.”
Killian folded his arms.
“I don’t believe you.”
I took a slow sip.
“I wasn’t asking for your opinion.”
“No. But you’re getting it anyway.”
I should have thrown him out, Instead I remained silent. A dangerous mistake on my part. Silence always encouraged him.
“You crossed half the kingdom for that girl.”
His gaze narrowed.
“You terrified an entire pack.”
Still silence.
“You dragged her back here kicking and screaming.”
I stared into the fire.
“Yes.”
“And now you’ve locked her in the east wing.”
“Yes.”
“And you haven’t spent more than five minutes in the same room as her.”
That finally earned a response, I looked at him.
“What point are you attempting to make?”
Killian gestured wildly.
“My point is that none of this makes any sense.”
Neither did most things, that hardly made them less necessary. He moved closer.
“You don’t even like her.”
“No.”
“You don’t want her.”
“No.”
“You barely acknowledge she exists.”
I took another sip.
“No.”
Killian stared at me, then he laughed. The i***t actually laughed.
“Then why is she here?”
The fire crackled between us, for a long moment I considered saying nothing. That would have been the wiser choice. Instead I answered.
“I require an heir.”
Killian blinked, then he stared. Then he laughed even harder.
“I don’t believe that either.”
My patience thinned.
“You should.”
“Lucien.”
His amusement vanished.
“You haven’t touched a woman in decades.”
I said nothing.
“You avoid them.”
Silence.
“You actively dislike them.”
Silence.
“And now suddenly you need an heir?”
I set the glass down, the crystal made a sharp sound against the desk. The room immediately grew quiet. Killian was many things. Stupid wasn’t one of them, he recognized the warning.
“I need someone to inherit this kingdom.”
My voice was calm…measured and final.
“It will not be you.”
His expression softened slightly.
“I never wanted it.”
“That is irrelevant.”
“Then appoint a successor.”
“No.”
“Why?”
I looked away, toward the fire. Toward the darkness beyond the windows. Toward the secrets that refused to remain buried because successors could be challenged. Successors could be overthrown, successors could die. An heir was different, an heir offered stability. An heir offered protection, an heir offered insurance against the future I could feel approaching but those weren’t answers I intended to share.
“Because I said so.”
Killian groaned.
“You are impossible.”
“I am aware.”
He rubbed his face, then he glanced toward the door. Toward the eastern wing, toward the room where Isabella was undoubtedly plotting another escape.
“What do you want me to do with her?”
A simple question, one I had already considered.
“Keep her occupied.”
“Occupied?”
“Yes.”
His mouth twitched.
“I don’t think she likes me very much.”
“That would make you the first.”
“Very funny.”
I wasn’t joking, Killian sighed.
“Do I at least get to know how long she’s staying?”
I met his gaze, for the first time all evening and something in my expression must have unsettled him. Because the amusement immediately disappeared from his face.
“A long time.”
The room fell silent, Killian slowly nodded. Then he turned and headed for the door, just before leaving, he paused.
“She looked terrified of you.”
I didn’t answer, the door closed behind him. The study became quiet once more. For several minutes I stood there alone. Staring into the flames, thinking about silver eyes filled with hatred. Thinking about tears she had refused to hide, thinking about questions she wasn’t supposed to ask. A strange sensation settled in my chest. Not guilt. Not regret.
Those things had abandoned me long ago, just irritation because Isabella was already proving far more troublesome than I had anticipated and something told me the worst was yet to come.
“An heir?” a voice echoed in my head
I continued reading the report in front of me, trying to shut it out
“You don’t want an heir, you don’t want a wife.”
I closed the report, the silence sinking in and the room feeling colder.
The council has spent the last eight years demanding a successor. They wanted a wife hey wanted an heir. The girl’s presence would satisfy them.
- Writer
