Game. Set..... Match?

Lucien returned last night and I was pleased to see him. He is my only companionship and I have been lonely in his absence. I was waiting for him in the estate rose gardens, I did not mean to act as happy as I did. He asked me if anything had happened while he was away and I answered him honestly.

"How should I know? No one would tell me if it did and I am unable to leave."

So he graciously gave me guards so I could where I wished. Thirty men at my disposal. Thirty fucking men. How did he even find that many men willing to deal with me? How much was he paying all of them? And was this all just a cleverly designed trick to keep me locked up in the house, under his thumb? I could understand if it was, I could admire the wiseness of that decision.

When I pressed him about the guards that's when he said the last thing I'd expected to hear....

"I'd raze cities for you, Xianthe."

My face flushed and I was left speechless as he kissed me. His arms slid around my waist and tightened there as if to punctuate his words. I closed my eyes and let the weight of that small statement settle in my belly.

Later when he lay sleeping beside me, I watched him, so calm and relaxed. My fingers brushed a dirty blond curl from his face. The stakes were being raised little by little in the game of us. My rules were being rewritten.

I was gone by the time he woke and for a hand or so afterwards I avoided him. We met for meals of course, but those were often such political affairs that I did not have to speak to him. I could feel him watching me though, his gaze was heavy on me, it slithered around me like snakes. It took all I had not to meet it.

"I'd raze cities for you, Xianthe."

I will never forget.