Chapter 87\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Lucien\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
I woke up to something warm pressed against my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was breathing slowly and clinging to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I opened my eyes sharply to see what it was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara.\u00a0<\/p>\n
61\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her face was tucked under my chin, her arms looped around my waist like I was some oversized pillow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One of her legs was thrown over mine possessively.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t dare move, I couldn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If I breathe wrong, she will wake up and murder me for getting closer to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But damn, it felt good.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It felt dangerously comfortable, like we\u2019ve been married forever and we are a loving mated pair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as I was considering pretending to be still asleep forever, she shifted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyelashes fluttered and her brow creased.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then she froze, waking up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I braced myself for lashing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara slowly pushed herself back, stared at the position we were in\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
And let out a horrified gasp. \u201cWhat-what are you doing?!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked. \u201cLying down.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked down at us. \u201cOn me?!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re the one on me,\u201d I corrected calmly. \u201cYou climbed onto my side sometime in the night.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not!\u201d she hissed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I raised a brow. \u201cThen why is your leg still on me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She yanked it away like she\u2019d touched fire.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her face went crimson and she immediately switched to anger to hide it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:44 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 87\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou, just\u2026you stay on your side of the bed!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
:.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI did,\u201d I said, sitting up. \u201cYou moved from your side to mine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMoved?!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the word, yes, you did,\u201d I replied and she went mad with rage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She threw a pillow at my head. I caught it without looking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are displaying your hot temper again. Fascinating.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLucien, I swear-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I cut her off, leaning forward just slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara. I didn\u2019t drag you to me. Didn\u2019t touch or pull you to me. You came on your own.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her mouth opened, then closed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She hated that she didn\u2019t have a comeback.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Which made this moment priceless. I love seeing her speechless.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re infuriating,\u201d she muttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you are delicious,\u201d I said before I could stop myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stiffened. \u201cDon\u2019t say things like that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy? It\u2019s true.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLucien\u2026.\u201d she gritted her teeth, irritated and was on the verge of breaking out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I couldn\u2019t help it, her flustered face was too damn tempting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So I smirked. \u201cAlso, you snore a little.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her jaw dropped. \u201cI do not-!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I laughed, really hard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
(61)\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
She launched herself off the bed to escape me, mumbling curses under her breath as she grabbed her robe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I watched her tie it around her waist, trying desperately not to look at me again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Goddess, she was beautiful when she was annoyed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beautiful when she wasn\u2019t. Either way, she was always lovely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood, stretching lazily.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:44 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 87\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes flicked to me, then she snapped her head away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t look at me,\u201d she snapped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t looking at you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She screamed back. \u201cYou were!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m allowed to look at my wife in the morning,\u201d I said lightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStop calling me that!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped closer slowly and deliberately to watch her heartbeat jump.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara,\u201d I mumbled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She swallowed. \u201cW-what?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
61\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
I reached past her to pick up my discarded jacket, intentionally brushing her shoulder. She went stiff.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to be scared to fall asleep next to me,\u201d I murmured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not scared.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen don\u2019t worry about waking up on my chest.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I met her eyes. \u201cThough\u2026 I didn\u2019t mind.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her breath hitched.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped back, giving her space.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRelax. I\u2019ll keep my distance tonight,\u201d I said gently, even though every instinct in me hated that idea. \u201cUnless, you move to me again,\u201d I added with a smile,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLucien! I will kill you!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I left the room before she could throw something else.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the warmth where she\u2019d slept on me lingered long after.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After Elara bathed and dressed up, I went in after. We got ready and went downstairs for breakfast.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The dining hall was quiet when we arrived.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Well, quiet until she sat down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara dropped into the chair beside me, making the seat groan against the floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her hair was perfectly brushed; her expression was perfectly murderous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:44 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 87\u00a0<\/p>\n
I took my time sitting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She glared at me. I smiled back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStop smiling,\u201d she muttered under her breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not,\u201d I said, absolutely smiling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She clenched her jaw.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
61\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Across from us, Kingsley was reading something. While mom was pretending not to stare at us, her neck was stretched like a predator\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo and Kaia don\u2019t eat breakfast with us anymore after the fight. That bastard had the guts to move his dining room after hitting and humiliating me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I still have a score to settle with him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
An attendant set plates in front of us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara immediately pushed hers away. \u201cI\u2019m not hungry.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t eat last night,\u201d I said. \u201cIf you faint, I refuse to catch you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t catch me anyway.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tilted my head. \u201cI caught you last night.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes widened. \u201cLucien, I will pour this juice on your face-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mother gasped dramatically. \u201cElara! Don\u2019t talk to your husband like that!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara groaned into her hands. \u201cPlease stop calling him my husband.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you are married,\u201d I said, to watch her twitch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She inhaled sharply. \u201cI am reconsidering my choices every minute.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t have a choice,\u201d I reminded her cheerfully. \u201cYou said \u2018I do.\u2019 Publicly in front of the whole pack.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was under stress!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou looked very willing to me.\u201d I laughed in her face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She kicked me under the table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smothered a wince. \u201cOuch, that hurts\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kingsley finally looked up. \u201cIs this how the two of you intend to behave every morning?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d I answered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:44 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 87\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Elara snapped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
We spoke at the same time. Kingsley sighed like he regretted being alive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara clasped her hands. \u201cOh, this is so romantic! Newlywed banter!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara actually choked on air. \u201cRomantic?! He..he..he annoys me!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I lifted my cup. \u201cTo love.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She snatched my cup and drank from it out of pure spite.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked, and she froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mother squealed. \u201cLook! You already share drinks!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara acted as if her entire soul had left her body.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not, he didn\u2019t, I just\u2026just-\u201d she stammered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can keep it,\u201d I murmured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNO.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She pushed the cup back at me. \u201cTake a sip right now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I drank from the same spot, looking at her face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She made a strangled noise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kingsley muttered, \u201cOh dear Goddess.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
We couldn\u2019t stop arguing throughout the entire breakfast.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After eating, we headed out to go back to our room where we found my mother standing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked like waiting long\u00a0<\/p>\n
A\u00a0<\/p>\n
61\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou two need to bond,\u201d she declared. \u201cLucien, you didn\u2019t get your lovely wife a wedding gift. Why don\u2019t you take her shopping today?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara almost choked. \u201cCara, that\u2019s really not nec-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree,\u201d I said instantly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Both of them turned to me in unison.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled. \u201cShe deserves something.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:44 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 87\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara blinked, stunned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mother clapped her hands. \u201cSee? He\u2019s learning.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara wanted to slam her head into the wall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But refusing would only make her look petty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026fine,\u201d she muttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When they got to the pack garage, Elara said flatly, \u201cI\u2019m not going alone with you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shrugged. \u201cBring someone along if you want \u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She took out her phone and sent a text.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Five minutes later, her friend, Rabiya practically skipped out of the guest wing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShopping?! With you two? Oh, this will be fun,\u201d Rabiya said, grinning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026I regret this already,\u201d Elara whispered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I held the car door open for them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rabiya nudged Elara. \u201cWow. What a gentleman you have as a husband\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe probably wants something,\u201d Elara muttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I heard. \u201cI want silence. Preferably that\u2019s what I want.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rabiya laughed. \u201cThat\u2019s not happening, Lucien.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
61\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
When we reached the supermarket, Rabiya and Elara rushed out in front of me, while I trailed behind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara picked up something, stared at it for a minute and dropped it back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you like it?\u201d I asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She jumped a little. \u201cI was just looking.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rabiya smirked. \u201cShe loves it. This is one of her favourites.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara elbowed her. \u201cRabiya! Stop that, don\u2019t tell him anything\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I picked it up again. \u201cWe\u2019ll take it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNO, we\u2019re not buying that\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a gift,\u201d I said, interrupting her. \u201cUnless you want to tell Cara you rejected your own wedding present.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara frowned, staring at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:44 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 87\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rabiya whispered, \u201cOoooh, he\u2019s using Cara against you. What a smart man.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smirked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara growled. \u201cFine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when I fastened the bracelet around her wrist, her breath hitched.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It fit perfectly, like it was made with her in mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rabiya lit up. \u201cIt\u2019s beautiful\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Our eyes met but Elara quickly looked away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What a shame.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After shopping the whole day, we decided to grab brunch before heading home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We got to a cafe and settled in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rabiya ordered pastries. I ordered tea.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara stared at her bracelet, pretending she didn\u2019t feel weirdly shy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0f3c (61)\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know,\u201d Rabiya said casually, \u201cthis is the first time I\u2019ve seen you two not trying to kill each other.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara and I choked on air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I lifted an eyebrow. \u201cWe are polite\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rabiya laughed. \u201cYou called her stubborn three times in the car.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is stubborn\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd she called you an overgrown wolf with ego problems.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shrugged. \u201cAlso true.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara stared at both of us like we were insane.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rabiya beamed. \u201cSee? Progress.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara rolled her eyes, but she was smiling a little.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After grabbing brunch, we returned to the packhouse. I made a mental note to take Elara out alone later\u00a0<\/p>\n
When we got back, Mother ran out to greet us as if we had just returned from a honeymoon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara! What did he get you?!\u201d she demanded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked bored but Elara lifted her wrist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:44 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 87\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mother gasped dramatically. \u201cLucien! It\u2019s lovely!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rabiya whispered, \u201cI think he did well.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
:.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Heart crawled up to Elara\u2019s cheeks. She shamefully acknowledged.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026yeah,\u201d she muttered. \u201cHe did.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
AD\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0f21\u0f23\u00a0<\/p>\n
61\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Comment\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shadows Follow Lonely Minds \u2014 Christopher Harris 87 Chapter 87\u00a0 \u2013Lucien\u2013\u00a0 :\u00a0 I woke up to something warm pressed against […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-nightshade-heir-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27332"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27332\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}