The Duke's Passion

"Bear my heir."

"Leave." I pointed at the door, grinding my teeth. "Get out and pick up where you left your brain."

Stefan raised his hands up and shrugged. "You asking me to leave my territory, that's new but alright." 

"Don't ever come here again, Stefan," I warned with all my heart in it. "I will cut your tongue even before you can speak the next time."

"You talk big, but if that what's makes you feel better." He chuckled as he took a step back before pivoting on his heel to walk away. He halted when his shoulder bumped against mine and cocked his head back as if to mock me.

"Ah, right. My offer is still valid. Please reconsider before it's too late." Stefan clicked his tongue loudly, followed by a low chuckle before he left.

I ground my teeth as I turned my head back, seething in anger as my eyes dimmed. Really… I wanted to keep civil, but he kept testing my patience. 

"Bear his heir?" A hysterical chuckle escaped my mouth in utter disbelief at his shameless offer. "Oh, goodness! This place really is a scary place!" 

I laughed and laughed as that was the only way I could vent the building up rage inside me. There were things I had let go of despite recovering my memories; things that were not as important as a life with my husband. However…

"Just endure this for a day, Lilou," I told myself as I clutched my chest tightly. "One more day and nothing will happen to Sam. Yes, that ability…"

My eyes closed, and the image of my husband's decapitated head immediately flashed in my head. That wouldn't happen. Sam might not be in his best shape, but he had Fabian and Rufus — even Kristina and possibly Ramin on his side. I was certain there were more people backing him up. He was the uncrowned king, after all.

"That's right, Lilou. There are reliable people on his side." I took a deep breath and nodded, almost, just almost successfully convinced myself. But alas, Fabian's words during our last encounter suddenly hovered in my head.

My mind drifted back to that time…

"Can I call your name once?" he requested, catching my attention.

"Sure. I don't see any problem with that."

Fabian nodded before he trudged towards me, making my brows knit. He stopped three steps away from me as he locked eyes with me.

"Lilou." He deliberately paused as his eyes darkened. "Keep your eyes closed and mind open for everything that will come in your way. Use everything at your disposal, if you want His Grace and you to live."

A gust of soft wind blew past us. It felt colder than ever, as his words felt like giant rocks placed on my shoulders.

"If you're going to play, remember it's not a child's play anymore, because you have to stake your life. Everything is premeditated and deaths are guaranteed. Keep that in mind, Lilou."

And those words were now hovering in my head along with Stefan's words. Everything was premeditated and deaths were guaranteed? Whose death? Ours? Our enemy? 

I ran my fingers through my hair in distress as I dragged my feet back onto the bed. "Why can't Sam just tell me what he is planning?"

My eyes closed as my back collapsed on the bed. When my eyes opened, they softened. My heart felt heavy.

"I knew Sam's reason for not telling me, but is this really the only way?" I murmured, thinking of any logical reason why my husband couldn't tell me everything. "It's not because he knew I would force him to drink my blood, right?"

There were more conclusions that went through my head, but I just couldn't pick one. Thinking too much hurt my brain because I couldn't really understand Sam's plans. Stefan knew all his movements, and because of the lack of information from my husband's side, I could not help but worry.

"Did they know Stefan knew their movements?" I asked myself, but obviously, I didn't know the answer. "Even if I rush to Rufus's quarters now, I'm sure he won't tell me anything. If they want to tell me, they would have already done it, after all."

"What should I do if Sam didn't return tonight again? What if he doesn't show up tomorrow too?" Questions like this blew past my lips and I could only huff in disbelief.

How could I stay positive at this moment? All the initial plans were all changed when Sam asked me to run away with him. But what would I do once things went south tomorrow? If Sam died, Fabian and Rufus would die as well, since they were connected to him. Killing Sam was like hitting three annoying birds in one stone. It would benefit all their enemies.

What would I do if that happened?

"Ughh!" I groaned and clasped my hair, tugging my scalp. "No, you. Don't think like that!" 

I forced myself to sit up and then sprung back on my feet like a total lunatic. My hand immediately pulled Lakresha from my neck and called for it through my gritted teeth.

"Lakresha, come out now!" My voice echoed across every corner of the room and watched Lakresha shift into a scythe. "Why! Why, you! I didn't want you! Why would Lara give you to me?! Why?! Why?! Why?! Answer me! Just why, me?!" 

I vented my anger at the scythe, screaming my lungs out, but nothing. Lakresha remained as a weapon. Did I expect that a mouth would grow on it and talk back? Of course, I didn't. I just needed to let it all out before I snap.

"You're useless." I tossed it towards the floor, hearing it clack upon its landing. "You're useless… no, I am useless, right?"

My knees felt weak before they gave way, slumping to the floor with my palms on them. Tears started spilling from my eyes, landing on the back of my hand.

"They said wielding a divine weapon is a gift… but you're like a curse to me." My life was a curse.

Calm down, Child.

I raised my head, following the soothing voice, and my eyes landed on Lakresha. Am I hearing things again?

"… Child."

"Lakresha?" I crawled my way to it and held its snath to my lap. "Is that you?" 

But again, nothing. I laughed mockingly, as this was ridiculous. Ah… what a dimwit. Just after a few words and I'm already rattled. Really, how could my clan put their bets on someone like me? They could've chosen someone else.

"Someone else… you mean, like your children?" 

The second I blinked, I found myself back in that garden of spring. My eyes panned up to see Lara smiling across from me.

"Welcome back, my child."