The Crown's Seduction-Chapter 54: The Past

Mineah watched as Nikolai walked towards her to join her in bed. While she might look nonplussed about his approach, she was actually in deep thought about how she would open up to him about the prophecy she had read in Rosela's mind without being too suspicious.

That prophecy was honestly bugging her ever since she had known about it. It would seem that she wasn't the only one with a hidden agenda behind this marriage alliance. Clearly, there was a strong reason why Valcrez insisted on marrying their King into her family.

For some reason, Mineah felt a bit down whenever she would think about that prophecy. She let out a heavy sigh as she unknowingly stared at Nikolai. Their marriage had a purpose, and yet… She would really love for it to work out… For her and Nikolai to be a real couple… a real husband and wife…

But then, who was she to feel disheartened when she initially planned everything in such a way for her to be married to Nikolai in the first place? Despite how things ended up being for the better, she still compelled her sister Xenia to follow her heart and run away. She still had the guilt of marrying Nikolai for her own survival and to save everyone from her curse.

"Is there something bothering you?" Nikolai hummed as he casually joined her on the bed.

"It's nothing," she nonchalantly waved off his concern. "It's just that I still have a few pending studies and trials to do."

It was true anyway. Since they were currently on an isolated island, her studies and training had to be put on hold. Still, she assumed that what she had learned so far would be enough for her to face Valcrez's citizens with confidence as their new queen.

"Ah, that. Don't worry, I'm like a walking book about all things involving Valcrez," Nikolai confidently hummed. "I know everything the Masters were about to teach you anyway, so I guess I can act as your substitute Master for now. And speaking of, we can continue now where you left off if you want."

Humming, Mineah moved closer to him and snuggled herself into his body.

Nikolai chuckled, "You do know that getting closer to me like this can end a lot differently than you might like."

She tilted her head to meet his unwavering gaze. It wasn't like there was still room in her left for inhibition at the rate they were going. He already saw her naked, and she even did…

A deep blush washed all over her face, and she was only glad that the only light source they currently had was the moonlight coming in from the nearest window.

"You can do anything with me, Lai. I'm fine with it. Like I said, just make sure that it won't end in us consummating our marriage," Mineah insisted. "Like doing it all the way, or us having a union with our bodies being one…"

She sighed as she then comfortably rested her head back on his chest. He had also moved to cuddle her with her, and she couldn't help but hum approvingly at the gesture.

"Also, our time is limited," she offhandedly stated. "When are we going to start with what you need to do for you to control your cravings for my blood?"

"We've already started, Mine. You see, I'm practicing control whenever I'm with you like this. You may see me acting calm on the outside, but deep inside, I'm fighting hard not to bite and suck you dry of your blood…" Nikolai explained with a serious tone. "It's a lot more bearable now compared to the first night. The potion Magnus gave me helped subdue my need to drink your blood, if only for a good while."

"I see," Mineah hummed. "If I recall, the Coupling Rites will involve you biting into me. So hopefully, by the time we do that, you can control yourself not to drink all of my blood."

Honestly, she wasn't even sure if her blood would be harmful to him. But so far, Beirut hadn't received any visions or warnings about it from his dreams. So maybe… Perhaps it was safe for Nikolai to drink at her every once in a while?

She moved to raise her head and look at Nikolai closely. "You can drink from my blood if you want. Assuming you're already able to control yourself," she genuinely offered. "That's fine with me, so please don't seek out Rosela anymore, especially whenever the full moon is up."

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Nikolai's face suddenly dimmed under the moonlight. She saw him clearly frowning despite the darkness, the moonlight hitting his face in such a way that it only made his expression more dire.

She inwardly bit her cheek at his reaction. She was unable to read his mind, and she could only wonder if he was having a negative reaction to her words.

"I will not drink your blood when the full moon is up, Mine. I can't risk drinking your blood like this," he murmured with a sigh. "We're not even sure if I'll still have withdrawal symptoms from being off Rosela's blood during a full moon."

Mineah couldn't help but frown. Why? Was he still drawn to Rosela even though he already experienced withdrawal? Was it because Rosela had Dahlia's face? Was that why he couldn't let go of Rosela and still drink from her during every full moon?

Mineah inwardly cursed. At this point, Nikolai's was the only mind that she truly wanted to read. Unfortunately, she still couldn't see a thing from his eyes beyond his rejection of her offer!

'How frustrating!'

"So you're saying that my blood may not also work for you once your extreme thirst for human blood during a full moon begins?" she skeptically asked.

"Are you saying that Rosela might be the only one able to satiate your hunger during a full moon? Why do you even limit yourself to drinking just Rosela? Why are you hesitating to drink from me? Is it because I'm a cursed child?"

"Mine, I told you already. I don't want to repeat the same mistake as before. I don't want to end up draining you of your blood and killing you in the process. Honestly, this was the first time this kind of incident happened to me, so there's still uncertainty to things, especially once the full moon arrives," he lengthily explained.

"Magnus said that I'll crave for your blood now even in the full moon, but we'll never know unless I experience that first so… I will still ask for Rosela when the full moon comes to see if she'll still be able to satiate me."

"And what if she won't be able to satiate you and you end up having another withdrawal?" Mineah dubiously pointed out. "Will you ask for me then? And what kind of 'repeating the same mistake' are you talking about?"

This was frustrating. She at least wanted to hear the whole story from Nikolai even though she already knew.

There was a long pause, and Mineah sighed as she turned her back on him. She didn't bother waiting for him to reply. She felt like she would only get disappointed if she pursued the topic.

"Mine," Nikolai called to her. She could feel his warm breath on her hair.

"I'm sleepy now, Lai," she murmured as she closed her eyes. "I hate the dark, so I'll sleep facing the moonlight."

She heard Nikolai let out a long deep sigh before he moved. He had gotten out of bed, seemingly leaving her alone for the night.

'That bastard? Why isn't he saying anything?' she inwardly ranted. 'Does that mean he still prefers to drink from Rosela? Should I tell him that I already know about Dahlia? But what if he asks me where I found out?'

She didn't want to tell Nikolai just yet that she had special abilities. Why would she when he was also keeping things secret from her? He didn't even tell her now why he chose Rosela or the story about Dahlia. It was probably hard for him to bring up the past… And it only meant that he was still unable to move on from it.

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AN: What do you think? Is it better for Mineah to tell Nikolai about her special abilities by now? Also, please drop a BOOK REVIEW in our cover page if you haven't *begs*