24 _ Under the Moonlight.

They had retrieved their horses and rode to the outskirts of the town. Their identity as well as their security had been threatened and they could waste no more time idling by . But The darkness of the night was now fast setting in and they had resolved to take shelter in a {Prostitute} House. It was closest to the environ and had multiple routes for quick evasion and was the last place that would be on anyone's mind to search for The Crowned Prince of the Kanerria Dynasty .

The Head was a strictly business like woman , one that concerned herself duly with her own affairs. She had charged them exorbitant amounts for the three rooms that had been earlier been used for pleasuring the men that patronized them but Lucian handed over the shard and the Woman greedily deposited in her secret parts , grinning widely.

He took in a breath as he seated himself on the divan and looked up the dark sky. The moon was shaded by the covering of darkened clouds. He knew his father, Li Huang was after him. He was relentless in every thing and would not stop till he had achieved it. Lucian was sure He had even sent his personal guards to track him down.

So now he had to stay ahead of them.

If his father eventually caught up with them, Lucian would have been carted back to the Palace to live a miserable existence and for Hikaru and Kaya...

Who knows what might become of them?

He heard some footsteps behind him as floorboards creaked and he turned back. Gripping his Sword , Ready to strike and aim to kill. But it was none other than Kaya. The moonlight from the broken window shone directly on her as it illuminated her fair skin in the darkness of the night. She was indeed beautiful in that moment , Lucian thought as he sheathed his sword.

"Why are you still awake at this time of night?" Lucian questioned her. "Do you not know it could be dangerous?" He said harshly, trying to conceal the fact that he was uncomfortable with this unexpected intimacy.

"I need to speak to you." Kaya responded quite daringly as she stood her ground with intent glaring in her eyes as she was determined to fufill her mission.

Lucian turned to face her. "All right. What do you need to speak to me about?"

"I want to thank you Lucian..." Kaya spoke softly, a part of her that he had never seen before. All around her was the feeling of raw emotion.

"To thank you for saving me and agreeing for me to accompany you and Hikaru on your Journey. There may be no opportunity for me to render aid to you Lucian, nor can I pay you back with earthly possessions for I have none ..." She added as that coldness returned. "But all that I have ...I offer you and I hope it shall be enough to please you." Kaya placed her hands against her chest and untied the laces of her clothing which fell to the floor leaving her body unclad to his gaze.

Moonbeams struck against her full luscious breasts and enticing nipples that towered against her chest that had been offered to him.

His groins hardened as his eyes swept down her curvaceous body and smooth hairs sent quick jolts of lust through his entire system , desperately craving this girl before him.

To take her as his own.

Kaya looked away from Lucian as she saw his hungry gaze fixated on her body. In just a few seconds , she expected him to pull her roughly to himself , shove her into his bed and force his way into her.

She would endure the pain...

Just like she always had.

She had offered herself to him and there was no such man that could refuse such an offering. Kaya felt indebted to him as she truly was...Risking his life just to save her.

She had based her decision on him being a man and she had decided to pay the debt in the way that she could provide ;

Her body.

Lucian took in a deep breath and approached Kaya who was now slightly shaking at what was to happen next. She had no idea what to expect but in her heart of hearts , Kaya hoped that he would be gentle with her. She closed her eyes and prepared for the worst.

She opened them again.

But Kaya wasn't feeling another body pressed savagely against her, groaning in pleasure while she bore the pain that tore through her. No, He just stood before her , his deceitfully easy eyes boring straight into hers.

"Why will you not take me?! Here I am offering my being to you; How could you refuse?!." Kaya asked in an low voice as her naked breasts were almost in contact with his strong chest. His heart was throbbing as his body had stiffened as she knew it was taking all of his willpower not to devour her.

"No." Lucian said firmly as he looked at her.

"Why?!" She said again , her own strength failing her.

"Because I do not want to hurt you. I would be false if I say that I have not performed questionable acts in the name of survival ..." Lucian remembered what took place on the night of his Daring Escape. "But Of all the deplorable things I have done in my life Kaya , I would never have the heart to take advantage of you that way."

Lucian wanted to kiss her, to hold her forever , to make her his , but such daring behaviour could frighten her.

He did not want that.

He wanted more time with Kaya and for the first time in his life , if he wanted it ; he must earn it. If he wanted to sate himself , she might think it was an unspoken price for his protection. If Kaya yielded to him, he didn't want it to be for that reason. Lucian couldn't help but think if she knew the truth about the devil in him, She wouldn't be looking at him with her dark brown eyes, tempting him to steal the treasures she had within.

Lucian bent over and picked up the fabric that lay rumpled on the floor. Moving closer to her , Lucian wrapped her with her cloth , looked at her softly and held her once more. He then walked past her silently exiting his room for her with his words trailing behind him .

"You had better get some rest . Tomorrow we make our way through the Gotchu Kingdom ."

When he had left Kaya , lay down on the bed and stared up at the Queen of the night as she could not help crying in relief as she thought. How much could it have taken to withstand what she was so freely offering?

Other men would have taken her without a second thought but she was just coming to the realization that maybe...

Just maybe...

Lucian might be different from them.