Destined: Lucien x Reader
Warnings: Angst, Very Light Smut, 18+
***
You stormed out into the dark gardens, hot tears running down your face. You kicked a wad of dirt and let out a scream, fists clenched at your sides. How could he? You wanted to sink into the ground and cry at the injustice of it all.
“You shouldn’t have found out like this.” You whipped around to the red-haired male standing behind you.
“How long did you know?” You demanded, eyes narrowing. His gaze cast downward, guilt exuding from him.
“Not too much longer than you,” he said carefully, focusing on the grass beneath his shoes.
“Why did you not tell me the second you found out? Are we not friends, Lucien? Do you not care for my well being? You allowed me to be played a fool in front of the entire Court!” You couldn’t help the rise in volume in your voice, anger and pain waging war inside of you.
He finally looked back up at you. “I assumed he was going to tell you gently, in full privacy. I did not expect him to act in such a way during dinner.”
The anger rushed out of you just as fast as it had come, your knees hitting the ground as the pain of what had happened set in. Tears slid down your face, falling on to the dirt below. “How could he do that to me?” You said quietly, as Lucien knelt down in front of you.
“I do not know,” he spoke, in a voice so soft you almost couldn’t hear him, his hands slowly reaching out to pull you close. You allowed him to do so, letting your tears fall on his shoulder.
Tamlin had been the love of your life. The two of you had been inseparable since you were babes, growing up alongside each other. When he became High Lord you stayed by his side, comforting him through the great losses he had suffered and encouraging him to live up to the new title he held. You had always assumed you would one day be his wife, forever there to wipe away the stresses of a long day. To birth his children, filling the Spring Court with little blonde heads. The next generation of perfect little princes and princesses. It was written in the stars of your skies, the undeniable truth of your future.
Until tonight.
When he stood before the entire Court with a fae you’d never seen wrapped around his arm. He introduced her as his bride. All the while you stood dutifully on his other side, just like you always had. Every eye was on you, confusion palpable in the air. Tamlin acted like you were never even there, glancing right past you as he looked around the room with a grin. He spoke about how he met her on one of his excursions to the local towns, how she was tending the most beautiful garden he had ever seen.
How it was love at first sight.
A wave of nausea had rolled over you, causing you to bolt from the manor. Which lead you to now, crying your heart out to Lucien. “Have I been a fool, Lu? All these years, were they nothing?” He held you tightly, one hand stroking your hair gently.
“He never spoke of it. I assumed as you did, that the two of you were made to be High Lord and wife. We all did.” You cried harder, holding onto his jacket like it was your lifeline.
“Who is she?” You asked, not sure you wanted to really know the answer.
Lucien sighed, pressing a kiss to your hair. “I do not know her. He says he met her on one of his travels. He never spoke of any such thing until one week ago, when he told me he had found his wife-to-be. I asked him if he was going to finally propose to you,” he paused, as if fighting to continue. You pulled your head up to look at him, eyes shining in the moonlight.
“And what did he say, Lucien.” You already knew, in your heart, but you needed to hear it out loud. He shook his head, looking up to the night sky as he spoke.
“He laughed. And he said ‘Why would I marry my whore? She was always meant to be my mistress, was she not?’” He looked back down at you, meeting the pain in your eyes with his own. “I did not know how to respond. I asked if he was going to tell you about her, and he said he was going to soon. I wanted to run and tell you right then, but…” He sighed once more. “How was I to ruin your life like that?”
You stayed silent for a long time. Pain, anger, and betrayal rushed through your blood, stabbing you as much as they could. You were torn, angry at Lucien for not telling you the second he found out, and angry at the trust the both of you had in Tamlin. He watched you carefully, waiting to speak until you did.
“Where do I go from here?” You whispered, heart broken. You could not return back to the rooms you shared with Tamlin, you weren’t even sure you could stomach going back into the manor. Into the home you were raised in. Lucien stood and gently helped you to your feet, keeping one arm wrapped securely around your waist.
“Come with me. I’ll set you up in my rooms tonight, and in the morning light we will figure out what to do. Is that alright?” You nodded in agreement, allowing him to lead you inside. He took you in through the workers entrance, avoiding the dinner party that was still loudly going on. You made it to his rooms without interruption, relieved when the doors were firmly locked behind you. Lucien sat you on the edge of the bed before busying himself around the rooms. You stared into nothingness until he came to kneel in front of you, a warm wash rag in one hand and a nightshirt in the other. "Let’s clean the night off,” he soothed, beginning to wipe your makeup away.
You studied him as he did so, the slight furrow in his brow signaling his focus. The flecks of gold in his green eye, the intentional whirring of the mechanical one. A strand of auburn hair fell into his face and you had to restrain the urge to swipe it away, to let your fingers drag softly against his freckled skin.
He was beautiful.
He was your friend.
You had just been betrayed by the king of your heart mere hours ago.
It was wrong to feel this way.
Though nothing else felt right.
Lucien finished cleaning your face off, interrupting the mental battle you were in. He paused when his eyes met yours, looking at you curiously. “Anyways,” he said, clearing his throat, “I thought this would be more comfortable to sleep in than that dress.” He handed you the nightshirt, gesturing to the elegant gown you were in.
The one you had chosen with Tamlin in mind. Long flowing skirts, subtle greens, and a corseted back-
A Corseted Back.
“Oh, no, I can wear this. It’s fine.” You tried to brush it off, setting Lucien’s shirt to the side.
He stared at you. “Surely you can’t be serious. That looks awfully uncomfortable to sleep in.” He was right.
But you would need his help to undo the back, and the thought of his fingers touching your bare skin was…overwhelming.
Why were you feeling like this? Your heart was broken so you had to latch on to the next best thing? No, you wouldn’t act this way. Not to Lucien. You could go to town tomorrow and find a rebound if you wished.
“No, it’s uh, rather comfortable actually. Very…soft. So, that’ll be all then.” Neither of you moved. He cocked his head slightly to the side, puzzled with you.
“Do you need help taking it off?”
Your jaw dropped. “I-Excuse me?”
A slight blush appeared over his cheeks, accompanied by an awkward laugh. “No, no, I just meant the lacing seems extensive on the back. I can help you undo it if you need.” He picked up on your apprehension quickly, raising his hands in surrender. “I’ll be a complete gentleman about it, I promise.”
You gave in, a small smile making its way onto your face. Lucien always knew how to handle a situation. He helped you stand, turning tog to face away from him so he could inspect the long ribbons weaved together.
He slowly started undoing the ties, treating them like they were delicate petals and would tear if he pulled too hard. You turned your head to tell him he needn’t be so careful, at the same time he leaned forward to ask you a question. The two of you paused, noses nearly touching. The world stopped spinning as you stood there, a breath away from each other. His fingers resting lightly on the exposed skin of your back, fires scorching across your body. All the pain from Tamlin was a faraway thought, a trivial moment in the past. Lucien was all that mattered.
Until he cleared his throat, taking a small step back. You shook your head slightly, clearing your mind of what just happened. The both of you spoke at the same time.
“Sorry, I-“
“Lucien-“
You paused, nodding so he could go.
“I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t tugging too hard or anything,” he said, continuing to undo the ribbons. You smiled softly, turning your head back forward.
“I was only going to tell you that you don’t have to be so cautious,” you called over your shoulder, noting the way his hands stilled for a moment at your words.
“Ah,” he responded, finishing the rest in silence.
Once the back was unlaced you took his nightshirt and slipped into the bathroom to change, your dress falling into a heap on the floor. You looked at with a frown, the fabric stunning even like this. You had just known Tamlin would love it when you presented the idea to the seamstresses, so excited to debut it tonight.
Guess you weren’t the only one with something new to show off.
You kicked the dress away and turned your back on it, heading back to the bedroom. Exhaustion finally rolled over you and you were ready to fall into bed.
Luciens bed.
With, it appears, Lucien. Who was already tucked under the covers, reading a book. He peered over the top of it at you.
“Oh, sorry, is this okay? I can find somewhere else, probably, if you want,” he began, already pulling the covers away. You waved your hands for him to stop, crawling into the bed next to him.
“No, Lu, it’s your bed. I appreciate everything you have done already.” Your head rested on the pillow, eyes already closing. “And i’m so tired I wouldn’t care who was lying opposite of me.”
***
You woke to warm sunlight brushing over your face, tucked safely in someone’s arms. You hummed happily as you nosed their bare chest, inhaling the scent of woodsy smoke and cinnamon.
A loud crash ripped you out of your peaceful bubble, accompanied by Tamlins shouting.
Wait.
Tamlin?
Who was next to you then-
Lucien.
Lucien.
You shot upright in a panic, eyes wide as Tamlin continued his yelling. Seemingly at the male in bed with you.
“I GIVE YOU MY TRUST, AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME? BRINGING MY MISTRESS INTO YOUR BED? THAT IS AN INSULT TO THE HIGHEST DEGREE, LUCIEN!”
His mistress?
You frowned at the term, sliding out of the bed and crossing your arms in front of you.
“I am no such thing, Tamlin. And back off of him. He was only being kind after you acted like a right bastard last night.” The High Lord spun slowly to look at you, having the audacity to look confused.
“Well, what else would I call you then?”
You scoffed, rolling your eyes. “24 hours ago I would have said your future wife, but apparently those plans were made without me.” He stared blankly at you, as if he had never even thought of you in such a way.
“I thought what we had was…casual. Fun. I never saw you as, well, the wife of a High Lord.” He spoke so bluntly, as if it was obvious to all.
“Really, Tamlin? I, who was raised in this Court right alongside you, could never have handled being your wife? What is it you think I do, then?” Your blood was simmering, anger threatening to explode at any second.
“Oh, I don’t know, to warm my bed when my wife didn’t wish to? To care for me in ways she wouldn’t wish to?”
You were disgusted. “Is that all you think of me? We were friends, Tamlin, or so I thought. I gave you my heart and you ripped it out and stomped on it in front of everyone who’s ever known us. Did you notice how your Court didn’t jump with excitement at your announcement? Or is your skull too thick to see what’s right in front of you?” You were yelling at him now, but it was too late to stop. Lucien had come to stand behind you, one hand resting on your upper arm, grounding you. Tamlin took note of his touch, eyes flickering between his hand and your face.
“Can’t have bothered you that much if you’ve already moved on to fucking my emissary.”
You lunged forward with a feral scream, Lucien quickly wrapping his other arm around your waist to hold you back.
“You do not wish to attack him right now,” he murmured in your ear, “he is still the High Lord. You must keep composure.” You knew he was right, forcing yourself to calm down enough to kick Tamlin out of the room.
“Go,” you commanded, pointing to the door. “Just go.” You were embarrassed by the way your voice cracked on the second ‘go’, tears once again threatening to fall. Lucien pulled you back into his chest, hiding your face away from Tamlin.
You knew he had left when Lucien lead you back to the bed, setting you down on the edge and pulling away just enough to look down at you. His fingers brushed the tears off your cheeks as he cupped your face, forcing you to lock eyes with him.
“We can go, you know. I may not be well loved in the Autumn Court, but we could go there. I have a home on the border, close to Spring. One that no one bothers.”
You leaned into his touch, only half listening to his words. Lucien had always been able to calm you down, to soothe you even in the darkest moments.
“I can send a letter to my mother at once, to prepare it for us. We can live there for as long as you wish, if that will please you.” It was then that you locked in to what he was saying, to what he was offering. You pulled out of his touch, standing from the bed.
“You would do that for me?” You asked, disbelief written on your face.
Lucien gave you a sad smile. “Haven’t you figured it out? I would do anything for you.”
You knew it was true.
You had always known it was true.
He had been by your side as much as you had been by Tamlins. Your friendship played before your eyes, all the years the two of you had spent laughing and crying together. The way he comforted you when you were worried about Tamlin being away, how he would sleep on the cold floor of your room just so you weren’t alone. How he lit a fire amongst his fingertips when the dark made you uneasy, allowing you to watch the flickering flames until sleep took you.
Lucien had always cared.
Your body moved of its own accord, rushing over to him and tossing your arms around his neck. You hugged him tightly, overcome with emotion. He held you just as close, an unspoken confession flowing between your hearts.
It had never been Tamlin, you could see that now. He was simply the one you believed you were supposed to be with. Duty calls and all that. For years you had felt the tug in your heart, but you had been reading it wrong. You followed it to the wrong male.
You pulled back just enough to see Lucien, bringing one hand up to cup his face.
“How did I miss it, all these years?” You whispered sadly, thumb gliding over his cheek. “You were right in front of me. I feel like a fool.”
Lucien smiled, leaning his forehead down to rest upon yours. “You are no fool. You were only living the life that was paved for you. Why would you have looked elsewhere?”
You hummed in response, becoming lost in the closeness of him. In the weight of his hands on your waist, the stubble you could feel under your fingers. His breath that ghosted over your lips with every word, a silent whisper that drew you ever closer. You tilted your head up just enough that with your next word, your lips would brush his.
“Will you kiss me, Lucien?”
He was on you before you’d even finished the question. His kiss sent a flame through your body, an intense desire unlike any you had felt before. This ran straight to your soul, igniting every inch of you.
His arm came to circle fully around you as the other crept to the hem of the nightshirt you still wore, sliding under it just enough to rest upon your thigh. You felt alive, like you had been sleeping for a hundred years and the stars themselves had come to wake you. You sighed into his mouth as he kissed you, feeling like everything was as it should be.
You whined as his lips left yours, until they continued their transgressions down the side of your neck. You moaned his name as he bit down on your pressure points, light teeth marks left in his wake. You needed him, desperately.
The hand on your thigh slid slowly up, tracing the soft planes of your stomach. His fingers ran under the band of the silk underwear you wore, teasing you. You arched against him, silently begging for him to touch you. You could feel his smile against your skin before he brought his face back up to yours, joining your lips again. His fingers slid under the fabric that was covering you, gently gliding over to where you craved him. He circled your clit with all the elegance of a dance, treating you like priceless artwork. You cried out when one finger entered you excruciatingly slowly, begging for more, more, more.
The door swung open.
Lucien stilled, turning his head slowly to see who was standing there. Your panting breaths were the only sounds in the room as the kitchen maid held your tray of breakfast in shock.
“You can set it there, thank you,” Lucien said, nodding to the small table against the wall. She gladly set it down and quickly turned to leave as he called, “And please lock that damned door behind you!”
***
The Following Autumn
You sighed happily as you looked around your home, pleased with the decor you had found in the local village. A soft blanket with gentle orange and reds scattered throughout it laid upon the sofa, calling you to curl up under it. A fire roared in the grate, warming the house.
You moved to the kitchen to start dinner, waiting patiently for Lucien to return from his hunt. Coming back to the Autumn Court was not an easy transition for him, yet it had gone surprisingly smooth. His father may not have happily welcomed him home, but his mother surely did. Even a few of his brothers seemed pleased to have him back. He kept his emissary role here, continuing the endless meditation between this Court and Spring.
Tamlin had wed his bride days after the two of you had fled the Court, amongst clear disdain from the fae there. They wanted you, and did not take to the one in your place.
However, last you heard, she was holding up quite well. You wished no ill will towards her, not now. It was not her fault that her now-husband was a spineless sack of shit.
The door opened and you turned to see Lucien, a smile decorating your face. He took off his shoes and set down his bag before rushing over to you and sweeping you up into his arms. You kissed him with all the love in the world, at peace when he was home. “How is my lovely wife today?” He asked, setting you back down. You looked at the sparkling ruby set in bronze on your finger, still in awe of its beauty.
“As happy as ever, aren’t I? With a husband like you, how could I not be,” you teased, pressing a swift kiss to his lips again.
Yes, this was exactly where you were destined to be.
***
i loved writing this so i hope you all enjoy reading it just as much ❤️
