Omega Ascension System[BL]-Chapter 290: _Not Worth Your Safety

Lucian’s POV

*****

It was one thing going for something "relaxing" with not just Elian—but Kyren tagging along. It was another thing for them to have a threesome, unlike any sexual experience he’s had all his life.

But THIS? Everything Elian revealed to him out of the blue? The accusation hanging in the air alongside his betrothal gift?

Lucian didn’t know how to feel.

Elian stood before him in the cave, still naked and raw from the steamy moment they all shared. The orange lights from the pool’s mana crystals beside them highlighted his features and the pain twisting them.

Kyren stood at the side, distant but still observant.

"Tell me why the system picked up curses in this gift meant to harm me." Elian’s sharp demand still stung his mind like a nail driving into his skull.

His gift.

Something his mother picked up amongst hundreds—if not thousands—of jewels in the Lunarian royal jewellery room. Somehow it was the one thing hurting Elian. Another thing Amara used for her schemes.

Lucian’s wolf howled within him with pain and rejection, but he bit through it, clenching his fists. "E–Elian. I can explain. Believe me, it’s not what you think at all—"

"Then tell me what it is!" Elian snapped, almost flinging the heart jewel away. "Please, Lucian. Because to me it seems you gave me this knowing fully well it would harm me and worse."

The Alpha Prince’s jaw tightened so hard a vein throbbed on his temple. He didn’t know how Amara did it. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t think of a possible way the witch could’ve used in cursing the jewel.

So—

"How... How trustworthy is that system you said you have?" Lucian found himself asking, regretting the question almost instantly.

Elian’s brows knitted into a frown. "Excuse me?"

Goddess...

"Really, Elian," Lucian mumbled. "You got reborn. By the moon goddess. With a system that helps you ascend beyond an Omega. And NOW it’s suddenly telling you my gift is harmful?"

A long silence sank heavily in the space between them.

Elian blinked once. Then twice. His eyes narrowed like he couldn’t believe Lucian said all that.

But soon enough... He sneered. "A secret—that I’ve kept away from you for over a month." A wry smile curled his lips. "You’ve managed to twist it and make it seem like... What the fuck is even—"

Lucian couldn’t stand it anymore.

He moved, grabbing Elian’s shoulder and making him look into his eyes. The Alpha Prince kept his attention on those twin orbs of violet before speaking.

"Listen to me carefully." His voice was final. "I have NO dealings with Amara, Garrick or any of the sorts. That bracelet was chosen by my mother in a moment when I felt lost about what to get you. It’s harmless—it was meant to be."

Heat pulsed between them, the skin-to-skin contact making it hard for Lucian to concentrate. Elian was still pretty much naked.

After what felt like aeons, Elian lowered the hand clutching the bracelet. "You..." The word came choked. "I believe you. I really do."

Hearing those words made Lucian’s lips stretch with a wide smile. He was just about to pull Elian into a hug when the latter took a step back.

"But... But it doesn’t erase the fact that this," he gestured at the bracelet, waving it in front of Lucian. "This is dangerous. And it hurts as hell because..." He croaked. "Because it was supposed to carry a piece of you I could hold on to forever."

With those words said, Elian pulled closer to him. He buried his face in the Alpha Prince’s neck, sniffling and shaking with held-back sobs.

Lucian froze.

He glanced at Kyren at the side. The Rogue king had already gotten into his full body armour, black cloak sweeping the wet marble floor.

They kept eye contact for a moment, neither saying anything as Elian crumbled before Lucian.

Eventually, Lucian let out a heavy breath. "Elian," he brushed a hand through his hair. "It’s okay. I can always find another heart jewel in whatever form for you. A ring. Another bracelet—"

"So, Amara would continue latching onto them?" Elian shuddered into his neck.

Lucian’s throat locked up. "No," he whispered fiercely. "Never again. I’ll make damn sure of it."

He pulled back slightly, just enough to cup Elian’s face. His mate’s eyes were red, lashes wet. A lump formed in Lucian’s chest at the sight—one that didn’t go away no matter how much he swallowed.

He forced his voice to steady.

"You said... your system caught traces of her curse," he murmured. "But... gods, I keep thinking about it. The jewel has always been in the Lunarian palace. Guarded. Passed through every kind of spell check known to my mother. So how did she even touch it?"

Elian sniffed, stepping back another inch so he could breathe. His palm lingered on Lucian’s chest though, like he couldn’t fully let go. "Remember when Amara showed up that other night? Black cloak... black bird?"

Lucian blinked.

A sharp and unwelcome memory flickered.

"Yeah," he admitted slowly. "I remember. You fainted that same night."

Kyren’s head lifted at that.

Lucian continued, jaw tightening. "You and I barely had a moment together when you fainted. You seemed like you were having a bad dream or something." He trembled simply remembering. "Then when you woke up, you ran to my room’s balcony, we saw her down below and—poof. Gone. Disappeared before anyone could even blink."

His brows furrowed. "I hadn’t even given you the bracelet yet. I met my mother for it that same night."

Elian closed his fingers around the heart jewel, trembling. "Then maybe she cursed it before—"

"Maybe," Lucian said, though doubt gnawed at him. "Maybe she used her shadow magic, marking it from afar. Or maybe..."

A soft shake of the head cut him off.

Kyren.

Lucian snapped his gaze at him. The Rogue King’s expression was unreadable, but that tiny gesture was louder than words.

"...What?" Lucian asked. "You don’t think she could?"

Kyren gave a low, thoughtful hum. "If Amara marked this jewel," he said quietly, "then she did it way before that night. And even then... it would require proximity. Intent. And she had neither at the time." His crimson eyes slid to the bracelet. "No. Something else is at play."

A chill crawled down Lucian’s spine.

Great.

Another unknown factor in this goddess-forsaken mess.

Elian sighed, shoulders sinking. "I’m sorry," he whispered suddenly, voice cracking. "I didn’t mean to accuse you. I panicked when the system revealed the curse, and I just... I pulled it off without thinking. I’m sorry, Lucian."

Lucian stepped forward instantly. "Elian. Stop apologising." He gently held out his hand. "Give it to me."

The Omega hesitated... then placed the jewel in his palm.

Despite everything, Lucian stared at it for a moment. The heart jewel glowed faintly with a soft purple light.

A part of him flashed back to the moment he got it from his mother—how relieved he’d been, how sure he was it would be perfect.

A betrothal gift that held meaning. One that held fragments of his memories, linked to his literal heart.

His throat tightened.

It hurt—gods, it genuinely hurt—to know that the thing he held with so much pride had endangered Elian in the worst way.

But he swallowed the ache whole.

Elian didn’t need to see it.

He moved toward the steaming hot pool, each step heavy, each breath dragging through his chest. When he reached the edge, he held the jewel over the rippling surface.

"Lucian?" Elian whispered.

He didn’t look back.

He just loosened his fingers and let the bracelet fall.

The jewel hit the water with a soft plink, sinking immediately.

Lucian watched it disappear, watched the last glimmer of light fade beneath the pool’s depths like a dying star.

Kyren stepped forward silently. The Rogue King lifted a single hand and snapped his fingers.

The reaction was instant.

The pool convulsed, bubbling violently, steaming like molten lava. The temperature skyrocketed to a blistering sizzle, the water turning white with heat. Air around them shimmered. Rocks cracked.

Lucian barely blinked.

He just watched until the heart jewel melted into nothing.

Only then did he turn.

Elian was already approaching. Lucian reached him first.

"No betrothal gift," he said, voice low but firm, "is worth your safety. Not then. Not now. Not ever."

Elian’s breath hitched. His violet eyes softened with something raw—something that made Lucian’s heart twist painfully inside his ribs.

He lifted his hands, cupping Elian’s cheeks. "I’m sorry it hurt you," he murmured, brushing a thumb across his cheekbone. "I’m sorry it wasn’t what you deserved." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Elian leaned into the touch like he was starved for it. "Lucian... please. Don’t say it like that."

But Lucian only pulled him closer, foreheads brushing, breaths mixing in the warm, mana-glowing air.

He wanted to kiss him. He needed to kiss him.

To wash away the fear, the doubt, the hurt.

So he leaned in—

—until the sharp chime of Kyren’s communication bracelet cut the moment abruptly.

All three froze.

Kyren checked the glowing runes, eyes narrowing. "It’s one of the doctors," he announced, pausing for a second. "Sylas is awake."

Elian straightened immediately. Lucian’s pulse kicked.

"Let’s go," Kyren ordered.

They scrambled—the hurried dressing, the clatter of armour, Lucian pulling on his cloak while Elian fastened his belt. Then they were moving—racing into the Ascension platform leading out of the cave.

The halls blurred past them, lit with crimson crystals. Every step hammered adrenaline through Lucian’s veins.

Elian kept pace beside him, breath shallow.

Mid-stride, Lucian’s communication ring vibrated faintly—Aurora’s name glowing for a heartbeat in his mind.

His chest tightened.

Not now.

He pressed the rune, silencing it.

Later. He’d deal with Aurora later.

Right now though...

They reached the infirmary doors. Two guards posted outside immediately stepped aside at their approach.

Kyren pushed the door open with a wave.

Lucian stepped in first, his eyes widening almost instantly. His breath stopped dead in his chest.

Because WHAT he saw—