The Blood Contract
Chapter 27: It would’ve been a disaster

Chapter 27: It would’ve been a disaster

"Everything is ready, Mr. Draven," Dr. Marlowe reported as soon as she made it to Lucian’s home office the next morning. She plopped herself down on one of the receiving chairs, setting her focus on the man she was talking to.

Lucian, having some business to take care of and documents awaiting his signature, still looked like a hot morning mess—one that was more than capable of turning heads should he walk into a room full of people. His hair was slightly disheveled, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his tie loosened, giving him an air of casual authority.

"Already prepared?" Lucian asked in a light voice without looking up from the document he was reading.

"Yes. I’ve prepared it already. The only thing left is the goat’s blood. It’s also the last ingredient to add," Dr. Marlowe responded, her eyes moving for a second to the paper he was concentrating on before she looked back at him.

"Adrian already got the goat’s blood. He should be here any second," Lucian uttered offhandedly, his tone calm but distracted.

Dr. Marlowe let out a sigh. "Mr. Draven, are you really sure about this?"

"Sure about what?"

"Locking up her powers again," Dr. Marlowe revealed, and Lucian finally looked up from what he was doing, setting his gaze on her to catch her distressed expression. "The relief you are enjoying now is only possible because of her. It’s temporary. It will not last long. What happens when it wears off?"

"You said you are already working on a solution, didn’t you?"

"I am working on a solution, but we don’t even know if it will work yet," Dr. Marlowe replied, lowering her eyes. Her brows knitted together, betraying her concern.

Silence reigned for a few seconds before Lucian broke it after letting out a sigh. "I’m not scared of pain, Marlowe, nor am I interested in shortening another’s life to elongate mine. So yes, I’m very sure of my decision. Lock her powers up. I believe you’ll come up with a solution soon. Until then, I’ll endure whatever pain the stupid curse brings my way."

Dr. Marlowe flashed a small, sad smile and nodded her head in resignation.

"I thought the bracelet is supposed to work only once a month," Lucian asked with narrowed eyes, only now recalling that he had wanted to ask her about it last night but couldn’t because of how things had turned out. "Why did it work again yesterday?"

"You were given the limited edition three-day release bracelet. The council only gives this particular bracelet to people they desperately want a child or children from. I initially thought their main goal was Serena’s blood, but their main goal seems to be the child," Dr. Marlowe explained, her tone matter-of-fact.

A knock echoed just then, and Lucian gave permission for the person to come in. Adrian walked into the office with a sealed paper bag and handed it over to Dr. Marlowe.

"Thank you, Adrian," Dr. Marlowe flashed him a professional smile, and the man gave a nod before exiting the office. "I should go get it ready before she wakes up," she said, pushing herself off the seat and moving toward the door.

"Marlowe," Lucian suddenly called before she could make it outside, and she halted, turning around.

"Yes?"

"Why did you let her drink so much last night?" Lucian asked, only stopping himself at the last second from asking what was initially on his mind.

"She didn’t drink too much. She only had a glass of wine. Her alcohol tolerance level is extremely low," Dr. Marlowe explained before adding, "Moreover, she is an adult, Mr. Draven. I can’t stop her from drinking if she wants to."

"I don’t appreciate my wife getting drunk outside the house to the point where she’d have to be assisted back, especially when she has a bracelet on that is messing with her body and her better judgment," Lucian said, his tone laced with annoyance.

Dr. Marlowe forced her jaw to remain closed upon hearing what he had just said. Did he just call her his wife? Of course, according to the council, they were married, but everyone in the house knew there was no real marriage going on between them—even though they wouldn’t say it out loud.

"You asked her to take care of that problem herself, remember?" the woman reminded him.

"She can do that in the house," Lucian pointed out, and Dr. Marlowe couldn’t believe her ears.

"She brought a man to the house, and you shot at him," she reminded him again, and Lucian frowned.

"I never said she could bring a man to my house."

"You brought a woman to satisfy your needs, and you don’t want her to do the same. She goes out, and you’re still complaining. What do you want her to do?" Dr. Marlowe asked, her tone incredulous.

"It’s my house, and I can do anything I want. Also, Mitchell wouldn’t have shown up if only she had agreed to take her place. We’re both adults, and we could come to an understanding concerning these things, but she’s just being stubborn," Lucian complained, then started beating himself up internally for even spouting the nonsense he had just said.

He had asked her that night if she was willing to take Mitchell’s place. She should have just agreed and they would have had no issues. But no. She’d rather he suffered with her instead of collaborating to get the relief they both needed.

However, as the thought crossed his mind, he wondered if it was even a good idea to have her on his bed despite how much he desired her. He didn’t have to wonder for long before the answer made an appearance. It would have been a disaster and he would have regretted it. Why that was, he had no clue. Or maybe he did but he didn’t want to admit it.

"She isn’t being stubborn, Mr. Draven. She just isn’t that kind of person," Dr. Marlowe revealed.

"What do you mean?" Lucian asked, narrowing his eyes, but before Dr. Marlowe could utter a word, Adrian walked into the office and handed him a phone with an active call already connected.

Seeing this, Dr. Marlowe waved the paper bag in her hand, reminding him that she had to get to work. She turned around and walked out of the office when he waved for her to leave.