Lucian hissed in pain and couldn't help but ask, "Are you a dog or something?"
Upon hearing this, Camellya quickly let go. Two rows of teeth marks were now visible on Lucian's neck, with a trace of her nectar still lingering on them.
Fortunately, Camellya hadn't bitten down too hard, so there was no blood.
Staring at the marks, a sly look flashed across Camellya's pretty face before she instantly schooled her expression back into a glare. "You're the dog! Now put me down!"
Lucian's temper flared up as well. "I won't. What are you gonna do about it?"
Camellya gnashed her teeth. "You wanna bet I'll tell Rover about your little affair with Jinhsi and that painting girl?"
Lucian: "?"
Lucian immediately retorted, "What affair? Don't make it sound so cheap!"
"What we have is a bond as deep as the sea, a meeting of hearts—unlike you…"
"All you do is sabotage my love life. Don't you have any love of your own? How pathetic…"
The Camellya in his arms, seeing Lucian's mocking expression tinged with pity, instantly flew into a rage. "Y-you—who says I don't?!"
She struggled fiercely in his embrace, but Lucian held her tightly, refusing to let her break free easily.
With Shorekeeper present, Camellya didn't dare go too far. She took a deep, furious breath before raising her head again and biting down on Lucian's neck.
Lucian: "?"
"Is there no justice? No law?!"
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Lucian turned to Shorekeeper. "Shorekeeper, you just said you didn't want to see us both hurt. So what's this?"
Hearing this, Camellya not only didn't let go but bit down even harder.
Shorekeeper blinked, her usually expressionless face showing a hint of bewilderment. After a moment of thought, she slowly replied, "Mmm… maybe you could bite her back?"
Camellya: "?"
Lucian smirked. "Hear that, Camellya? Shorekeeper's giving me permission."
With that, he lowered his head, slowly bringing his face closer to hers.
Camellya: "???"
She immediately released him, panicking as she saw Lucian's mischievous grin approaching. She tried to lean back, but with Lucian supporting her back, she couldn't escape.
Camellya shook her head frantically. "Wait!"
Lucian paused. "Any last words?"
But just as he asked, Camellya suddenly jerked her head up, slamming her forehead into his.
Lucian yelped in pain, his grip loosening just enough for Camellya to break free.
Dashing a short distance away, she stuck out her tongue and taunted, "Tsk tsk tsk… you had your chance and you blew it…"
Lucian clutched his forehead, staring at her with a cold smirk before uttering a single word: "Freeze!"
The moment the word left his lips, Camellya locked in place, her teasing expression frozen mid-taunt.
Camellya: "???"
Lucian burst into laughter, leisurely strolling over and circling her. He noticed her eyes still following him—proof she was fully conscious.
Grinning, he hooked a finger under her chin. "Tsk tsk tsk… you had your chance and you blew it…"
Camellya: "..."
Lucian's gaze fell on her exposed tongue. With a wicked grin, he leaned in. Camellya's mind screamed: How dare he?!
But just as he was about to bite down, the eight-second Paralysis Technique wore off. Camellya, who had been struggling furiously, suddenly broke free. In a flash, she swung her fist and sent an unprepared Lucian flying.
Lucian crashed into Shorekeeper behind him, and the two tumbled to the ground. By sheer misfortune, Lucian's hand, searching for support, landed somewhere inappropriate on Shorekeeper.
Lucian: "..."
Meanwhile, Camellya, flushed with rage, shrieked, "Lucian, I'll kill you!"
No longer caring about Shorekeeper's presence, Camellya, humiliated beyond measure, could no longer suppress her fury. Raising her crimson blade, she charged.
Lucian hastily waved his hands. "Wait—!"
Ignoring him completely, Camellya slashed at him with Red Spring.
Lucian's eyes widened. She's going for the kill?!
He quickly rolled over, pulling Shorekeeper into his arms as they dodged just in time.
Scrambling to his feet, Lucian glared. "Since you're ruthless, don't blame me for being merciless!"
With a roar, he yanked out a white, unidentifiable object from his pocket and shoved it over Camellya's head.
Her vision instantly turned snowy white, the scent of ink filling her nose.
Blind to Lucian's position, she reached up to tear off the white silk, only to hear him bellow:
"THOUSAND—YEARS—OF—PAIN—!!!"
Camellya's blood ran cold as she recalled the move he'd used during their first encounter. She backpedaled wildly, swinging Red Spring in desperate arcs to keep him at bay.
But it was useless—she wasn't even facing the right direction.
Behind them, Shorekeeper weakly reached out. "Stop—"
At that moment, Lucian's hand gesture shifted. Instead of the dreaded strike, he wrapped an arm around Camellya's waist from behind, his other hand darting forward to snatch Red Spring from her grip.
Feeling his presence and the sudden loss of her weapon, Camellya realized what had happened.
She finally tore off the silk, only to find herself still trapped in Lucian's iron grip.
Grinning at her furious profile, Lucian teased, "Not a bad sword… Rover would love it."
Camellya seethed. "No! Give Red Spring back!"
Lucian chuckled, leaning in to whisper by her ear, "Too late. If you want it back now, it won't be that easy… unless…"
His breath against her neck sent shivers down her spine. "Y-you… what do you want?"
This was the first time Camellya had ever been so thoroughly outplayed. She suspected Lucian hadn't gone all out during their fight at Moontree Lodge.
And that move that had completely immobilized her just now…
If she were frozen like that mid-battle, she'd be at his mercy.
With that in mind, Camellya decided to swallow her pride for now. Revenge is a dish best served cold!
Lucian smirked. "Since we're both from the Black Shores—colleagues, really—how about we follow Shorekeeper's suggestion? Let me bite you back?"
Camellya's rage flared. "Any other condition, but not that!"
Lucian blinked, then pressed further. "Then how about a kiss?"
Camellya: "???"
As the saying goes: If you propose tearing off the roof, they'll settle for opening a window.
Closing her eyes, Camellya forced herself to concede. "…Fine. Bite me. But you have to give Red Spring back."
Lucian's grin widened. He leaned in, gently nipping her delicate earlobe.
Camellya tensed, a jolt of electricity shooting through her. "Why there?!"
Lucian paused, then feigned realization. "Oops, wrong spot. Let's try again."
Releasing her earlobe, he parted his lips and sucked lightly on her swan-like neck.
Camellya: "???"