Emma couldn't stand it any longer. With a loud snap, she shut off Lucien's lightcore and looked up at him. Lucien kept his head down, his voice low as he tried to explain, "When I first started to change, I lost control of my emotions all the time. "The Aurelians saw me as a freak. They wouldn't come near me. Some even told my mom to burn me because of the black plumage mark on my forehead. "Mom couldn't do it. She told everyone I was just sick. "She and Dad managed to find some kind of secret ritual that could hide what I really looked like, so I could go back to looking normal. "I didn't keep this from you on purpose. I was just afraid… afraid you'd see me like this and think I was a monster, too." That night, when he woke up in Emma's bed and saw how he'd changed, he completely panicked. He had no idea what to do, and he was terrified that Emma would be disgusted if she saw him like that. A phoenix shouldn't be black. It was a curse. It meant he was a freak. He desperately wanted to change back, but nothing he tried worked… "Emma, I'm sorry…" Lucien's voice grew softer and shook a little. He kept his eyes on the floor, afraid to look at Emma and see the same disgust and fear he'd seen in the Aurelian clan members. Emma stared at him, her chest tight as if an invisible hand was crushing her heart. She couldn't take it anymore. She gave the chain between them a hard tug, pulling Lucien toward her, then rose up on her toes and threw her arms around him. "Do you not believe me?" Emma's voice was thick with emotion. "Why would I ever think you're a freak?"She punched his chest for emphasis. Then she buried her face against his chest, her voice muffled. "I don't care if you're red or black. You're Lucien. You're my Lucien. "To me, you look… even better than before." Emma looked up, reached out with her free hand, and gently brushed the black plumage mark on his forehead. "This mark is beautiful. "I really do like it. Honestly!" Her clear, unwavering gaze was like a beam of light slicing through the darkness, shining straight into Lucien's confused heart. His rigid body trembled hard. A moment later, Lucien gripped Emma's hand, which still rested on his forehead. He pulled her hand away, eyes dark and stormy with emotion. He lowered his head and pressed a reverent, careful kiss to her fingertips. Emma's fingers curled a little at the cool, soft touch.Lucien looked up at her, his black eyes focused and intense. "Emma… say it again." "Say what?" Emma asked. "Say you like…" Lucien hesitated, then spoke even more carefully. "Say you like how I look now." The longing and vulnerability in his eyes were obvious. Emma took his hand and answered, word by word, clear and serious. "I like how Lucien looks now. "No matter how Lucien changes, I'll still like him." "What if I turned into a toad? Would you still like me?" Lucien suddenly asked. Emma was speechless. Bro, aren't you supposed to be really touched right now?Who asks something this ridiculous at a moment like this? "Hmph!" Emma said nothing, so Lucien made a dissatisfied little grunt and pulled her into his arms. "I knew you were just trying to make me feel better." He said that, then gently bit her earlobe. "But I'm still really happy." Emma rolled her eyes at his words. Stay calm, don't get mad. I can't argue with an idiot. Emma let out a mock wolf-howl and bit Lucien's chin. "Ah!" Lucien gasped from the pain, but he didn't pull away, letting her bite him. When Emma finally let go, she looked at the deep teeth marks on his chin and smirked. "If you dare tease me again, I don't care if you go dark—I'll still make you work for me."I want 100 level eight beast cores. Go fetch them for me." Lucien lifted his hand, gently rubbing the bite mark that still held the warmth and feel of her teeth. His Adam's apple bobbed, and a strange flush colored his face, almost like he was enjoying it. "Emma…" he said, lowering his head and offering his other cheek. "Bite me here too." He actually wanted more. Emma realized, when it came to being a weirdo, she'd never beat any of her suitors. She pushed his handsome face away. "In your dreams. Go get me those beast cores." Lucien stared at her, eyes full of wounded puppy-dog misery. "Last time, Marcus asked, and you gave him what he wanted. How come you never give me anything? "Emma, you just don't care about me." Emma realized then that he remembered everything from before except the whole Pyreborn situation.