It took her a minute to recover. "And I'm just hearing about this now?" she glared hard at him, if looks could kill, Lucian probably dropped dead by now. "And what the hell do you intend to do about that?" Now she was mad. No one touches her brother. She didn't give a fuck if it was then king, the president or the god darn Carusos.
Lucian knew what he had just done, and he knew she knew what he did. But she was so angry because her brother was almost killed. "My solution," Lucian said, his voice dropping slightly, "is to end it before it reaches you."
Elena laughed softly but there was no humor in it.
"And you think locking me up would do?"
His jaw tightened. "You're not being locked up, I'm only trying to protect you, Elena"
"Oh really?" she challenged, stepping closer. "Because last time I checked, I couldn't leave. I can't contact my brother. I can't do anything without your permission. And now—" her voice sharpened. "—you're assigning the Hawks to me like I'm some kind of… possession to be kept." The word hung in the air.
Lucian's eyes darkened instantly because she wasn't wrong, the urge to lock and tie her up just to keep her from prying eyes was strong. "Watch your words." His voice was deadly cold.
"Or what?" she pushed. Heavy silence settled between them. Elena could feel the dangerous aura from him threatening to burst out of control but she was burning in anger to listen to the warning bell in her head.
They were standing too close now but neither stepped back. "I'm trying to keep you alive," Lucian said, his voice lower now. But barely controlled.
"I don't want to just be alive," Elena snapped.
That made him pause. "I don't want to sit here while you go out there and fight battles I don't even understand," she continued, her voice softer now—but more intense. "I don't want to be the weak one everyone has to protect."
Lucian's gaze sharpened. "You are not weak." He had never seen her as weak.
"Then stop treating me like I am." Silence crashed between them again; she really hated how he treated her like a delicate girl. She wants to fight, she wants to understand them, she has already accepted her faith and she has to live with it, the way they do. She didn't want approval, she just wanted to stand on her own.
Lucian studied the little woman in front of him, she was just half his size, so small, so beautiful, so unaware of the blood and death outside this walls deep but down he knows he wants to ruin her, tint her, keep her all to himself but he wasn't going to bury the flame in her eyes for no reasons in this world.
His eyes glinted with a dangerous light "What are you asking for?" he said finally.
Elena held his gaze. "Please Lucian, I want to learn." Her voice softened, her amber eyes were bright. "I want to fight too." She was trying to get through him even just a little.
Lucian's gaze remained fixed on her; he was searching for the slightest bit of hesitation "you don't need this life."
"It's already my life!" Her voice broke through and her breathing was uneven now.
Lucian was quiet for a while, his eyes had changed. "You don't understand what you're asking for," he said quietly.
"Then make me understand." she demanded
"No." came his flat answer.
Elena let out a frustrated breath, turning away from him. "This is exactly what I mean," she muttered. "You just go ahead and decide everything."
Lucian's patience snapped—just slightly. He reached out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back toward him. It wasn't rough but firm. He felt an electric jolt through his entire body. Her skin was so soft she felt it too because she stiffened a little "Look at me." His voice was hard.
She resisted for half a second biting her lower lip then did.Their faces were close again too close she could feel his breath on her face.
"If you step into this," Lucian said, his voice low, intense, "there's no going back."
Elena didn't flinch. "I already crossed that line the moment I stepped into your house."
Lucian's grip loosened slightly for the first time she had known him; he hesitated.
Elena saw it and she softened her voice. But it was still stronger and determined. "Please Lucian." One word that carried everything. Her fear, her anger, her determination, her trust in him.
Lucian went still, completely still. It wasn't the words but the way she said his name in that moment did something he didn't expect, it did something he didn't like. Because it made him want to give in, his jaw tightened. He knew he was fucked but his expression gave nothing away. Not a single thing.
His eyes searched hers but all he saw was only resolve. A slow breath left his mouth. "Fine."
Elena blinked. Surprised, he finally gave in.
"You'll train," he said helplessly, running his thick hand through his dark hair.
Her heart jumped at the gesture but it didn't hide the brightness in her eyes like the firecracker she is.
"But under my rules." he said firmly leaving no room for negotiations.
Of course there were conditions but as long as she got to train. She nodded."Anything."
His gaze darkened slightly at that word.
"Don't say that unless you mean it."
"I do." she tilts her head slightly this little action made Lucian feel like she was testing his self control.
Lucian finally released her wrist but neither of them moved away. She could still feel the sensation of the place Lucian had touched, it was hot, she used her other hand to rub it almost gently. And Lucian could still feel the softness of her wrists as he clenched his hand trying to suppress what was surfacing inside him.
"You start tomorrow," he said. He saw how she exhaled in relief. He hoped she'd last long and not quit halfway but he highly doubted that would happen.
Elena exhaled slowly, she was glad but also something else. Excitement, she felt a rush of adrenaline in her body. She couldn't wait for morning to come.
Lucian turned slightly as if to leave then paused his eyes flickered toward the bed then back to her. "I'm staying here tonight." His expression didn't change. He said it as if it was the most normal thing to do.
Elena blinked, her brain trying to process what he had just said. "What?" she was flabbergasted. "No, you can't do that."
He just looked at her and raised his perfect eyebrow at her. "why can't i?" he's voice for some reason was mellow and deep it made her stomach flipped.
"This is my room." she said it like he was dumb and it was the most obvious answer. She crossed her arm under her chest pushing her breast up.
His eyes turned dark as they followed the little movement. His jaw was tightening as his hands clenched in his pocket. He needed a smoke right now. He leaned down close to her ear "You seem to have forgotten that this is my house darling." His tone dipped lower, touched by something darker, something almost dangerous… It sounded like temptation wrapped in warning. Like fine wine…laced with poison. "I do whatever I like in it."
Elena's face was beet red when he straightened and she looked enticing and lovely.
her eyes narrowed. "You're unbelievable." she whispered.
Lucian ignored that completely and walked toward the armchair in the corner of the room, removing his jacket calmly, not minding the way his body reacted to her expression like this was all normal, even worse like he was normal.
Elena stared at him completely speechless.
He sat down, leaning back slightly, totally at ease.
"You can keep glaring at me," he said without looking at her. "Or you can sleep."
Her jaw dropped slightly. "You're impossible." She was breathless.
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"Go to sleep, Elena."
She stood there for a moment longer then turned sharply and climbed into bed, pulling the blanket over herself. She flustered, confused. Her heart was beating violently in her chest ready to leap out any moment.
Her back faced him.
Lucian watched her quietly and the room fell silent again. Minutes passed before her breathing slowly evened out. Sleep came… eventually.
Lucian leaned back in the chair, his gaze still on her. The emotions he had buried deep surfaced dark, frightening desire that could swallow her whole.
"Three months," he murmured quietly to himself.
Then his eyes softened—just slightly. "Let's see what you become Mia."