The silence between them was unbearable. Elara's words still lingered in the air. "You could hurt me." Lucien stood perfectly still, his eyes fixed on her—but something in them had changed, something darker.
The hunger awakens and he said, "I need you to go," his voice strained now. Elara frowned. "Why are you suddenly..." He turned away sharply. "Because you don't understand what you're doing to me." Her heart skipped. "What do you mean?" He clenched his fists. "You're too close."
Elara hesitated… but stepped closer anyway. "Lucien….." "Stop." The word came out sharper than before. She froze. Slowly, he turned back to face her. His eyes— They weren't just dark anymore. They were glowing faintly, hungry.
Before she could react, he was in front of her, too fast. She gasped as his hand gripped her arm. Cold, unnaturally strong. "Do you have any idea," he whispered, his voice low and dangerous, "how loud your heartbeat is right now?" Elara's breath hitched. "I can hear it… feel it…" He leaned closer. "Even your blood smells different from any blood I've ever tasted, and it's driving me insane."
For a second, just one second— His gaze dropped to her neck. Elara stopped breathing. This was it! This was the danger!!
"Careful, Lucien…" A voice cut through the moment like a blade. Lucien froze. So did Elara. A figure stepped out of the darkness. Tall, confident. Smiling like he owned the night.
"Wouldn't want to lose control in front of your little human," he said smoothly. Lucien's grip on Elara loosened instantly. "Leave," Lucien growled. The man chuckled. "You always did have a soft spot." He stepped closer, his eyes flicking toward Elara. Dark, amused, dangerous. "My name is Draven," he said, almost politely. "But you can think of me as the reason your life just became very… complicated." Elara's stomach dropped.
Lucien moved in front of her again. "I said leave." Draven's smile faded slightly. "You don't give orders anymore." The air shifted, heavy. Like a storm about to break.
Draven's gaze returned to Elara. Then he said something that changed everything. "She doesn't know, does she?" Lucien went still, Elara's heart raced. "Know what?" Draven's smile came back—slow and cruel. "Why he really left us." Silence. Then— "He didn't just run away," Draven continued softly. "He betrayed us." Elara's eyes widened. She looked at Lucien. "Is that true…?" Lucien didn't answer. And that was answer enough.