The word echoed in Elara's mind. "Betrayed" Her eyes stayed on Lucien, waiting. Hoping he would deny it. He didn't.
"Say something," Elara whispered. Lucien's jaw tightened, his gaze fixed somewhere far away. "It's not as simple as he's making it sound." Draven laughed softly. "It never is with you, Lucien." Elara's chest tightened. "Then explain it to me." A long silence followed. Then finally— Lucien spoke.
"There was a time," he began slowly, "when I was like them." Draven smirked. "You were worse." Lucien ignored him. "I didn't care about humans. They were… nothing to me." Elara felt a chill run through her. "I followed Draven," Lucien continued. "Did everything he asked." Her voice trembled. "What kind of things…?" This time, Lucien hesitated. Draven answered for him. "The kind of things that make monsters look innocent."
Draven stepped forward, his presence commanding. "We had a vision," he said. "A world where we don't hide in shadows." Lucien frowned. "What are you talking about?" "No more fear, no more pretending," Draven continued. "Humans would know what we are… and they would serve us." Her stomach dropped. "That's insane." Draven smiled. "It's inevitable."
Elara looked back at Lucien. "So what happened?" This time, Lucien answered. "I refused." Draven's expression darkened. "He didn't just refuse," Draven said coldly. "He destroyed everything." Elara blinked. "What do you mean?" Lucien's voice dropped. "I stopped them." Silence. "How?" she asked. His eyes met hers. "I burned our nest."
Elara breath caught. "You… killed them?" Draven's smile disappeared completely. "Hundreds," he said quietly. The air went cold. "He betrayed his own kind… for humans who would fear him anyway."
Elara looked at Lucien, really looked at him. The pain in his eyes, the guilt. "You did that… to protect people?" Lucien didn't answer. But this time, he didn't look like a monster.
Draven stepped closer, his voice low and deadly. "You thought you ended us," he said. A pause. Then a dark smile returned. "But we survived." Elara's heart pounded. "And now," Draven continued, glancing at her, "we start again." Lucien moved instantly, pulling Elara slightly behind him. "No." Draven's eyes gleamed. "Oh yes." A breath, a promise. "This time… we don't hide."