True Blood Luna

Chapter 7

Elena’s POV

The ballroom was a sea of glittering gowns and sharp smiles, a masquerade of power and ambition. Standing at the edge, the hem of my dress brushing the polished marble floor, I realized something deep in my bones — I didn’t belong here anymore. I felt so out of place that all I did was take in heavy breaths.

Or maybe… I never actually belonged here.

The murmurs had already started before I even crossed the center. Whispers. Stolen glances and jabs of mocking fingers pointing at me, I welcomed them. Let them talk. But not once did I let my pride waver.

Ava prowled inside me, restlessly pressing against my skin like an itch I couldn’t scratch. We are not prey, she growled. Not tonight. She reminded me who we were, just what I needed to get through the night.

Straightening my shoulders, I stepped forward, letting the long train of my dress glide behind me like a river of blood. Heads turned. Eyes widened and I was grateful to dash their smiles, one they clearly didn't deserve but smiles are like daggers.

Thought Some expressions were hungry to take me home, now that I was finally, you know free. Others, just sheer disdain.

Good.

I had barely reached the refreshment table when I felt it—that same energy from earlier. Sharp. Heavy. Unignorable. Him, there was something about him.

“Quite the entrance,” came the low voice behind me, rich and faintly mocking.

I turned, my heart already pounding in my chest before I even met his eyes. There he was, standing tall, his lips curled.

Kade.

Leaning lazily against a column, dressed head to toe in black, he looked out of place and yet somehow more real than anyone else in this glittering circus. I stared at him, jaw dropped, and as I watched him so did he.

His gaze roamed slowly over me, not with lust like the others, but with something more dangerous—recognition.“Didn’t expect to see you here,” I said coolly, tilting my chin up.

“Didn’t expect to run into you twice in one day,” he countered, that smirk tugging at his lips. “You following me?”

I snorted, sipping my drink. “In your dreams. You would really love that now, wouldn't you?”

He pushed off the column and closed the distance between us with two easy strides, stopping just short of touching me. Close enough that his scent wrapped around me — pine, smoke, something ancient I couldn’t name. Ava stirred again, pushing against my ribs. I tried to settle her down but she wasn't having it.

Kade’s eyes sharpened, catching something in my expression.“You feel it too,” he murmured, low enough that no one else could hear.

I froze.

Feel what?

Before I could ask, a cruelly familiar voice sliced through the air like a knife.“Elena.”

Selene.

She floated toward us in a gown that sparkled like fresh ice under the chandeliers, arm-in-arm with Damien. Perfect. Shiny. Fake, all fake!

I hissed as I set my glass down slowly, deliberately, and turned to face her.“No bloody scenes, Elena,” Ava warned inside me, but I could already feel the blood roaring in my ears, the anger boiling deep down. Why wouldn't they just leave me alone?

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” Selene said, her lips curving in a mock-sweet smile.“Clearly,” I replied with a sharper one of my own. “You put up such a warm welcome earlier.”

There was a flicker—just a flicker—of anger in her eyes before she smoothed it away like a real actress.

“The posters?” she said, feigning innocence. “I would never. But you know how people gossip. It’s a shame, really. So much… potential wasted.”

I tilted my head, studying her like a bug under glass. I shook my head, I could tell exactly what she was doing, I knew what she wanted, she wanted me to snap. She wanted a scene.

But I am smarter, I wouldn’t give it to her.“Save the performance, Selene,” I said, voice soft but deadly. “You’re not that much good of an actress.” I lied, clearly she is, she is very good at what she does, but she's strategic, manipulative, and very red-headed.

Kade chuckled quietly beside me, drawing her attention.”Her nose wrinkled as she glanced at him — like she smelled something unpleasant.

Damien, on the other hand, wasn’t looking at Selene. He was staring at me, lost in me. Something he was battling with but couldn't seem to understand it.

His amber eyes tracked every movement I made, whenever I flicked my hair, even when I sighed. There was something raw there—something he couldn’t hide.

Before anything else could be said, Kade shifted closer, his hand brushing lightly against the small of my back. A possessive gesture, One Damien definitely noticed, his brows creased in anger.

“Quite the reunion,” Kade said smoothly, his voice carrying just enough to be heard over the music. Selene’s jaw tensed. Damien’s fingers curled into fists at his sides. I saw the flicker of regret in his eyes and it made me happy.

“If you’ll excuse us,” Kade added, not bothering to hide the amusement in his voice, “Elena and I have better things to do than stand around talking about the past.”I allowed a smile to play on my lips.

“Yes,” I said, lifting my gaze to Selene’s. “We’re a little busy for your flimsy tricks and games.”

Without waiting for their reply, Kade took my hand, warm, calloused, and firm, and led me away from the center of the ballroom. Past the whispering onlookers, Past the stunned silence, Damien left behind him.

When we reached the edge of the room, tucked away beneath the enormous balcony, I yanked my hand free and whirled on him.

“What the hell was that?” I demanded, keeping my voice low. He shrugged, entirely unbothered. “Helping you out. You should be saying thank you, young lady”

“I don’t need your help,” I snapped.

“No,” he agreed, a glint of approval in his gaze. “But it’s fun.”I glared at him, frustrated, battling with the confusing pull I felt toward him. Why was I even engaging with this arrogant jerk? Why was my heart beating like a war drum?

“You really shouldn’t play with fire, Elena,” he said after a moment, his voice softer now. More serious.

“And you shouldn’t make assumptions,” I retorted. For a long moment, we just stared at each other. The world around us—the music, the laughter, disappeared into a distant hum.

“You don’t know who I am, I am broken, I am—-” I whispered as my voice faded into a blur.

“No,” he said, cutting my voiceless voice off, his voice threading into something darker. “But I will.”