Chapter 9
1406 Words
The music hit the moment we stepped in.
Loud. Deep. Alive.
It wrapped around everything—voices, laughter, movement—until it felt like the whole place was breathing to the same rhythm.
For a moment…
Nothing else mattered.
We found a table without much effort. Vaelor stayed a short distance behind us—close enough to see everything, far enough not to be part of it.
Like he knew exactly where he belonged.
I ignored him.
I needed to.
Lyssara dropped into the seat beside me with a satisfied sigh. “Now this… this is what I’m talking about.”
A small smile touched my lips as I signaled for drinks.
Two glasses.
Strong.
Cold.
Exactly what we needed.
We clinked them lightly before drinking.
The alcohol burned on the way down, warm and sharp, settling deep in my chest.
“Better,” I exhaled.
Lyssara grinned. “Way better.”
For a while, it was just us.
Talking.
Laughing.
Letting the noise swallow everything else.
The tension from earlier… fading.
And then—
“Come on,” Lyssara said suddenly, grabbing my hand. “We didn’t come here to sit.”
I didn’t resist.
I let her pull me up.
Let her drag me into the crowd.
The music swallowed us the moment we stepped in.
Bodies everywhere.
Moving.
Brushing.
Colliding.
Heat rising from skin and sound and motion.
And just like that—
My mind went quiet.
No Vaelor.
No rules.
No control.
Just this.
I moved with the music, my body falling into rhythm without thinking. Lyssara was already lost in it—laughing, spinning, pulling me along with her energy.
I laughed too.
Real laughter.
The kind that didn’t need effort.
This was what I wanted.
This was why I came.
I didn’t notice him at first.
The guy.
He slipped in beside me like it was natural.
Like he’d always been there.
Dancing close.
Too close.
His hand brushed my waist.
Then stayed.
I didn’t stop him.
Didn’t think about it.
It was normal.
It was nothing.
Just part of the night.
Until suddenly—
Everything changed.
A hand.
Firm.
Uncompromising.
Shoving him away from me.
Not aggressive.
But not gentle either.
Enough to create space.
My body stilled instantly.
“What?”
I turned.
And there he was.
Vaelor.
Standing between us.
The guy frowned, confused. “Bro, what’s your..”
“Step back,” Vaelor said.
His voice was low.
Calm.
But there was something in it that didn’t invite argument.
The guy hesitated.
Then stepped away.
Just like that.
And I stood there..
Shock hitting first.
Then something sharper.
Something hotter.
“Are you serious right now?” I snapped.
Before I could think, I grabbed Vaelor’s hand and dragged him out of the crowd.
Away from the noise.
Away from everyone.
Into a quieter corner.
I turned to him immediately.
“What is wrong with you?”
He didn’t react.
Didn’t look surprised.
Didn’t look guilty.
Nothing.
“Why would you do that?” I demanded. “Why would you push him?”
“Sorry, Miss,” he said, calm as ever. “I’m here to protect you.”
A short, disbelieving laugh left me.
“Protect me?”
“Yes.”
“From what?” I shot back. “From dancing?”
“He was too close.”
“And?” I challenged. “That’s the point!”
His expression didn’t shift.
“No, Miss.”
I stared at him.
“Excuse me?”
“No.”
That word—
Flat.
Controlled.
Final.
It irritated me instantly.
“No?” I repeated. “What do you mean no?”
“My job is to protect you,” he said again. “Your father assigned me to you. Anything that happens to you—”
“Oh my God,” I cut in, dragging a hand through my hair. “Not this again.”
“I am responsible”
“Stop,” I snapped, raising my hand.
He stopped.
Immediately.
I exhaled slowly, trying to steady the frustration rising in my chest.
“Listen to me,” I said, my voice lower now but tight. “I am not a child.”
Silence.
“I came here to have fun,” I continued. “That’s it. Fun. I know what I’m doing.”
He said nothing.
“I’ve been doing this for years,” I added. “Nothing has happened to me.”
Still nothing.
“I talk to who I want. I dance with who I want. I decide what I want.”
“Miss—”
“I said stop.”
He went quiet again.
I looked at him then.
Really looked.
“Don’t ruin this for me,” I said, softer this time. “Please.”
Something flickered in his eyes.
Brief.
Gone before I could hold onto it.
“I can’t ignore my responsibility,” he said.
That was it.
That was the line.
I stared at him for a second longer…
Then turned away.
Frustration sitting heavy in my chest.
When I got back to Lyssara, she was already watching.
“What happened?” she asked. “Why did he do that?”
I shook my head. “I don’t even know. He said he’s ‘protecting’ me.”
Lyssara scoffed. “Protecting you from what? Enjoying yourself?”
“Exactly.”
Her expression hardened. “I don’t like this.”
“Me too.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t like this at all. If he’s going to act like that, I’m not staying.”
My brows pulled together. “Wait..”
“I’m serious,” she cut in. “I’m not in the mood anymore. Let’s go.”
“Lyssara..”
“I’m going home.”
And just like that..
She turned.
And walked away.
Fast.
“Lyssara!” I called.
She didn’t stop.
Didn’t even look back.
I stood there for a second…
Then followed.
By the time I got outside, she was already at the front.
Grabbing her things.
“I’m going,” she said.
“Wait,” I stepped closer. “Let’s just go together.”
“I’ll go myself,” she replied sharply. “I’m not a child.”
“That’s not what I meant..”
“Your bodyguard ruined everything,” she added. “I’m done.”
And before I could say anything else—
She left.
Just like that.
I stood there.
Alone.
For a second.
Then turned.
Vaelor was already there.
Watching.
Silent.
And something inside me snapped again.
“See what you caused?” I said, my voice tight.
He didn’t respond.
“She left,” I continued. “Because of you.”
“I was doing my job”
“I didn’t ask you to!” I cut in.
Silence.
Heavy.
Unmoving.
I shook my head and walked past him.
“Let’s go.”
The drive back was quiet.
Too quiet.
I didn’t look at him.
Didn’t speak.
Didn’t try.
The moment we got home, I stepped out immediately.
Walked straight inside.
Dropped everything.
And went upstairs.
Fast.
I didn’t stop.
Didn’t look back.
I had been in my room for a while when the knock came.
Soft.
Controlled.
I waited a few seconds…
Then walked to the door and opened it.
Vaelor stood there.
My bag in his hand.
I took it from him without a word.
No thanks.
No eye contact.
And started to close the door.
But his hand stopped it.
“Miss… I’m sorry.”
I paused.
He continued.
“I’m not here to ruin anything. I’m here to protect you. That is my responsibility. I don’t mean to interfere with your life, or your friendships, or your..”
I wasn’t really listening anymore.
Not fully.
Because my eyes were on him.
On his face.
The way his lips moved when he spoke.
The slight tension in his jaw.
The control in his voice.
The restraint.
And somehow..
That irritated me even more.
Because he still looked calm.
Still composed.
While I felt anything but that.
I leaned slightly against the door, watching him.
Quiet now.
A slow… dangerous smile forming on my lips.
Because in that moment—
Something became very clear.
He wasn’t the problem.
The problem was—
No matter how hard he tried to stay in control…
I suddenly wanted to be the reason he lost it.
- Writer
