The hybrid loosing guard
1444 Words
Lucien.
Her hand was warm in mine. Too warm.
Too recently held by someone else.
I twirled her around with perfect control, but inside, something unhinged in me twisted with every movement.
I had seen the way Darius looked at her—gentle, protective, intimate. And worse, I had seen the way she looked at him. Like she trusted him. Like he could make her forget everything for a second.
She was mine.
I shouldn’t have let her go to the dance floor with him in the first place, but I had let my guard down.
That damn woman—Ceryse. She knew exactly what she was doing, stepping into my space the moment Anara was out of sight.
I played along, because that’s what was expected, I also had to get information out of her. But all the while, my eyes trailed after Anara.
And then I saw Darius reach out. Touch her hair. Smile down at her like she belonged to him.
And she let him.
Now, in my arms, she looked everywhere but at me.
“You don't look as comfortable as you were before,” I said, low and calm. Too calm.
She blinked. “It was a dance, Lucien.”
“Oh, so now it’s just a dance?” My fingers tightened slightly at her waist, pulling her a breath closer.
She raised a brow. “Would you rather I danced with no one while you laughed with your very eager admirer?”
I smirked, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “Jealous, little witch?”
Her lips twitched—defiant. “You flatter yourself.”
“You didn’t answer the question.” My voice dropped. “Did you enjoy his hands on you?”
Her gaze snapped to mine, and for a moment, the whole room faded. We were no longer dancing. We were just there, locked in a silent war made of stares, breath, and all the things neither of us wanted to name.
“Why do you care, Lucien?” she whispered.
I couldn’t answer that. Not out loud.
Not here.
Because the truth was simple, and dangerous:
I cared because she was starting to mean too much.
Before I could speak, the music faded. The crowd clapped politely. Partners stepped back.
I didn’t release her
.
Not yet.
“Stay close,” I murmured. “There are eyes everywhere tonight. And not all of them are kind.”
It wasn’t just a warning, it was a fact.
And whether she realized it or not, the moment Darius touched her hair—he had signed a silent line I would not let him cross again.
I didn’t say another word as I led her off the dance floor, my hand still firm on her lower back. She didn’t resist, but I felt the tension in her body — the kind you only hold when you don’t know what to say… or are afraid to say too much.
Silas and Darius stood near a curved marble Table draped in soft gold, sipping wine like they had nothing better to do than watch the world unfold.
They both turned as we approached.
Silas’s eyes gleamed with mischief the second he caught the expression on my face.
“Well, well,” he drawled, swirling his wine. “You two looked cozy. Very... dramatic. Should we expect a ballroom duel at midnight or will you settle for passive-aggressive glaring all evening?”
Anara exhaled, clearly trying not to laugh, and stepped slightly away from me.
“Enjoying the evening?” Darius asked her, his voice calm, but his eyes flicked to mine. Testing the waters.
She nodded politely, then excused herself, saying something about wanting a drink. The moment she walked away, the temperature dropped — at least in my chest.
I turned to Darius, slowly. “Careful.”
He lifted a brow. “I danced with her, Lucien. That’s all.”
“You tucked her hair behind her ear like you were familiar. Like you were allowed.”
“it was just a strand, you're acting like a child obsessed with a toy. And yes, anara isn't one”
“Darius,”I warned.
Silas made a low whistle and took a long sip of his wine. “And the drama begins.”
Darius didn’t back down. “She looked upset. I was trying to comfort her.”
“She has me for that.”
“Does she?” Darius asked lightly. “Because you were too busy entertaining your guest when she needed someone.”
That landed.
I took a step closer. “Touch her like that again, cousin, and I won’t be so polite.”
“Oh, we’re still being polite?” Silas said with a wide grin. “Because that sounded very much like a threat.”
Darius exhaled, hands raised in mock surrender. “Noted.”
I looked away, jaw tight, watching Anara across the room. She stood by the drink table, head slightly bowed as someone spoke to her. She smiled — politely — but it wasn’t real.
She was holding something in.
She always was.
“You’re spiraling,” Silas said beside me, voice quiet now.
“I’m protecting her,” I muttered.
“From your cousin?” he asked.
“From everyone,” I snapped.
Silas just hummed. “Well, try not to kill anyone tonight. It’s still early.”
I didn’t answer.
My eyes were already searching for her again.
There was a moment of tense silence after Darius’ words—one that felt heavy, personal, and far too raw for a room glittering with chandeliers and polished masks.
“Tell him,” Darius said suddenly, gaze fixed on Silas.
Both Silas and I turned to look at him.
“Tell him,” he said again, firmer.
Silas let out a long sigh and took another deliberate sip of his wine, as if bracing himself for impact. “You’re overreacting, Lucien.”
“I’m not,” I muttered, jaw tight.
Silas arched his brow. “Then why does Darius feel like a threat? Or is that... insecurity? Maybe it’s that Anara’s getting closer to him than she is to you?”
“I don’t care,” I snapped.
Silas smirked. “Sure. That’s why your mood soured the second she touched his hand.”
I looked away, eyes narrowing as they landed on nothing in particular. “I just don’t like his hands all over her.”
Darius chuckled, unfazed. “You’re one to talk. You parade her in here like a prized possession then act shocked that others might actually want her too.”
Silas gave a low whistle. “Well, that escalated—”
“You don’t know what you want, Lucien,” Darius cut in again, serious now. “Or maybe you do, but you’re too much of a coward to admit it. One minute you’re soft with her. Next, you freeze her out like she means nothing. She doesn’t deserve that.”
My eyes snapped back to him, cold as steel. “I never stopped caring.”
That shut them both up.
For a moment, none of us spoke. The noise of the gala buzzed around us — laughter, music, clinking glasses — but in our little circle, the silence felt deafening.
Then Darius shrugged lightly, breaking the tension. “Well, if there’s anything you need me to do as an ally,” he said with a teasing grin, “I’ll be sure to put in a good word for you.”
All three of us let out a low, half-suppressed laugh — the kind that was more about shaking off the weight of the truth than actual humor.
“What did I miss?” a soft voice asked.
I turned instantly.
Anara stood just beside us, her head tilted slightly, curiosity dancing in her eyes. She looked between the three of us, clearly catching onto the tension that still hung faintly in the air.
“Nothing important,” Silas said with a smile, ever the smooth liar.
Darius smirked, “Just Lucien being jealous.”
I shot him a glare, but he just chuckled again and gave Anara a wink.
She raised an eyebrow, amused. “Jealous, huh?”
I looked at her — and for a heartbeat, I couldn’t come up with a good enough lie. So I said nothing. Just took the glass from her hand and sipped it like it was mine.
“Let’s dance again,” I said quietly, already offering her my hand.
Because I needed her close — even if I didn’t have the right words to say why.
- Writer
