Chapter ten: The Banquet
764 Words
The hall was too bright.
Too loud.
Too full.
I stood at the entrance, feeling like I didn’t belong there.
Everyone was dressed beautifully.
Expensively.
Like they had been born into this world.
And me…
I just stood there.
Uncertain.
Unwanted.
“Stay close,” a guard said beside me.
I frowned.
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
He didn’t answer.
Of course not.
I was about to walk further in when I felt it.
The shift.
The silence.
Like something had changed in the room.
I looked up.
And saw him.
Lucien.
Standing at the far end of the hall.
In black formal wear.
Perfectly calm.
Perfectly in control.
Even without speaking, he owned the room.
Our eyes met for a second.
Just one second.
Then he looked away.
Like it meant nothing.
I told myself not to care.
I really did.
“Look who finally showed up.”
I turned.
Sophia.
Of course.
She walked toward me with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“You actually came,” she said, looking me up and down.
I didn’t respond.
She laughed softly.
“I thought you would still be crying somewhere.”
I tightened my hands.
“Leave me alone.”
Her smile widened.
“Oh, I can’t. I’m just surprised.”
She leaned closer.
“You really think you belong here now?”
I looked at her.
Calmly.
“I don’t think about you at all.”
Her expression flickered.
Just slightly.
Good.
Before she could respond, a voice cut through the room.
“Enough.”
Lucien.
Everyone turned immediately.
Even Sophia froze slightly.
Lucien walked toward us.
Slow.
Controlled.
His eyes locked on Sophia first.
“You talk too much.”
Sophia immediately straightened.
“I was just welcoming her.”
Lucien didn’t respond.
He looked at me.
For a second.
Then spoke.
“Come.”
That was it.
One word.
But it silenced everything.
I hesitated.
Then walked toward him.
The moment I reached his side, I felt it.
The attention.
Every eye in the room on us.
Whispers started immediately.
“Why is she with him?”
“She’s just a rejected mate.”
“Didn’t Damien choose her sister?”
I heard everything.
Every word.
My chest tightened.
Lucien didn’t react.
Not even slightly.
He just placed a hand behind my back.
Not touching me fully.
But close enough that I felt it.
Warm.
Controlled.
Protective.
I looked up at him slightly.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
“Standing,” he replied calmly.
I frowned.
“That’s not what I meant.”
He didn’t look at me.
“Stay beside me.”
That made my heart beat faster.
We moved deeper into the hall.
People stepped aside immediately.
Like he was a king.
Which he was.
But tonight…
It felt different.
I noticed Damien at the far side of the hall.
He was staring at us.
At me.
His expression dark.
Jealous.
Confused.
Sophia stood beside him, saying something quickly.
But he wasn’t listening.
He was looking at me.
I looked away.
“Don’t look at him,” Lucien’s voice came low beside me.
I turned slightly.
“You noticed that?”
“I notice everything.”
That answer made me quiet.
The banquet continued.
Food.
Music.
Fake smiles.
But I couldn’t relax.
Not even a little.
Then Lucien suddenly leaned closer.
Only slightly.
But enough for me to feel it.
“You’re shaking,” he said quietly.
I frowned.
“I’m not.”
He looked at me briefly.
“You are.”
I didn’t answer.
Because he was right again.
He sighed softly.
Then without warning, he took my hand.
I froze immediately.
“What are you doing?” I whispered sharply.
“Stop shaking,” he said simply.
My heart skipped.
“I wasn’t shaking.”
“You were.”
His grip didn’t tighten.
It was steady.
Controlled.
Warm in a way I didn’t expect.
I looked at him.
He wasn’t looking at me.
But he hadn’t let go.
And somehow…
That made it worse.
Because it felt like he didn’t even realize what he was doing.
Like holding my hand was normal.
Like I was already his.
My breath slowed.
I didn’t pull away.
And I didn’t understand why.
Across the hall, Damien saw it.
His fists tightened.
Sophia saw it too.
Her face darkened completely.
And for the first time tonight…
I felt something shift.
Not fear.
Not confusion.
Something else.
Something dangerous.
Because Lucien didn’t let go.
And I wasn’t sure anymore if I wanted him to.
- Writer
