The party was the fanciest she had ever been to. Women wearing their finest silk and jewels, men in pristine suits, walls adorned with expensive decorations, a variety of foods, everything screamed wealth.
Lyla surveyed the room, with Leo and Lucien on either side of her, doing the same. A few people noted them, curious as to who they were well, except the ladies who were openly ogling her companions.
"You came," a voice said to her left.
Atticus came to stand in front of her, glad in an expensive-looking dark blue suit that complemented his charm and features.
"Yes, we did, thank you for the invite."
"Of course...gentlemen," he said, dipping his chin in acknowledgement.
Atticus offered his hand, and she took it, her companions following closely behind.
He would stop to introduce her to some friend or associate, and she didn't miss how Atticus deliberately placed his hand on her lower back. A claim on her
You okay?, Lucien asked, opening that link
What do you mean? I like being dragged around like a prized mare.
His laugh rumbled through her, making a smile bloom on her lips.
Leo's already off?
Yes, hopefully he's not too distracted by the food and drinks.
She smiled again. What I wouldn't do for a nice plate right now
Hungry princess?
Starving, she responded, ignoring the pet name he had used twice now.
I'll get you something.
Just as he was about to turn, she spoke up.
"Atticus, could you please excuse me?" The man turned to her, lifting a brow, "My feet are killing me," she whispered in his ear. Disapproval marred his face, but still, he suggested
"Okay, we'll...
"Oh no, I wouldn't want to interrupt." Without another word, she turned and left
Lucien trailed behind following her to the food table, then led her outside to a small courtyard.
"If I had spent a minute more in there..." she sighed, sitting on a slab.
She said into the bridge that Lucien had left open between their minds,
Did you notice the man with crimson hair, the one in a grey suit
Yes?
He's weird, I don't know, but ever since I got close to him, it felt wrong, like there was something in him that my magic disliked
You felt that?
You did too?
Yes, he's definitely someone to look into
Then you should keep an eye on him, don't worry about me, I can handle myself. I'll try to find out who he is from Atticus.
You sure?
Yes
*
Lucien kept his eyes focused on the crimson-headed man; so far, he had done nothing suspicious.
Beside him, a woman chatted away about some random play. She had approached him as soon as he walked back into those doors, as if she had been waiting all night for him to be alone.
He had indulged her only because it was good cover.
Lucien? Came a soft, beautiful voice. He ignored how pleased he was to hear it.
What's up?
I just found out who that man is. He's a benefactor of the den.
Well, that made him all the more interesting
Good job princess
The night moved along torturously slow, and by the time some people started leaving, she wanted to race out among them, but Atticus still went on. The man didn't seem to grow tired of talking.
Finally, he looked at her, smiled, and led her away in the promise of showing her something.
He led her upstairs, then into a room—an office of sorts.
"So what did you want to..." Her words were cut short when he pinned her to the door, going in for a kiss, she quickly averted her head
"What the...get off me"
"Come on, Laura, let's not dance around each other like this. You know I want you and you in that dress tells me what I need to know so…" he bent for another kiss, but she avoided it.
She tried to move, but he held her tighter, caging her
"Don't be like this..."
She kneed him on the crotch, forcing him to let go as he cussed. Lyla turned to the door, eager to leave, but the damned thing didn't open.
"Looking for this," Atticus dangled a key between his fingers, a small smile on his face. She hadn't even heard him lock the door.
"Let me go, Atticus."
"Don't play innocent now."
"I'm warning you..."
He laughed, a deep sound that held no humour
"What will you do?"
He stepped closer, and Lyla moved quickly to the other side of the room, retrieving her dagger that had been hidden on her thigh.
He looked at it, then her, and smiled
"I knew I liked you, not so delicate after all"
"Open the door or I stick this in you."
He only smiled, eyes blazing with heat and lust. This was turning the bastard on
He came for her, but she dodged, managing to cut his cheek.
Blood trickled down, and slowly he lifted his finger, touched it, looked at the blood on it, then licked
"Not delicate at all," he smiled brighter, licking his lips, "I'm going to love this," he came for her.
The door burst open, completely thrown off its hinges, and standing there was Lucien. His eyes took her in, the crumbled parts of her dress where Atticus had earlier been forcefully holding on to, then the dagger, and the panic in her eyes, before lastly looking to the man who stood puzzled at the center of the room.
Lyla could have sworn his eyes turned darker and those stars shone brighter. He didn't say anything as he lunged at Atticus, throwing him to the ground, then, blow after blow, he hit him.
She stood silent, watching it unfold for minutes before moving to him.
"Stop...stop," but he continued.
Lucien, stop please, she pleaded into that bridge, fear hot and desperate in her voice, and mid-swing, he did, looking at her.
"It's not worth it, he's..." she looked to the bloodied man below, face already swollen, "he's not worth it."
She placed her hand on his folded fist, then with her other arm nudged him up. He obeyed
He's not worth the trouble, she said into his mind.
She was right. There were too many influential people here; many were his friends, and if he did anything drastic, they might come for them. He nodded, grabbed her hand, and led them out.
They managed to leave the party without causing alarm. Leo had been searching for them, and one look at his friend...he just followed them out.
Lucien held onto her hand long after they left the party, even as they walked to their hotel and were inside their room, he held on. It was only when she told him to sit so that she could tend to his hand that he released her.
He was silent as she fetched the tonics they had carried while briefly explaining to Leo what had happened. Not even a wince as she tended to the small bruises on his knuckles. They would have healed in a few hours, even without the help of the medicine.
But she just wanted to do something with herself because the alternative was to think of what would have happened if Lucien hadn't shown up, and she somehow wasn't able to deal with Atticus.
She would have been able to, she was confident, but what if?
A hand on hers snapped her back to meet the night sky staring at her. She hadn't realized she had been shaking.
No words were exchanged; they just stared at each other for long seconds until she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"It's okay, Lucien, I'm okay." his thumb rubbed slowly at her fingers, and she could see it in his eyes, the guilt.
"No...none of that," she said adamantly, "it's not your fault. I asked you to leave me, you were just doing what needed to be done, so don't you dare blame yourself."
"La..."
"No, I refuse. We will not let that damned bastard make us feel awful for his actions. He can't…he can't win"
Heavens, how was she so strong and…perfect
"He won't," he said, squeezing her hand.
She smiled a small smile, and although he could still see a flicker of shadow in her eyes, determination and resolve blossomed fully from her, and damn him if that didn't make his lips turn up