The sharp echo of Julian's words still clung to the air...
"Yes," Julian had said. His smirk, cool and poisonous, hung between them like a guillotine blade. "I indeed tried to kill Rin and separate the two of you. You're only supposed to look at me, Lucien. That's why we came to this world together. For that, I'll continue to eliminate anyone who gets close to you."
Lucien's sword trembled, the point grazing his brother's throat. He wanted to drive it through. To end the sickness growing inside Julian's heart. But his grip faltered when he caught Dorian's subtle shift, the way the man's hand twitched toward his own blade. Dorian would obviously do anything to protect Lucien, and that's not what he was worried about. Maybe if Lucien kills Julian, Dorian wouldn't aim his sword at Lucien. He would kill himself and go to the afterworld with his lover.
"You're insane," Lucien spat. "You've fallen into an obsession that never should have existed."
