"Dante Voss," Kain growled, his tone heavy with contempt.
The man smirked and stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. He moved with the confidence of someone who knew he wasn't welcome but didn't care. "I've come for what's mine," he said, his voice smooth but laced with menace.
From her seat, Lucia froze. The man's presence sent a chill racing down her spine, and she instinctively pressed her hands against the table as if anchoring herself. She rose slowly, curiosity and unease battling within her, and stepped into the doorway of the room. Dante's eyes found her instantly, locking onto her like a predator sizing up its prey.
"Ah, there she is," he said, his smirk deepening. "The woman of the hour."
Kain stepped between them, his broad shoulders blocking Dante's view of her. "She's not yours to claim," he said, his voice a low rumble.
Dante chuckled softly, the sound dark and mocking. "Oh, Kain. You're still pretending you can keep her safe, aren't you? But you haven't told her, have you? She doesn't even know what she is."
Lucia's chest tightened. "What does he mean?" she asked, stepping forward despite Kain's warning glance. "What don't I know?"
Dante's gaze shifted to her, his expression softening just slightly. "You have no idea, do you?" he said, almost pitying. "There's a power in you, Lucia. Something extraordinary. And it's wasted here." He gestured toward Kain dismissively. "He'll never let you be who you're meant to be."
Kain's growl filled the room, his body tense and ready to strike. "Leave now, Dante," he said, his voice tight with control. "You've overstayed your welcome."
Dante tilted his head, studying Kain with an air of amusement. "I'll go," he said casually. "But consider this a warning. She belongs to me, Kain. Not because of some petty contract, but because of what's in her blood. That connection is mine to claim."
Lucia's pulse pounded in her ears as Dante turned to leave, pausing at the doorway. "Enjoy your little arrangement while it lasts," he said over his shoulder. "But don't think for a second you can keep her from me."
The door clicked shut behind him, leaving a suffocating silence in the room. Kain's fists remained clenched at his sides, his chest rising and falling as he worked to steady his breathing.
"Who was that?" Lucia asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "And what did he mean?"
Kain turned to her, his expression shadowed. "He's dangerous," he said simply. "And he's wrong. You don't belong to him."
"But what did he mean about my blood? About power?" Her voice wavered as she stepped closer. "Why does it feel like everyone knows something about me that I don't?"
Kain hesitated, his jaw tightening as if weighing his words. Finally, he shook his head. "This isn't the time, Lucia."
Her frustration flared, hot and sharp. "If it's not now, then when?" she demanded. "I just signed a contract binding me to you. Don't you think I deserve to know what's going on?"
His gaze softened for a moment, but he didn't answer. Instead, he turned back to the table and gathered the papers. "Stay close to me," he said. "Dante doesn't make empty threats."
Lucia watched him, her anger simmering beneath her confusion. She felt like a pawn in a game she didn't understand, surrounded by secrets she hadn't asked to uncover. And as Kain's shoulders remained rigid with tension, she couldn't help but wonder if she could trust him to tell her the truth—or if she'd have to find it herself.
Her hands balled into fists, and she stepped closer, her voice sharp. "Tell me the truth, Kain. Why did you really bring me here? Was it about protection, or was it about control?"
Kain's head snapped toward her, his dark eyes flashing with something unreadable. "You think I'm controlling you?" he asked, his tone low but dangerous.
Lucia's heart hammered, but she refused to back down. "How can I not think that when everyone seems to know more about my life than I do? Dante knew about this 'power' in my blood, and you—you won't even tell me what he's talking about! You're just as bad as him, Kain."
His jaw tightened, and he took a step closer, towering over her. "I'm nothing like Dante," he growled, his voice harsh. "Everything I've done is to keep you safe. Do you think I wanted this?"
"Then why won't you tell me?" she shot back, her voice rising. "What are you hiding?"
Kain's fists clenched, and for a moment, she thought he might explode. But instead, he turned away, his shoulders stiff with restraint. "Some truths are more dangerous than the lies that protect them," he said, his voice quieter now but no less intense.
Lucia's breath caught in her throat. "I'm not a child, Kain. I deserve to know what's at stake. If you can't tell me, then maybe Dante was right. Maybe I'm wasting my time here."
Kain's head whipped around, his eyes burning with fury. "Don't you dare compare me to him," he snarled. "You think you're ready for the truth? Fine. But don't blame me when it destroys everything you think you know."
Before she could respond, Kain stormed past her, leaving her alone in the room with her heart pounding and the weight of his words pressing down on her. Outside, the wind howled against the windows, a storm brewing both inside and out.