Chapter 1: Unexpected Rescue (Continued)
The air was thick between them with unsaid words. Her heart was still racing from the attack by the rogue, but something in Lucien's proximity set it running in another way. The amber eyes that watched her were intense, almost searching. It was comforting and yet unsettled her at the same time. She didn't know how or why, but he made her feel exposed, vulnerable, yet so strangely drawn to him.
Lucien finally broke the silence, his voice softer now, though still carrying an edge of danger. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Selene nodded, but her gaze lingered on the place where the rogue had fallen. "I'll survive. It's not the first time I've had a run-in with rogues. But that one—there was something wrong about him."
"Rogues are always dangerous, but that one., " Lucien said, his voice trailing off as he studied her. "He wasn't just after you. He was looking for something."
She furrowed her brow, unsure of what he meant. "What?"
Lucien didn't answer immediately, his eyes flicking toward the woods where the rogue had disappeared. He seemed to be weighing something before turning back to her, his gaze locking with hers.
Never mind, we'll talk about it later, but for now, we have to get out of here, he said, stepping closer. His voice had lowered, the warmth in it sending tingles across her skin. You're not safe here.
Selene's breath caught on the sudden proximity. She'd known Lucien was a danger since the moment they met, but there was something in the way he stood before her now-protective, drawing her in-that set her all confused. She didn't know what to make of him, yet something inside urged her to trust him.
"I can take care of myself," she said, firm, but far firmer than she felt inside, and the hesitation in her voice was unmistakable. It wasn't fear-more like an unfamiliar longing, a sense of vulnerability that she wasn't used to.
A small smile quirked up one corner of Lucien's lips, but the glint of amusement dancing in his eyes was anything but tame. "I know you can. But sometimes, it's okay to let someone else protect you. Just for tonight.
He reached out and extended his hand to her. The gesture was simple, yet so full of meaning that it fluttered her chest and for a moment, she did not know what to do. Something in his gaze made the decision for her. She took his hand, feeling the warmth of his skin seep into her own, and for the first time since the attack, she felt like she might actually be safe.
He kept her wrapped in a circle of protection as they walked through the woods, his keen eyes never stopping in their scan of surroundings. Selene could feel the tension between them mount with every step, but it wasn't just the danger of their surroundings that weighed heavily upon her; it was Lucien himself.
Her musings were cut short as they emerged into a clearing, and Lucien stopped dead in his tracks. He turned to her, his face inscrutable. "You need to know something," he said, his voice low.
Selene's heart skipped a beat. There was something about his tone-grave, yet almost. vulnerable. "What is it?"
Lucien hesitated, his eyes searching hers as if trying to decide how much to reveal. "I told you before that you're marked. But there's more to it. More than just a prophecy." He paused, his hand tightening around hers. "I'm not just a vampire. I'm. tied to you. In ways you can't yet understand.
Selene's breath caught in her throat. Tied to her? The weight of his words settled heavily between them, and the implications were too much for her to fully grasp.
"Tied how?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The scowl in Lucien's gaze turned to soften, but a depth of sorrow shadowed in his eyes, something new from him. "It is part of the curse, Selene: a bond, connection. whatever one puts it as, it is not something easily shrugged off.
Her mind was a blur as she tried to make sense of everything he'd just said: connected, bonded; being tied to him, someone who wasn't even human, terrified and yet was intoxicating.
Before she could respond, a loud noise broke through the silence—a twig snapping underfoot, followed by the unmistakable sound of someone or something approaching. Lucien's body stiffened, his posture shifting immediately into that of a warrior, alert and ready.
"We're not alone," he murmured, his voice calm despite the danger. He pulled Selene closer, his grip tightening around her wrist as he scanned the woods.
Just then, a figure emerged from the shadows—a tall, muscular man with wild, untamed hair and an air of danger that rivaled Lucien's. He had a look of someone who had been through countless battles, his eyes sharp and calculating. The moment he stepped into the clearing, he stopped, locking eyes with Selene.
"Lucien," the stranger said, his voice low and gravelly. "I see you've found her."
Lucien's jaw clenched, and he stepped in front of Selene protectively. "Dax," he said, his voice cold. "What do you want?"
Dax's lips curled into a knowing smile, his eyes briefly flicking to Selene. "I should be asking you that, shouldn't I? After all, you've been playing the knight in shining armor for far too long. But that girl-" He pointed at Selene, his smile widening. "She's mine now.
Selene's heart thudded in her chest. The air around them grew thick with tension, and she could feel the weight of both men's gazes on her. She had no idea who this new man was, but the threat in his voice was unmistakable. Her pulse quickened as she realized whatever had brought these two together-whatever bond they shared-wasn't going to be solved easily.
Lucien stepped forward, his voice low and controlled. "You don't own her, Dax. And you never will."
As Dax smirked, stepping closer, Selene's thoughts spun in every direction. Lucien had warned her about enemies coming for her, but now she was face-to-face with one of them. What kind of connection did these men share? And why was she at the center of it all?