Hard To Believe

Lucian's expression darkened as he turned toward the guard who had entered the room. The weight of the words hung in the air; it was about Caleb, the tension that had been simmering between him and Selene shifted, thickening into something sharper and more dangerous. Selene kept her breath steady, refusing to react too quickly because she didn't know what had happened yet. Whatever it was, it had rattled Lucian, and that alone was enough to make her pulse quicken. Lucian's voice was low and controlled. 'Explain."The guard hesitated with a flicker of unease in his posture. 'He escaped, sir."Selene's heart stopped, and Lucian's eyes narrowed. His body went still, too still. 'Say that again."The guard swallowed. We had him secured, but there was an ambush. Some of our men were taken out, and he's gone." Selene felt something burn beneath her ribs; Caleb had escaped, he was out there and alive. Lucian, however, was unreadable, there was a long silence that stretched and suffocated before he finally exhaled in a slow and deliberate breath that did nothing to soften the storm building behind his eyes. Selene saw the moment he shifted his gears so that his frustration didn't explode outward; instead, it hardened into something colder and more calculated. 'Find him." His voice was smooth, unshaken. 'I don't care how long it takes, I want him back."The guard nodded quickly, stepping out of the room without another word. Selene watched the door close, waiting for Lucian to react, would he turn on her or would he blame her? Either way, she didn't have to wait long for the answer then Lucian turned toward her, his gaze sharp, dissecting. 'I assume you had nothing to do with this." Selene forced herself to meet his eyes. 'Would you believe me if I said no?"Lucian studied her, his expression unreadable. 'No." Selene shrugged. 'Then why ask?" Lucian's smirk was slow but deliberate. 'Because I like hearing you lie." She clenched her jaw, resisting the urge to step back, he wanted her off balance, to make her feel cornered but she wouldn't give him that satisfaction. Lucian stepped closer, lowering his voice. 'It doesn't matter how he got out, he'll be found and when he is, I'll make sure his punishment lasts." Selene's stomach twisted; a warning and a promise, then she lifted her chin. 'You're afraid, aren't you?"Lucian arched his brow. 'Of what?"Selene's voice was quiet but steady. 'Of losing control." A flicker of something flashed in Lucian's eyes; anger and amusement but she couldn't tell then he exhaled, stepping away. 'Caleb doesn't concern me but you, however…" His gaze lingered on her, assessing. 'You're a different problem entirely." Selene's fingers twitched slightly. 'Am happy to be of service." Lucian chuckled, shaking his head. 'You don't get it, do you?" He turned toward the window, gazing out over the darkened estate. 'You think this is a battle you can win, that if you push hard enough, I'll break." He glanced back at her with his usual unreadable expression.'But I don't break, Selene, I dismantle."A chill ran through her. Lucian's voice softened, almost thoughtful. 'People like you… you think resilience is enough or maybe if you fight hard enough, nothing can touch you but do you know what happens to people who refuse to bend?" Selene remained silent, and Lucian tilted his head. 'They snap." The words settled between them, heavy and sharp. Selene inhaled slowly. 'You talk a lot about breaking people." Her voice was quiet, but firm. 'Does that make you feel powerful?" Lucian's lips curled slightly. 'It makes me inevitable." She clenched her fists beneath the sleeves of her shirt, he was playing a game, one she refused to lose. Lucian turned back toward the window, his gaze distant. 'You should rest. We'll be seeing more of each other soon." But Selene's body remained still and Lucian didn't wait for a response as he walked past her, the scent of his expensive cologne lingering in the air as he left the room and the door locked behind him, sealing her in once again. Selene exhaled as she walked back to the mirror, her fingers reaching into her sleeve where she had hidden the note. Caleb was gone, Lucian was losing control and she had a key to find, this thought curled inside her as her fingers curled around the note, her heartbeat steady. The cracks were already forming and she just had to be ready when they shattered.