Page 25 of Knot Heirs: Serenity's Reign

Lucian Blackthorn moved like a liquid shadow across the terrace, the moonlight catching on the precise angles of his face. His amber eyes gleamed with intelligence and something far more predatory. He was a panther among them, sleek and dangerous, the true nature of his threat concealed beneath a veneer of civility.

"Mr. Blackthorn," she acknowledged, forcing her voice to remain level despite the sudden tightness in her throat. "I believe the competition hasn't officially begun yet and you’re not supposed to be here." Her words were bold, but inside, she felt the tug of uncertainty. Lucian was unreadable, the wild card who unnerved her in a way the others didn’t.

It seems these Alphas don't enjoy following the rules.

Her eyes flicked over to Darius, watching and wondering if he’s going to depart and not be a part of this sudden confrontation, but he remains in place, as if he orchestrated this “break” to be alone. Far too predictable for him to not be the reason Lucian appeared out of nowhere, but what would they get with working together like they’ve planned an alliance in all of this?

It’d be a tough pill to swallow if the two fuckers were working together to screw her over in this many ways from Sunday.

Then again, they're surely all billionaires and let's be honest. You can't reach the top by following the rules.

A wry smirk tugged at Lucian's lips as he drew closer, closing the space.

"Breaking the rules is part of the fun, Ms. Vale." His gaze shifted between her and Darius, calculating and relentless. "I'm surprised, Darius. I didn't think you'd be quite so desperate to gain the inside track, especially not this early."

“You have to break and step on everyone in your way to get exactly what you desire,” Darius replied.

Lucian's lips curved into a smile that never reached his eyes.

"True. But the most successful hunters always study their prey before the chase." His gaze slid to Darius. "Wouldn't you agree?”

Darius's posture stiffened imperceptibly.

"I think Ms. Vale has endured enough scrutiny for one evening."

"How chivalrous," Lucian remarked, stepping closer to Serenity. The air around them seemed to thicken, charged with an invisible current that made the fine hairs on her arms stand on end. His scent—sandalwood, aged whiskey, and something darker—wrapped around her like invisible tendrils.

Don't react. Don't let him see what he does to you.

Serenity clenched her jaw, fighting against the instinctive Omega response to an Alpha of his caliber.

"I'll leave you to it, then," Darius said, voice measured and expression unreadable, though his eyes conveyed a clear warning to Serenity. "Ms. Vale." Her name left his lips like a prophecy, echoing between them with a thousand unspoken threats. He didn't spare Lucian a second glance as he turnedto leave, but Serenity could feel the weight of his intentions lingering like a ghost. It was vintage Darius, slipping out when things got too heated, leaving her to face the fallout.

Lucian's interest was now fully trained on her, the predatory gleam in his eyes sharpening as the obstacle of Darius's presence dissolved into the night. He stepped even closer, the very air between them sizzling with tension. His scent engulfed her, rich and intoxicating, and Serenity knew she had to keep her head if she wanted any chance of staying afloat in this sea of vipers.

Lucian tilted his head, a semblance of a smile teasing the corners of his mouth. "How convenient for you to be left all alone," he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. He feigned surprise, but the self-assured tone betrayed him. He'd been waiting for this opportunity. Darius's calculated exit only confirmed that she'd underestimated just how fast the vultures would circle.

Her heart hammered as Lucian closed the distance, an untamed adrenaline rush that she was determined to ignore. Darius's back was already to her, a living testament to the warnings he'd given. All the more real now that she was standing here, with a wolf licking its chops.

She watched him retreat, feeling suddenly exposed without the buffer of his presence.

Lucian circled her slowly, like a shark testing the water.

"The golden-eyed daughter of Marcus Vale," he mused. "How fascinating that no one knew of your existence until recently." He leans in closer, as if the intensity in my eyes only heightens his curiosity in me. “With glimmers of red…like droplets of blood.”

She swallows the lump in her throat, trying desperately to not fall into whatever this game was to him.

"Perhaps my father valued privacy more than show," Serenity countered, turning to keep him in her sightline.

Lucian laughed, the sound rich and dangerously appealing.

"Marcus Vale was many things, but private wasn't one of them. No, I think he was protecting something precious." Without warning, he further moved into her space, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. "Or someone."

Serenity refused to step back, forcing herself to yield ground.

"You knew my father?"

"I know everyone who matters in this world, Serenity." The way he said her name felt like fingers trailing across her skin. "Though your father and I had...competing interests."

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