Page 80 of Knot Heirs: Serenity's Reign

Something about the way he looked at her then—not as an omega to be claimed or an asset to be controlled, but as an equal intellect—sent an unexpected warmth through her chest.

Don't be stupid,she chided herself.He's dangerous precisely because he knows exactly how to make you feel seen.

"Your home reflects you," she said, deliberately changing the subject. "Everything in its place. Nothing left to chance."

"Control is comfort," he replied simply. "I imagine you understand that better than most, given your circumstances."

The observation hit closer to home than she cared to admit. Her entire life had been upended when she discovered her true heritage—control had become her obsession too.

"Perhaps," she conceded, moving toward a doorway that appeared to lead deeper into his wing. "What's through there?"

Lucian stepped forward, subtly blocking her path. "My private quarters. Perhaps another time."

The implication hung in the air between them. Serenity felt heat rise to her cheeks despite her determination to remain unaffected.

"Don't push your luck, Blackthorn."

His chuckle was low and warm. "I've built my entire fortune on pushing luck, Ms. Vale." He gestured back toward the main area. "But I respect boundaries. When they're worth respecting."

"And who decides that?" She echoed her earlier question.

"In my territory?" His eyes held hers. "I do."

The alpha authority in his tone sent an involuntary shiver down her spine—not fear, but something far more complicated.

This man is a threat,she reminded herself.To my independence. To my control.

Yet something in the ordered perfection of his space, in the evidence of a brilliant mind at work, called to her on a levelbeyond biology. The man was dangerous not just because he was an alpha, but because she could see parts of herself reflected in him—the strategic thinking, the need for control, the careful construction of an impenetrable facade.

"Your wing suits you," she said finally, moving toward the exit. "Beautiful, controlled, and revealing nothing of real importance."

Lucian's smile didn't reach his eyes. "We all show what we choose to show, Ms. Vale. Even you, with your carefully cultivated appearance of transparency."

He sees too much,she thought with a flicker of unease.

"Shall we continue the tour?" Lucian asked, holding the door for her with exaggerated courtesy.

Serenity stepped past him, careful not to brush against him despite the narrow doorway. "Lead on, Alpha Blackthorn."

As she exited his domain, Serenity felt both relief and a strange reluctance. Lucian Blackthorn's space had revealed more about the man than he probably intended—his need for order, his strategic mind, his isolation. And something about it had connected with her in ways she hadn't anticipated.

Remember why you're here,she reminded herself sternly. *These men aren't potential mates; they're potential weapons. Use them, don't

The corridor stretched before them, leading away from Lucian's meticulously ordered domain. Serenity's heels clicked softly against the marble flooring as they approached a set of double doors carved with intricate geometric patterns.

"Darius's wing," Lucian announced, an undercurrent of amusement in his voice. "Don't be alarmed by what you'll see. His mind works... differently."

Serenity raised an eyebrow. "I'm not easily alarmed, Mr. Blackthorn."

"Lucian," he corrected smoothly. "If we're living together, formality seems redundant."

Before she could respond, the doors swung open revealing Darius himself, his imposing 6'4" frame filling the doorway. His gray eyes widened slightly at the sight of her.

"You brought her here? Today?" His voice carried a note of uncharacteristic surprise.

Lucian shrugged one elegant shoulder. "Circumstances changed. Security protocols adjusted accordingly."

Darius stepped aside, reluctance evident in the tightness of his jaw. "I wasn't prepared for guests."

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