Lucien's POV,
PRESENT DAY- - - - -
Elara excuses herself to the powder room, and the dark-skinned one follows her. I'm faced with the feisty black-haired woman. She's glaring daggers at me, and a year ago, hell, a month ago, I'd have plucked her eyes out with this fork.
I grimace inwardly when I imagine Asher's face if he finds out what I do in the shadows.
"The kiss was convincing enough." I steal a glance at her, then go back to staring at my phone. I want to leave this place and get back to Asher. "But do you love her?"
My head rises slowly to look ather , and I almost roll my eyes to the back of my head. I frown, "Of course. I'm marrying her, aren't I?"
"It's one thing to marry someone." She fires back. "It's another to love."
Now, I'm getting irritated, but I take in a deep breath. "So, tell me. Do you love her?"
"I'm not good at explaining things like this," I say, because that part is true. I pause, because I'm a good liar, but suddenly I can't speak. I know what love is. I've felt it with my sister, my mother, Mireya, Niklaus, and Adrian. I love Asher. I love myself. I love my business. But…
I wouldn't say I love Elara. Love, in our context, is unfinished. It's too loud. What I feel for Elara cannot be classified as love. Nor hate exactly.
"But when she's near, my heart doesn't stay calm. It speeds up. Like it's paying attention. When she leaves a room, I notice. My thoughts lean in her direction without permission."
The words suddenly flow out of my mouth. For the first time, I'm not lying. I'm actually saying the truth, but however she wishes to interpret it is her business.
"She has a way of pulling me out of myself. I'm more alert around her. More… present. Like I can't afford to be careless. She keeps me awake."
All true. But it's not in the soft, dreamy way Camille expects; it's because Elara makes me alert. She looks at me like she's waiting for me to slip, and somehow that makes me want to stand straighter, think faster, do better.
I look up at the ceiling, then back at her. "Being with her feels like standing somewhere high. You feel everything more sharply. It's not quiet or soft. But it's real."
I shrug, like it doesn't matter, even though it clearly does. "If that's love, then yes."
Her friend smiles because it sounds romantic. And it is, in the way a storm is beautiful from a distance.
What I mean is simpler. Elara challenges me. She dares me to be more than I am. My heart beats faster because I am no longer where I was before her.
And somehow, that feels more honest.
"I wish she'd know this."
"I already do."
We both snap our heads to the side when we hear Elara's soft voice. Ah, I forget. She moves just like a swan on a lake. Quiet. She creeps me out more than Mireya does. Her eyes meet mine, and I can clearly read what's going on behind them.
Unbelievable.
"He tells me every night before we sleep." She whispers, talking to her friend but still looking at me. The dark-skinned girl skips towards us.
"Alright!" She clasps her hand. "Are we all ready to leave?"
I stand up abruptly, "Yes, yes, please!"
Camille stands up slowly and eyes me, "Someone's in a hurry."
She teases, and I grimace. "I miss my son."
"Ah, yes." The lady grins, then kisses Elara on both cheeks. "We're expecting an invitation soon."
She walks out, and the other one waves at us. "Can't wait!"
"Noemi, come out now, or you'll find your way back!"
"Shut up, Maleficent!" They argue on their way out, and Elara exhales heavily, then smirks up at me.
"I keep you awake?" I groan and start walking out. She laughs softly and trails behind me. We walk out of the restaurant in silence, and when we get to the car, she suddenly stops.
I look back at her to see her staring at the sky with wonder in her eyes. I look up to see…stars?
"You love stars?"
She is startled. She looks at me for a second before looking back up,
"Ah, yes." She says softly, then looks at me. "They remind me that even in the darkest places, light can survive."
"But what if the darkness is stronger?"
She smiles, and for some reason, my heart skips a beat. Elara Solis is beautiful, no doubt, but we're enemies…that just happen to be co-parents.
"Then we burn. Burn brighter." She looks away and mutters, "Burn away for ourselves and for those we love."
~ ~
We didn't say a word to each other all the way back to the mansion, and when the car was parked, Elara muttered, "Good night." Then, left.
I get down, and am immediately attacked by Isolde, who has a strange expression on her face.
"Did you enjoy your date?" She snarks, and I roll my eyes, then toss her my suit.
"It wasn't a date," I grunt, and she scoffs. "What do you want?"
"Okay, first of all, Mother, Mireya, Niklaus, and Adrian are furious that you are to be engaged, but they weren't aware." She says, and I stop in my tracks. I grimace.
"Well, shit," I say, because…well, shit. I totally forgot to tell them. Elara was such a nothing to me, I didn't even bother to tell anyone about her. Sure, they know I have found Asher, my son, but they didn't know what my next step was.
My mother, though…my mother knows nothing. She has no idea I have a son or a potential bride-to-be. She is going to be furious.
"But that's not even important." She thrusts her phone in my face, and I snatch it from her.
"What…" My voice falters. "...is this?"