Elara's POV,
I grin at the screen, watching everything collapse under my control. Control.
I think "control" is my favourite word.
Earlier this evening, I finally posted the real results of my data on the school portal for all to see and even generated a fake recording of the professor accepting a bribe from someone to sabotage a student.
All anonymously, of course.
From what I see, he doesn't want to confess who he was talking to. Perhaps Celene had threatened him with his family. Either way, I didn't care.
I am so giddy, I shake my legs in the air.
Oh, the joy of deflating someone's balloon.
My room door is flung open and I glance to see…
"Hello, Mi Rey."
His jaw clenches as he shuts the door quietly. I roll over on my bed facing the ceiling.
"The last time you were in this room, I was naked…" I look at him with a smirk. "And you were not. Want to return the favor?"
He stops in his tracks, then folds his hands across his chest. "I heard you contacted Viper to help you with your school…problem."
I raise a brow for two reasons. One, is that the rumor going about? That I contacted Viper? Myself?
Second, I thought he was going straight to the point to ask me how I knew about his dark business. I suppose that isn't how he works.
I slowly get up, then kneel on the bed.
"Have you seen your son this evening?"
He tilts his head at the sudden switch of subjects. "I'm just coming from his room. He says his mother hasn't been giving him much attention."
"I'm sure he's getting a lot of that from you."
"You think?"
"Why are you here, Lucien?"
"There's a gala tomorrow evening." He takes a step closer. "I need the public to understand that I'm now married, and I want them to see the person I'm getting married to, so you're coming with me."
"No. I am not."
"Why?"
Because it's obviously a trap. He could kill me…
"Because I don't want to."
"Well, it's a good thing I didn't ask."
I hiss, close my laptop, and get out of bed. "I have a test tomorrow. I can't come."
His eyes narrow at my lie, and I shrug. "You can do better than that."
"Well, so can you!" I give him a tight smile and step closer to him. "You could beg me."
Silence.
He just stares at me, and for a moment, I think he's going to tell himself, 'Fuck it, let me just ask her what she knows.'
"Come with me, Elara Solis…" He stretches forth his hand between us, and I look down at it. "Please."
My head snaps up on his own. No way, I may have heard wrong. "You said please?"
He takes a step closer; now I have to lean back to look into his eyes.
"Apparently it matters to you. So with you, I'll prefer asking…" My breath hitches as he takes my hand in his. Was this the first time we touched? His hands are so warm.
"No," I whisper and drop my hand from his. He purses his lips when I smirk a bit. "I meant, beg."
He raises a brow, and I shrug. ""Please" is just a word after all."
"You want me on my knees?"
"Can you do it, Lucien?" I tilt my head and he mirrors my action.
"Careful what you ask for, Solis." He paused, then smirked. "I don't do things halfway."
I raise my head in a challenge. "Try it."
I know he wouldn't. He's already said please, so if he wanted to make me come, he'd have to force me.
I don't think the Young Wolf would beg twice.
Then to my fucking surprise, he suddenly drops to one knee, looking up at me like it cost him nothing and everything at the same time.
My breath catches in my throat. What is he doing?
"Come to the gala with me, Solis." His voice is low and steady. "I want you there."
I don't move. I don't even breathe. This man moves empires. He's called the Young Wolf because of how he devoured without a second thought.
But here he was, kneeling like it was such a normal thing.
This was too much, even for a trap.
Two can play this game. I smirk and run my fingers through the soft black strands of his hair. I feel him stiffen under my hand.
"Begging doesn't suit you…" I tilt his head back softly, "But it's interesting."
"Isn't this what you wanted?" His voice turned hoarse, and I caress his head. He leans into it.
"You know, if you wanted my attention, you already had it."
I smirk down at him, expecting him to break character. Did he really think I wouldn't notice how fake it was?
His hands suddenly find my hips. His hands are firm and certain, pulling her closer, like he never intended to stay on his knees for long.
And that smirk? So fucking infuriating.
I don't step back.
Instead, my fingers tighten slightly in his hair, just enough to remind him I'm still in control.
I murmur. "You're starting to forget who's supposed to be begging."
His grip tightens.
"Am I?" he replies, clearly amused. "Because from where I'm standing, you haven't pulled away."
My lips curve, and I lean in a bit closer to his smug face.
"And from where I'm standing, you're still on your knees."
Our eyes suddenly lock and stay there. His hand is still on my hips, mine still in his hair.
His gaze moves to my lips, and my jaw clenches.
My throat tightens because suddenly this doesn't feel like a battle of wills. It feels like something else entirely.
No.
I scoff, forcing control back into my voice. Then, I release his hair.
"Get up."
He does, taking his precious time.
"I'll take that as a yes."
I turn around, hugging my arms to myself.
"It wasn't."
There's a bit of silence, and I think he's finally left when I hear his voice behind me.
"You like control." I stiffen. "But remember, in chess, pawns die first."
I turn slowly, my eyes wide, to watch him staring at me. He gives me a mocking bow and backs out.
Lucien doesn't speak without meaning but this wasn't a threat, more like a message. He knows I've already made my move. And when the queen moves, she's not in danger.
She is the danger.
"You know, there's something so remarkable about a pawn being the one to checkmate a king."
He turns to me with a smirk like he expected nothing less. Yes, I'd go to his gala.
I'd continue their game.
"After all," I take one step closer. "Step by step, a pawn can become a queen."
He doesn't reply, just gives me a short nod like I'd just passed a test and left.
When he does, I release a heavy breath, placing a hand on my beating heart and replaying each moment.
Then I stop at the part where I had my hand in his hair and wonder…
For a man so adept at killing, his blue eyes were remarkably soft.