"You said we could do as much as we liked in the harem, so long as we didn't cross the line. But you smell so damn good… I might cross it tonight."
Elias's face drew closer to Lynsandra's until his breath brushed against her upper lip. His lips parted ever so slightly, biting the lower one, his eyes burning with desire.
He stepped closer, his other hand outstretched until his palm rested against the wall behind her. Another step, and his body was inches from hers. In that proximity, her scent flooded his nostrils, his head, and trailed lower, igniting his desire.
"I almost can't tell who's in heat between us, Luna," he whispered against her ear, inhaling her scent—one that screamed at him to touch her, to violate her, to dominate her completely.
Elias pressed his lips closer to her ear. "I heard you like it rough," he murmured. "I can do as rough and raw as you'd like." He licked her earlobe before drawing back slightly, keeping only a palm's length between their faces.
"Fuck your brains out," he added in a teasing, almost playful tone. "How about that?"
Lynsandra chuckled as she tilted her head down, biting her lip before lifting her gaze back to him. Cocking her head to the side, she reached out with just the tip of her index finger, gliding it up from his throat to beneath his chin.
"Cute," she mused, her eyes studying the structure of his face rather than reacting to his provocation. She reached higher, brushing the tips of his hair lightly. "That's right. I like it rough."
She paused, fluttering her long lashes as she met his gaze again. "But not tonight."
She smirked as his expression dimmed slightly, drawing her head back.
"I'd like to see you cross the line someday, Elias," she added, carefully fixing his shirt. "Not right now, though. Because if you do it tonight… it would disrupt the tradition I am so willingly following—and undermine the decision I so painstakingly made."
"I don't want to send you back to the north in pieces on the first day," she added lightly. "That would be a shame."
Elias ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek as she pushed gently against his chest, creating more space between them.
"It was fun, though," she said, cupping his lean cheek and patting it lightly.
Just then, the door behind them creaked open from the inside. Lynsandra and Elias turned instinctively, their eyes landing on the man standing within.
Severin Crowe—the pure vampire who had become a member of the harem without undergoing the proper selection process.
He was dressed in a thin white blouse and black trousers, his silver hair slightly disheveled. His complexion was naturally pale, but the crimson hue of his eyes—like fresh blood—was more than enough color against his otherwise muted appearance.
"You chose him?" The last trace of smugness vanished from Elias's face the moment his eyes met the vampire's. He scrunched his nose at the unpleasant scent that clashed sharply with Lynsandra's.
Lynsandra, meanwhile, smiled at the sight of Severin.
She turned back to Elias, pressed her hand to his chest one final time, and said, "Good night, Elias."
As soon as the words left her lips, Lynsandra turned on her heel and walked into the room. Severin held the door for her, standing to the side. Once she passed through, he closed it most of the way and remained behind it, his eyes fixed on Elias.
Irritation twitched across Elias's face, especially under the vampire's silent, judgmental stare—one that came naturally from an enemy of his kind.
Severin said nothing, but there was something in his indifferent gaze that unsettled Elias. Without another word, the door creaked shut until it clicked softly into place.
Elias's face twitched, veins standing out along his arm.
"Fucking bat," he hissed, taking a few steps back and forcing himself not to kick the door open—not to cross the line… yet.
He understood Lynsandra's warning. He also knew she would send him back home in pieces if he ignored it. She had allowed him to toe the line, only to make it perfectly clear that this was as far as he could go for now.
He huffed, running his tongue along his inner cheek as a scoffing chuckle slipped out of his lips.
"I don't know which makes me angrier," he muttered, his eyes sharpening.
Elias turned and walked away, his gaze glinting as he licked his lips.
"Man…" He cocked his head to the side, rubbing the back of his neck. "She really is what I heard she is—a tough nut to crack."
*****
Meanwhile…
Cassian paced back and forth in his room, his expression twisting at the thought of Elias and Lynsandra. Just imagining it made his blood boil. In a burst of frustration, he threw himself onto the bed, landing on his stomach and throwing a full-blown tantrum.
"That pervert!" he hissed, kicking his feet into the air. "What kind of underhanded means did that pervert use on my poor baby Lizzie?"
He could already picture countless schemes Elias must have used to force Lynsandra into tonight's arrangement. There was no way she would choose Elias over him without reason.
As Cassian spiraled, fueling his anger with his own imagination, he suddenly froze—then nodded firmly to himself.
"Poor Lynsandra needs me," he declared. "I should go save her from that maniac!"
With renewed resolve, Cassian shoved himself off the bed and was just about to rush out when his phone rang. He nearly ignored it until he caught the name flashing across the screen.
[Big Bro.]
"Tch." Clicking his tongue, he answered the call. "What?!"
Victor arched a brow at the irritation in his brother's voice. "Did something happen?"
"Something wrong?" Cassian scoffed, his face souring as the situation replayed in his mind. Instead of ranting, he huffed. "Nothing's wrong that isn't out of my control. What do you want?"
"I see…" Victor tilted his head, letting out a relieved sigh as he noted his brother's energy despite having moved into the Luna's Harem earlier that day.
"I'm glad you're doing fine there, Cassian," he said sincerely, though Cassian barely listened. "Anyway, my new business launch will be held in a week. You mentioned you'd be attending with the Luna of the Royal Pack. How did that go?"
As Victor continued, Cassian's attention drifted to the corner of his vision.
"Uh huh…"
Distracted, Cassian wandered toward the window. Peering out, his eyes narrowed as he spotted Elias in the distance, walking across the driveway and mounting his motorbike.
Huh? Where is he going? Isn't he supposed to be with Lizzie?
"So, are you going to make it to the launch with Her Highness?" Victor asked.
"Sure," Cassian replied absentmindedly, watching as Elias rode off from the mansion.
"That's great!" Victor laughed, clearly pleased. "Then I'll be expecting you both. It'll be good to finally meet her."
But none of that truly registered with Cassian. He agreed to everything his brother said, but his thoughts were entirely fixed on why Elias had left.
"I'll see you next week, then?"
"Uh…" Cassian rocked his head, finally hearing his brother but only that last part. "Sure. See ya."
As soon as he hung up, Cassian stared at his phone and cocked his head to the side.
"Did he even mention Lizzie?"
He thought about it for a second and then shrugged as he slipped the phone back into his pocket.
"Meh. Probably not important."
What Cassian didn't realize was the kind of gun he had just loaded… and placed on the table.