Lucas stood near the edge of the summit hall, posture composed, expression unreadable. The conversations around him blurred into background noise—trade negotiations, clan alliances, media whispers. He responded when needed. He nodded when expected. But his focus was elsewhere.
Elara was gone.
He’d watched the car pull away himself. Gave the order directly. “Take her straight to her apartment.” No hesitation. No room for negotiation.
But now, with the summit still in motion and Velmira still present, her absence felt louder than the room.
He hadn’t meant to react so fast.
Hadn’t meant to step in like that.
Hadn’t meant to let her grab him.
But she had.
And he hadn’t pulled away.
He remembered the way her fingers curled into his jacket. The way her voice trembled when she said, “I didn’t mean to grab you.” And the way he’d answered without thinking: “I’m glad you did.”
It wasn’t a line.
It wasn’t strategy.
It was truth.
He didn’t know why it stuck with him.
Didn’t know why her fear had pulsed through the seal so sharply.
Didn’t know why he’d felt it before he saw her.
But he had.
And now, he couldn’t stop replaying it.
She’d looked up at him like he was the only thing keeping her upright.
And he’d moved like he’d done it a hundred times.
But he hadn’t.
Not since Kael.
Lucas’s jaw tightened.
This wasn’t the same.
Elara wasn’t Kael.
She wasn’t loud.
She wasn’t reckless.
She didn’t demand attention.
She just… existed. Quietly. Carefully.
And somehow, he kept noticing her.
“Lucas.”
He turned.
His grandfather stood beside him, gaze sharp, voice low.
“I saw you leave the room earlier. That’s unlike you.”
Lucas didn’t answer immediately.
“I handled something,” he said.
His grandfather’s eyes narrowed. “Handled what?”
Before Lucas could respond, a familiar voice cut in smoothly.
“Logistics,” Thorne said, stepping between them with practiced ease. “There was a mix-up with the delivery team. Lucas stepped out to resolve it before it reached the floor.”
Lucas glanced at his cousin, but Thorne didn’t look at him. He was already facing the elder, posture respectful, tone calm.
“Nothing worth escalating,” Thorne added. “Handled quietly. Efficiently.”
His grandfather studied them both for a moment, then nodded once.
“Good. We don’t need distractions today.”
He walked off without another word.
Thorne waited until he was out of earshot, then turned to Lucas with a quiet smile.
“You’re welcome.”
Lucas exhaled slowly. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I did,” Thorne said. “You looked like you were about to say something honest.”
Lucas didn’t respond.
Thorne tilted his head. “She’s not just logistics, is she?”
Lucas’s gaze stayed steady. “She’s not ready for questions.”
Thorne nodded. “Then I won’t ask.”
He clapped Lucas lightly on the shoulder. “But I saw the way you moved. And I saw the way she looked at you.”
Lucas didn’t answer.