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The Cantoria Diamond was always a sight to behold. Below, the casino floor buzzed with the sounds of clinking coins and hushed conversations, but up here in the loft, it was a different world—quieter, darker, where secrets were hidden and business was done. It was a place I preferred to be, but today, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease crawling beneath my skin.
The Eluvian stood on the balcony just beyond the loft, shimmering softly. The supplies I’d gathered needed to be taken to the Lighthouse, and as always, it was up to me. The weight of responsibility was familiar, but so was the frustration that clung to me lately.
Teia entered, leaning against the doorframe, a playful smirk on her lips. “You’re leaving already?” Her voice was light, but her eyes searched me carefully.
I forced a smile. “Yes. The Lighthouse is low on supplies. It’s not far.”
She studied me, clearly sensing something was off. “You’ve been running yourself ragged lately. You can rest, you know. There’s no need to always be the one carrying everything on your shoulders.”
I looked away, trying to hide the frustration bubbling inside. “I don’t have time for that.”
Teia’s gaze softened, a knowing look crossing her face. “I’m just saying… you don’t have to handle it alone. And you don’t always have to be the strong one for everyone else.”
I didn’t respond, my chest tightening at her words.
She didn’t press me further, though the concern lingered. Instead, her expression shifted, and she said, “By the way, I talked to Viago. I told him what you saw with Neve and Lucanis.”
I froze, my heart skipping. “You told him about that?”
Teia nodded, her smile slipping into something more serious. “It’s not a big deal. He noticed you seemed off. You should talk to Lucanis about it, though.”
My jaw clenched. “I don’t need to talk to him. It’s nothing.”
Her expression softened, but her eyes were sharp with understanding. “You deserve better than keeping things inside. But you’re the one who decides how to handle it.”
I bit my lip but didn’t say anything. With one last glance, Teia stepped aside, and I moved toward the Eluvian, but her words stayed with me, gnawing at the edge of my thoughts.
Viago stood near the Eluvian, his broad figure casting a shadow over the portal’s light. He was serious as always, his piercing gaze locked on me as I approached.
"Leaving again?" he asked, his voice gruff, betraying nothing of what he might be thinking.
"Yes," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual. "I have to deliver supplies to the Lighthouse."
Viago’s eyes narrowed slightly. "And you think you’ll be okay on your own? You’ve been distracted. You’re not fooling me."
I stiffened, feeling the weight of his gaze. "I’m fine. Just… focused on the task."
Viago didn’t buy it. His expression hardened. “It’s about Lucanis, isn’t it?”
I froze, taken aback. How did he know?
"I’m not blind, Rook," he continued , his tone firm. “Teia told me about what you saw—Lucanis with Neve. That’s why you’re distracted, isn’t it?”
I clenched my jaw. "I’m fine, Viago. It’s nothing."
His eyes didn’t leave me. "You don’t fool me. I know you care about him, but he needs to do better. If he’s going to court you, he should’ve come to me first."
I bristled, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "I don’t need his approval. I don’t need anyone’s approval."
Viago’s eyes flashed, though his voice remained level. “Then why are you letting this affect you?”
I opened my mouth to snap back, but his words lingered in the air like a challenge. Instead, I just turned toward the Eluvian and stepped through without a word.
The world beyond the Eluvian shimmered with familiar tranquility as I emerged in the Lighthouse. I moved to unload the supplies, though the knot in my stomach remained tight.
But as I was finishing, I heard a sound from the kitchen—a clink of porcelain against wood. I walked toward it, a sense of dread creeping over me. There, sitting at the counter, was Lucanis, casually sipping from a cup of tea.
I couldn’t stop the words from slipping out. “Tea?”
Lucanis looked up from his cup, his long, dark brown hair slicked back neatly, the slight sheen of his well-groomed beard framing his strong jaw. His warm, deep brown eyes locked onto mine, and a subtle smile tugged at his lips. “I ran out of coffee beans. Figured I’d try something different.”
I frowned, my suspicion rising. “You always drink coffee. What happened to the beans?”
Lucanis shrugged, his eyes flickering with an unreadable expression. “They were spoiled.”
I didn’t believe him. There was something about this whole situation that felt off. “Spoiled, huh?” I murmured, crossing my arms. “Or did you get Viago's special blend?”
Lucanis stiffened, but the smile on his lips didn’t fade. “What do you mean?”
I moved closer, my voice sharp. “You know exactly what I mean. I saw you with Neve—on a date. “
His expression hardened, and he set the cup down slowly. “It wasn’t a date.” His voice was clipped, but his gaze held something dangerous—something raw. “I was showing her the difference between what coffee should taste like and the garbage she drinks.”
I felt the sting of his words, but I wasn’t about to back down. “Don’t play me for a fool. Why do I always end up second place? First Neve, then this… You’ve been leading me on this entire time.”
Lucanis’s eyes flashed with something darker, and in one swift move, he was on his feet, crossing the space between us in a heartbeat. His hand grasped my wrist, his fingers tightening around it as he pressed me into the wall.
“I haven’t been leading you on,” he growled. “I’m just trying to figure out if I’m worthy of you.”
My heart stuttered at his words. “What?”
Lucanis’s gaze softened, but only for a moment. “I’m not good enough for you, Rook. You don’t get it.” His voice dropped to a low whisper, full of vulnerability. “You deserve someone who can love you properly, someone who can give you everything you deserve. Not someone like me. I’m a monster.”
My chest tightened. His words cut deeper than I ever expected. “You think I’d be better off with someone else?” I asked bitterly. “Is that it?”
He flinched, and for the first time, the mask he always wore cracked. “No,” he muttered, his voice thick with emotion. “It’s not that. I’m just… terrified. I am not good enough for anyone, Rook. Especially you.”
Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “You don’t get to decide that. You’re more than good enough for me, Lucanis.” I looked up at him, my voice trembling. “But what about me? Don’t you think I’m not good enough for you?”
He stepped back slightly, taken aback. “What do you mean?”
I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. “I’m not… I’m not pretty like Neve. I’m not smart and beautiful. I’m the complete opposite.”
Lucanis’s eyes softened again, but this time there was a tenderness that I hadn’t expected. He stepped closer, cupping my cheek gently in his hand. His thumb brushed softly against my skin, and he spoke, his voice low and sincere, “Rook, you are so beautiful. You’re fiery, strong, and driven. You have a kindness to you that I don’t think I’ll ever deserve, but I would never want to change a single thing about you.” His gaze flickered to my violet eyes, and then down to my auburn hair, tousled but still striking, “Your eyes—they’re so captivating, I get lost in them every time I look at you. And your hair, that auburn fire, it’s like it matches your spirit. You’re not some delicate flower, Rook, and that’s exactly what I love about you. You’re bold, fierce, and so incredibly beautiful in every way.”
My breath hitched, and I stood there for a moment, stunned by his words. It wasn’t just the way he spoke them—it was how much sincerity and tenderness he carried in his voice.
I stepped into him, my heart racing, and reached up to pull him down to me. Our lips met in a kiss that was neither soft nor gentle. It was desperate, fiery—a storm of frustration and desire.
His hand cupped the back of my head as he pushed me harder against the wall, his body pressing into mine. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer, needing him to feel the heat between us. His lips moved against mine with urgency, as if he couldn’t wait any longer.
When we finally broke apart, both of us breathless, Lucanis held me close, his forehead resting against mine. “I’m not perfect, Rook,” he murmured. “But I’ll spend every day showing you how much I love you, if you’ll let me.”
I smiled softly, my hands still tangled in his hair. “You don’t have to be perfect,” I whispered. “You just have to be here.”
And for the first time, I truly believed it.