Zander’s POV.
The party was a swirl of faces, voices, and bursts of laughter, all blending together into a chaotic buzz. However, the instant Lyra spoke to Aria, it was as if everything else in the room disappeared. The noise faded, the faces blurred, and all I could focus on were her words-sharp, deliberate, and cutting through the air like a blade.
“I was his true love,” Lyra had said, her voice laced with honeyed malice, each syllable carefully crafted to wound. She wasn’t just speaking; she was striking. Her words were aimed straight at Aria, with the precision of someone who knew exactly where to hit to cause the most damage.
My jaw clenched so tightly I thought I might break a tooth. How dare she? The audacity it took to throw such venom at Aria-*my Luna*-was beyond anything I could comprehend. Lyra wasn’t just out of line; she was miles past it. I glanced at Aria, and though she masked it quickly, I caught the flicker of hurt and confusion in her eyes. She stood tall, her posture unyielding, her grace as steady as ever, but I could feel her pain like it was my own. Lyra’s words had struck a nerve, even if Aria refused to show it.
But Lyra wasn’t done. I knew her too well to think she’d stop there. Her expression was smug, her smile predatory, and her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. She was feeding off the tension she’d created, basking in the chaos she had stirred.
“Excuse me, Aria,” I said, my voice cold and clipped, barely masking the fury simmering beneath the surface. “I need to speak with Lyra. Alone.”
Aria’s gaze snapped to mine, sharp and questioning. Her jaw tightened, but she didn’t argue. Without a word, she turned on her heel and walked away, her head held high, her movements as poised as ever. Lyra watched her leave, her smirk widening as though she’d won some invisible battle. She was reveling in this, and it made my blood boil.
“Follow me,” I growled, grabbing Lyra’s arm with enough force to make my point clear.
She didn’t resist. In fact, she leaned into my grip, letting out a soft, mocking laugh as I pulled her away from the crowd. Her laughter was light, almost playful, but it only made me angrier. I led her toward one of the side rooms off the main hall, a quieter space away from the noise and prying eyes. The room was dimly lit, the faint glow of the overhead light casting long shadows on the walls. I shut the door behind us with more force than necessary, the lock clicking loudly in the silence.
“Zander,” Lyra purred, leaning casually against the wall. Her golden hair caught the light, shimmering like a halo, but there was nothing angelic about her. “I didn’t realize you still cared so much. Dragging me away like this… it feels almost romantic.”
Her words were like fuel to the fire. I stepped closer, my anger barely contained, towering over her. “This isn’t a game, Lyra,” I said, my voice low and sharp. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Her smile didn’t waver. If anything, it grew wider. “Whatever do you mean?” she said, her tone dripping with feigned innocence. “I’m simply attending a party. It’s not my fault your little Luna feels so… insecure. That’s on her, not me.”
“Don’t,” I snapped, my tone dangerous, each word laced with warning. “Don’t talk about her like that. She’s my Luna, Lyra. You have no right to tease her, let alone twist the truth about the past.”
“Twist the truth?” she echoed, arching an eyebrow as she stepped closer. Her perfume wrapped around me, cloying and far too familiar. Her eyes locked onto mine, unflinching. “Oh, Zander, we both know I’m not lying. We were in love once. You can’t deny that. You can’t erase it.”
I clenched my fists at my sides, the memories of what she’d done flashing through my mind like a cruel reel. “That was before you betrayed me. Before I saw you for who you really are.”
For a moment, her mask slipped. Her smile faltered, and her eyes darkened, but she recovered quickly, her lips curving into a faint pout. “I made a mistake,” she said softly, her voice quieter now. “I was young. Impulsive. I didn’t know what I had back then. But I’ve changed, Zander. I’ve grown. And seeing you tonight…” She paused, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “It reminded me of everything we had.”
She reached out, her fingers brushing against my chest. I grabbed her wrist before she could make contact, my grip firm. “Don’t,” I said coldly, my voice devoid of emotion.
But she didn’t pull back. Instead, she leaned in closer, her breath warm against my skin as she whispered, “You can’t tell me you don’t feel it, Zander. That spark. That connection. It’s still there, isn’t it?”
“No,” I said, my voice firm and unyielding. My grip on her wrist tightened just enough to make her wince. “Whatever we had died the day I found you in bed with Asher. You’re nothing to me now, Lyra. Less than nothing.”
Her expression hardened, the seductive mask she wore slipping away to reveal the bitterness underneath. “You can’t honestly expect me to believe you’ve moved on,” she said, her tone sharp and biting. “That little girl you married-she’ll never be enough for you. Not like I was.”
“She’s more than enough,” I said, the words leaving my mouth without hesitation. They were true, and I felt them in my bones. “She’s my Luna, and you will treat her with the respect she deserves. Do you understand me?”
Lyra’s eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line. But then, as if flipping a switch, her smile returned-sweet and false, dripping with malice. “Oh, I understand,” she said, her tone light and mocking. “But does she? Does she know what we had? Or are you too afraid to tell her the truth?”
I stepped back, releasing her wrist and putting as much distance between us as the room allowed. My hands were trembling, but I refused to show weakness. “Stay away from her, Lyra. And stay away from me. If I catch you causing trouble again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Her smile didn’t falter. If anything, it grew sharper. “You can threaten me all you want, Zander, but you and I both know this isn’t over.”
I didn’t respond. I turned, my movements stiff with anger, and left the room, slamming the door behind me.
The noise of the party hit me like a wave, but I barely heard it. My mind was racing, my hands still trembling with barely contained rage. I needed to find Aria, to see her, to make sure she was okay. But as I scanned the crowd, Lyra’s words echoed in my ears, planting seeds of doubt I couldn’t shake.
This wasn’t over. Not even close.