The door slammed shut, shaking the room slightly. Valeria looked up from her book, startled, as Ember walked in with quick, heavy steps. There was a tightness in her expression, and in her hand, she held out a phone like it was something radioactive.
Valeria arched a brow. "What happened now? Did another fight break out in the hall?"
Ember didn’t say anything at first. She just walked straight to Valeria’s bed, eyes locked with hers. Then, without a word, she extended the phone.
Valeria took it. Her eyes widened immediately. "What the hell—?"
It was a picture. Her. Tristan. The kiss.
The very kiss from last night. The moment he had taken three steps forward and captured her lips in his. A moment that had both shocked and disarmed her. A moment she had shoved away almost instantly, but not before someone caught it.
Someone had taken a photo.
Her heart hammered in her chest. "Who... who took this?"
Ember crossed her arms, voice sharp. "Lucien."
Valeria’s mouth went dry. "What?"
"Yeah. He took the picture. No idea how he got there or why he was lurking, but he did. And guess what? It’s circulating. Fast."
Before Valeria could form a proper reaction, the door creaked open again. A shadow fell across the room, and in walked Natasha.
Valeria’s jaw clenched. Of course. The girl she hadn’t seen all night. No doubt she'd been brewing some new brand of chaos.
Natasha smirked, brushing an imaginary speck of dust off her shoulder. "So? Did you see it yet? The picture of your slutty self playing kissy-face with the enemy?"
Valeria didn’t respond.
Ember shot Natasha a glare. "Get lost, Natasha."
"Oh, I’m just the messenger." Natasha strolled over to her bed, flopping onto it with exaggerated flair. "Lucien’s outside. He wants to see you. Said to call you."
Valeria didn’t move, neither did Ember.
But a few seconds later, a loud bang rattled the door again. Ember sighed in irritation, marched over, and yanked it open.
Lucien stood there, arms folded, looking like he had all the time in the world.
"I want to see Valeria," he said calmly.
Ember glanced back. "He wants to talk."
Valeria shook her head. "I’m not in the mood."
Ember relayed the message.
Lucien didn’t budge. "Tell her it’s about the picture."
Valeria shot up like a spring, fists clenched. Natasha burst into laughter, the sound high and maniacal.
Valeria stomped over, gently pushing Ember aside and came face-to-face with Lucien. "What do you want?"
Lucien arched a brow. "Not here. Come with me."
"Say it here."
"You really want Natasha and Ember to hear this?"
Valeria glanced back at Ember, then at Natasha, who was clearly enjoying every second, and sighed.
"Fine. Two minutes."
She stepped out and followed Lucien down the hallway, away from the curious gazes and judgmental stares. Once they reached a quiet corner near the garden, she crossed her arms.
"Talk."
Lucien turned, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I took the photo."
"I figured."
"And I shared it."
Valeria narrowed her eyes. "Why? To humiliate me?"
He leaned in slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "No. To remind you of our conversation. About the proposal."
She blinked. "Proposal?"
"Don’t play dumb. You know exactly what I mean. You. Me. Our families. Two of the oldest vampire lineages uniting."
She snorted. "You’re insane."
"Am I?" He tilted his head. "Falling for a werewolf? You think there’s a future there?"
Valeria stepped back. "My relationships are none of your business."
"It becomes my business when your actions affect the vampire world."
She scoffed. "The vampire world? Really?"
Lucien’s eyes darkened. "Our union would bring stability, power, legacy. Him? He’ll bring you nothing but war. And pain."
She turned sharply. "I don’t care. And I’m not marrying you."
She started to walk away.
His voice dropped low. "Will you care if I involve your father then?"
Valeria stopped in her tracks.
Her heart skipped.
She turned slowly, rage sparking in her eyes. "What did you just say?"
Lucien smiled faintly. "Would it matter more if that picture ended up in his inbox?"
She clenched her jaw so hard it hurt.
"Don’t you dare."