|| Penelope ||
“James, you’re up.”
Lucian’s voice sliced through the thick tension in the air, sharp and absolute, a blade honed by years of command. It wasn’t a mere statement, nor a suggestion — it was an order, one that brooked no argument. The authority in his tone was a force of its own, pressing against my skin like an unseen hand, demanding obedience.
The atmosphere around us shifted, growing heavier, crackling with an unseen energy that made the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Every muscle in my body tensed as if bracing for an impact I couldn’t see. The weight of Lucian’s presence was suffocating, his dominance tangible, pressing into the very marrow of my bones.
Instinctively, I took a step back, but the moment my heel touched the ground, I felt something solid behin
