ATTRACTION

Freya's POV:

“What do you mean?” Duncan asked as he stood up.

I wasn't sure if I was supposed to follow, so instead, I sat quietly and listened to their conversation.

After all, they were doing a good job acting as if I didn't exist.

“I'm taking her back. Is that so hard to comprehend?” Lucien replied with obvious irritation.

He glanced at me and nodded, so I jumped on my feet. Duncan looked between both of us, obviously torn.

“Human world?” he asked at the same time his back went stiff.

I felt my heart stop as I waited for Lucien's response. For some reason, he seemed to love the suspense and took his sweet time.

“My estate.”

The tension released my heart and my organs started to function properly once more. Lucien cocked his head to the side as if he was studying me.

My hand instinctively covered my body at the same time, the arousal I felt left.

Why was he acting like he didn't catch me almost making out with his childhood friend?

But then again, everything about this place was weird.

“Let's go, Freya.”

I nodded and quietly walked to him. The air around Lucien always seemed tense compared to Duncan and for some reason, I was comfortable with it.

I passed Duncan and gave him a quick glance, catching his eyes that were on me.

Before I could pass, he held me by the elbow and a gasp escaped on its own.

“I'll visit soon,” Duncan whispered in my ear as if Lucien wouldn't hear.

What did he mean by that?

I took a gulp and glanced at Lucien, whose hand was clenched in a tight fist beside him.

“Chop chop. I have a lot to do,” Lucien said monotonously.

With a bit of hesitation, I freed myself from Duncan's grasp and ran to him.

His scent filled my nostrils the moment I got close to him and it reminded me of our moments.

“It seems like you enjoyed… your time,” he commented, giving Duncan one last glance before he shut the door.

I followed Lucien quietly as I took one final look at the pack. I wouldn't say I enjoyed my stay here but it was kind of nice especially with Sophie.

“Sophie!” I said out of nowhere.

Lucien turned around with a brow raised so I explained, “I haven't told her goodbye.”

The frown on his face dissipated as he said, “Don't worry, she'll figure it out.”

His words made my heart fall as I realised how hard it was to make friends here when you don't have a life of your own.

I wasn't so sure but Lucien must have noticed how quiet I was when he said, “She's visiting soon.”

The new information made my lips tilt up as I nodded, but the smile got wiped off when a thought reoccurred.

“I might be gone before then,” I commented stiffly.

Lucien didn't say a word. Instead, he stepped into the car and waited for me.

I stood there for a minute and stared at the emotionless vampire before I got in with a sigh.

What could I do?

“I hate my fucking life,” I muttered as I stared out of the window.

I stole a side glance at Lucien and noticed his eyes were on a paper that had appeared out of nowhere or maybe I wasn't paying attention enough to realise when he brought it out.

“Duncan must have told you,” he finally said after what seemed like an hour.

I didn't say a word and continued staring outside. Only shifting my body a bit to let him know that it was listening.

For the first time in a while, Lucien looked up and closed the paper.

“You do realise that it is necessary.”

Silence.

I watched his jaw clench so hard that I could hear the sound. He definitely hated being ignored and that was exactly what I was going to do.

‘I honestly can't think of why anyone in their right sense would want to stay here.”

His words made sense and they made me bow my head in embarrassment.

I was staying here because of two men, or at least that was what it seemed to me.

Or maybe… maybe because I had nowhere to go. However, could I call them my safe space?

“Tell me, Freya, does it make sense to you?” He said, letting my name roll out softly.

“I-

I cut myself off, wondering if he even really cared.

“Freya?”

I let out a deep breath and turned to him. Just like I suspected, his eyes were glued on me.

I looked him dead in the eyes and said, “Maybe because I have nowhere to go.”

I didn't have friends in school because I was too weird and always looked unkempt. Then high-school came and only my useless boyfriend paid a tiny bit of attention to me.

That attention would have probably disappeared if he had managed to sleep with me.

Was it the same to them?

Lucien's hand barely brushed through his hair as he stared at the space behind me.

For a second, I was about to give up since it seemed like Duncan held conversations better.

He stared at me then said, “It's really dangerous here.”

“Is that really the reason?”

For the first time, my captor visibly looked taken back.

“Y-yes.”

That was definitely out of character.

“Lord Lucien,” I called out.

Lucien narrowed his eyes as his pupils danced around my features.

I didn't know where the confidence came from or maybe I was just tired of constantly being played. I moved closer to Lucien and he seemed to stiffen.

When there was little to no space between us and my hand was resting on his coat that sat on the chair, I stopped moving.

“Are you attracted to me?”

The car came to a halt after my question and I jolted, closing the space between us a bit more.

Lucien looked outside and allowed his hand to tap on the door as if he was contemplating.

We had obviously arrived, but there was no way he was escaping this. I wouldn't allow that.

He slowly turned back to me and that moment made my heart slow down a bit as I waited for his reply.

He was attractive but, for some reason, he seemed more ethereal today.

At first, I didn't notice it, but the silence finally revealed how heavily he was breathing. It increased my boldness and I let my hand trail up until they were resting on his thigh.

God... was I ovulating? Because last time I checked, I kissed his friend a few hours ago.

His eyes followed my movement before he brought his head back up, looking all stoic.

Duncan's words had definitely made it seem like Lucien was attracted to me but I couldn't be so sure.

Maybe Duncan was being delus-

“No.”