It been a whole day and elena still hadn't spoken to Lucian.
Not once. Not even a single word. And the entire estate had noticed it.
Servants moved more carefully around her. Guards stepped aside a little faster. Even Sofia had raised an amused eyebrow earlier that morning.
But Elena didn't care. She was angry. And when she was angry, she could be incredibly stubborn.
Marco found her in the courtyard, sitting on the stone railing while absently spinning one of the small training knives between her fingers.
"Well," he said casually, approaching her, "you look like someone planning a revolution."
Elena didn't look at him. "Maybe I am." Marco leaned beside her. "You're still mad."
"Obviously."
He chuckled. "You know… ignoring Lucian is a very bold strategy." Elena shrugge. "He deserves it. "Marco tilted his head slightly. "So you're not speaking to him at all?"
"No."
"Not even if the mansion caught fire? She sighed. "Marco." "Yes?" he answered "Why are you here?" He grinned. "You wanted training."
Elena finally looked at him. "I do."
"Well… that requires one small problem."
"What problem?"
Marco smiled wider. "The boss." Elena rolled her eyes immediately. "Of course." Marco straightened. "So… are we going to tell him?" Elena hesitated. Then she jumped down from the railing. "Fine." But her expression was still stormy. "But I'm still not talking to him."
Marco only chuckled. "This is going to be entertaining."
Lucian was in his office when they entered. He was standing near the window, reading a document but didn't turn immediately.
"I wondered how long your silence would last."
Elena crossed her arms looking the other way.
Marco coughed awkwardly. "Well… technically she still isn't talking." Lucian finally turned. His dark eyes moved from Marco to Elena.
"You brought her here."
Marco nodded.
"She wants something."
Lucian already knew. His gaze settled on Elena. "She wants to train." Elena said nothing.
Marco pointed at her.
"See? Silent treatment."
Lucian's voice remained calm.
"No."
Marco blinked.
"Ah."
"That was quick."
Elena's head snapped up. Her eyes flashed with anger. "No?" she stood in the center of Lucian's office, trying very hard not to explode. Her fingers curled slowly into fists at her sides, the tension building in her knuckles until her nails pressed into her palms.
Marco stood a little behind her, already sensing the storm forming.
Lucian remained near his desk, calm as ever. Too calm. That calmness made Elena even angrier.
"You're not training." The words were simple. Final. And they snapped something inside her.
Her jaw tightened immediately. She pressed her lips together, biting down on the lower one to keep the sharp reply that was threatening to escape.
Marco glanced between them nervously.
"Elena—"
"Why?"
Her voice cut through the room. And lucian didn't hesitate before he answered her. "Because it's dangerous." A humorless laugh escaped her. "Dangerous? Her fingers clenched tighter, she was burning with anger.
"Everything in this house is dangerous. Everything here is dangerous!" Lucian's dark gaze didn't waver. "Yes."
"Then why am I the only one expected to pretend it isn't happening? why am I the only one expected to just sit quietly and wait for protection?" Her chest rose sharply with each breath. "You all walk around with guns, you talk about wars, you interrogate people in the basement." Her voice trembled slightly, but it wasn't weakness. It was fury. "And somehow I'm supposed to sit quietly in a room and wait for someone to save me?"
Lucian's tone remained controlled. "You are not a soldier." The words landed harder than he probably intended.
Elena went completely still, her lips parted slightly in disbelief. For a second she said nothing. Then she looked down, biting her lip again, this time hard enough that Marco was fairly certain she tasted blood. Her hands trembled. Not with fear but with anger.
What does he even know about me? I'm not a soldier? I've been fighting for survival since the day my parents died… just to make sure my brother and I were okay. And now my life is in danger… and he says I'm not a soldier?
When she lifted her head again, her eyes were shining. Tears had gathered there—but they didn't fall immediately. Instead, they burned. "You don't get to decide that."
Lucian's voice softened slightly. "Elena—" she shook her head "No." Now the tears came pouring, hot and furious. But she didn't wipe them away. Her chin lifted stubbornly. "You don't get to decide when I leave, you don't get to decide when I see my brother," her voice cracked, but she pushed through it. "And you definitely don't get to decide whether I'm strong enough to survive or fight for my own life.
Marco shifted awkwardly. Not expecting things to go this way. "Okay… maybe we should all take a—" she glared at him "Stay out of it, Marco." He immediately raised both hands. "Right. I'm out."
Lucian stepped forward slightly.
"I'm protecting you."
"From what?"
"From becoming part of this world."
"I already am. And I've come to accept it.."
Elena let out a bitter laugh. "Protecting me?" She shook her head. "No. At this point… you're controlling me." Lucian's eyes darkened slightly. "It is my responsibility, Elena." She took a step closer to him now. Her fists were still clenched, her lips pressed tightly together. "You think because this is your world you get to make all the decisions." Her voice dropped. Cold. "But here's the truth." Her eyes lifted to meet his.
Lucian had always liked her eyes. They were the first thing he noticed about her the first time he saw her. They were amber. A deep molten gold that seemed to glow when she was angry, like sunlight trapped in glass and right now they burned with stubborn refusal
Her face flushed with anger. Her hair had come loose around her shoulders, dark strands framing her flushed face. Tears clung to her lashes.
This made Lucian realize something unsettling. Those were not the eyes of someone who would ever submit easily.
Elena inhaled sharply. Then she spoke again. But this time, she didn't say his name. "Mr. Moretti." her voice was flat. Marco visibly winced. The room went still.The name hit the room like a stone. Lucian froze. She had never called him that before. The title sounded deliberate and distant like a wall placed between them.
"You don't own me."
Lucian's expression hardened.
"Elena—"
"No." Her voice shook, but the determination in it didn't. "You don't get to make my choices." She turned away before he could respond. "I'm done arguing with you, Mr. Moretti." The name again. It sounded cold, formal and angry. Then she stormed toward the door. Her hand gripped the handle harder than necessary before she yanked it open and disappeared into the hallway.
The door slammed behind her. Silence filled the office. Marco rubbed the back of his neck slowly. "Well…" He looked at Lucian carefully. "That… could have gone better."
Lucian didn't answer. His gaze was still fixed on the door. And in his mind he kept seeing those eyes. Eyes that refused to submit. Eyes that looked like they belonged to someone far stronger than he realized. Lucian finally understood something. Elena wasn't afraid of him. She never had been. She wasn't someone he could simply protect.
Elena was someone who would eventually fight him if she had to.