Succubi Chapter 232. Greener Tea
Succubi Chapter 232. Greener Tea
His face had gone controlled in the way men controlled themselves when control was already broken. His smile was gone. His eyes were dark with anger.
No.
Not just anger.
Jealousy.
One hundred percent.
It was written in the stiffness of his jaw, the flare of his nostrils, the way his gaze clung to Alyra like something had been taken from him.
Not regret exactly.
Possession.
That ugly feeling that said, ‘She should be mine’.
Ah. There it was. Ownership.
He didn’t want Alyra happy.
He wanted Alyra available for his pride. To feed his ego.
Pathetic.
I met his gaze from over Alyra’s shoulder.
Then I smirked.
Slow.
Quiet.
Private enough that not everyone would notice, but obvious enough for him.
My eyes did the rest.
A challenge.
Possessiveness.
A warning.
‘Don’t you dare touch her again’.
Cassian’s fingers tightened around Mirena’s waist.
She noticed too.
Mirena looked up at him first, then followed his gaze to me.
And then something unexpected happened.
She blushed.
Not Alyra’s soft, startled blush.
Mirena’s was different.
Sharper.
Interested.
Annoyed at herself for being interested.
Her eyes moved over me again, but now the assessment had changed flavor. Less “unknown threat” and more “why is he better than expected?”
Green tea girl found a greener tea and started wondering if she had just met her next scumbag male lead.
I kept my smirk for one second longer, then returned my attention to Alyra as if Cassian and Mirena did not matter.
That was the real insult.
Alyra’s eyes searched mine.“You’re enjoying this,” she murmured.
“Clearly.”
Her lips curved.
The applause began fading, but whispers remained. Servants moved again. Music shifted to a softer background piece. The dance floor opened as couples stepped away, but several guests were still watching us like they expected another scene.
I slowly loosened my hold.
Not completely.
Just enough to allow Alyra to breathe without making it look like I was releasing her too quickly.
Her hand remained on my chest a moment longer than necessary.
She noticed.
I noticed.
We both pretended not to.
Fake relationship rule number one: when something becomes too real, act like it was part of the mission.
Alyra finally stepped back half a pace, but my hand stayed holding hers.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“For the dance?”
“For not letting me fall.”
I glanced toward Mirena. “Clumsy accidents happen.”
Alyra’s eyes cooled, but her smile stayed pleasant. “Of course.”
We left the center of the dance floor together, applause fading behind us like a curtain closing after the first act.
A few nobles greeted Alyra as we passed, suddenly warmer than before. Amazing what one dramatic dance could do. Before, I was a random man. Now? I was a mystery.
Mysteries had value.
Especially expensive-looking ones.
One older woman in violet nodded approvingly. “Lady Veyne. Your companion dances beautifully.”
Alyra’s grip tightened lightly around my fingers. “Yes. He does.”
The woman’s sharp eyes moved to me. “Blackthorn, was it?”
I bowed slightly. “Evan Blackthorn, my lady.”
“Interesting. I do not know that branch.”
“I’ve always preferred being difficult to locate.”
The woman paused. Then laughed. “Keep him, Lady Veyne.”
Alyra smiled. “I intend to.”
My heart kicked once.
Acting.
Mission.
Payment.
Still, my Pride liked it so much that I almost felt my aura preen.
We moved toward the side of the hall, near a table with drinks and small desserts. The butler, Alyra’s butler, somehow already there like he teleported through professionalism, appeared beside us with two glasses.
“Safe,” he murmured.
Alyra took one.
I took the other.
Good butler.
Terrifying but useful.
I sipped carefully. Sweet, sparkling, no alcohol burn. Good. I needed my head clear.
Alyra drank too, eyes still on the room. “You humiliated him,” she said.
“No.”
Her gaze shifted to me.
“I made you look desired,” I said. “He humiliated himself by hating it.”
Alyra went still. For a moment, something vulnerable moved behind her eyes. Then she looked away, glass held near her lips. “Careful, Evan.”
“With what?”
“Lines like that.”
I smiled faintly. “Too romantic?”
“Too convincing.”
The air between us tightened again.
Not like before on the dance floor. This was quieter. Darker. Spicier in a way that didn’t need movement. Just proximity. Her shoulder close to mine. Her perfume still clinging to my senses. Her hand brushing mine whenever someone passed too near.
I leaned slightly toward her. “Isn’t that what you paid for?”
She looked back at me. “Maybe I underestimated the cost.”
Oh. That was a good line.
My turn to pause.
Alyra’s smile returned, but softer. More dangerous because it no longer fully hid the woman behind it.
Before I could answer, a voice cut in from the side. “Impressive performance.”
Cassian.
He approached with Mirena still holding his arm, though now she looked less like a fragile dove and more like a cat pretending it had not stared at someone else’s fish.
Cassian’s smile had returned. Barely.
“You dance well, Blackthorn.”
I looked at him over the rim of my glass. “Thank you.”
His eyes flicked to Alyra. “I didn’t know you liked theatrical men.”
Alyra smiled. “You didn’t know many things about me.”
Ouch!
Clean hit.
Mirena lowered her lashes. “It was beautiful. Truly. I almost cried.”
Lie.
She almost calculated.
I smiled at her gently. “I’m relieved you didn’t fall again, Lady Sol.”
Her eyes lifted.
Cassian’s face tightened.
Alyra brought her glass to her mouth to hide her smile.
Mirena touched her chest softly. “Oh… I suppose I was careless.”
“It happens,” I said kindly. “Some people lose balance when they get too close to others.”
Silence. Deadly.
Mirena’s blush returned, but this time anger hid under it.
Cassian stepped closer. “One must be careful with accusations.”
I smiled. “Of course. That’s why I didn’t make one.”
His eyes hardened.
Good.
Come on, Vale.
Lose control.
Three thousand base was nice.
But duel bonus had a lovely sound.
Cassian’s smile didn’t reach his eyes anymore.
Good.
His pride was cracking at the edges, and the more it cracked, the more expensive this night became.