The Story of the Trees - Sword, Ring, and Crown Book One

Chapter Eighteen

The atmosphere in Luke's office had finally settled, the worst of the tension ebbing away, or at least buried under the surface for now. Jeanne and Elsie stood near the door, their expressions filled with cautious relief as they sensed the immediate threat had passed. They whispered between themselves, happy that the confrontation with Beth was over, and that the ceremony — which they were excited to be part of — loomed ahead.

Jeanne smiled softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think everything will be all right now, don't you?"

Elsie nodded, her eyes sparkling with cautious optimism. "Yes. It seems things are moving forward. The Becoming Ceremony... it will be such an honor to witness it. To be part of something so grand."

I could feel the warmth of their happiness, a gentle reprieve from the tension that had been choking the room. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to feel that same sense of peace. But it didn't last.

Luis, who had been brooding in a corner even though he'd earlier agreed, abruptly stood, his fists clenched at his sides. His face twisted in frustration, eyes dark with unspoken thoughts. The air in the room seemed to thicken, and the quiet that had settled was shattered by the crackling energy of his barely-contained anger.

Jeanne and Elsie immediately stiffened, their happy chatter falling silent as they both flinched back in surprise. I could see the fear creep into their eyes as they looked at Luis, the sudden shift in his demeanor startling them.

Luis snarled, the tension in his body warping the air around him. It felt like the magic was about to break free, his transformation barely held back. But as quickly as it flared, the magic snapped back into him like a rubber band, leaving him panting on the floor, his body trembling from the strain.

I jerked forward. "Luis?" I asked, but before I could take another step, he was already back on his feet, rubbing at the bracelet on his wrist, his glare fixed on Luke.

The fear on Jeanne and Elsie's faces deepened, their delight at the earlier resolution now completely replaced by unease. I glanced at them, realizing just how much Luis's outburst had shaken them. They'd been so happy, thinking everything was settling down, but Luis had a way of stirring things up when his emotions got away from him. 

"You're scaring Elsie and Jeanne, Luis," I said, my voice taut.

"This is so wrong, Matt." He fixed me with an intense stare. "You're mine. I don't like any of this."

I scoffed. "Yours? Luis, you had four years to stake a claim. You never did." 

I didn't want to hurt him, but his possessiveness had thrown me. He knew I'd had a crush on him for years, but he'd done nothing. Now he was acting like this?

His glare remained fixed on me, his jaw tight. "I never thought I had to." His voice was harsh, full of frustration. "I've told you for years that you're mine."

"What, the 'You're my prey' thing? That's always just been a joke, Luis. I knew that."

His expression twisted into something bitter. "That's never been the case. But when Jo—"

"Don't," I snapped, cutting him off before he could finish. My hands trembled, and I held them up, trying to keep the memories of my attack at bay. I didn't want to think about Joseph. Not now. Not ever.

Luis sighed deeply, dragging his fingers through his hair before nodding stiffly. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice strained, as if the apology was being dragged out of him.

I rubbed my hands against my hips, trying to calm myself down. "Forget it." I didn't want to dig into that mess, not now.

Adrian, sensing the tension rising again, broke the silence by socking Luis in the arm. "Smooth move," he muttered, though there was no real heat behind the words.