Crimson Veil (Book I)

Breaking the Tension

The weight of their next steps lingered heavily in the air as the trio made their way back to their hideout. Mira's revelation about Kallista gnawed at Elena's mind, the mystery of the shadowy figure pulling the strings only adding to the complexity of everything they were facing. But it wasn't just the weight of the threat that pressed on her—it was the tension simmering between her, Lucien, and Dante. After everything they had been through, the cracks in their facades were starting to show.

Elena pushed open the door to their hideout, and the three of them stepped inside. The silence was thick, and the small, dimly lit room felt like a sanctuary from the chaos outside. But inside, the atmosphere was just as charged—charged with emotions that had been building for too long.

Lucien paced near the window, his usual calm demeanour strained. Dante, on the other hand, leaned casually against the wall, but Elena could sense the restlessness in him. For once, he wasn't smirking or cracking jokes.

Elena stood in the middle of the room, her heart pounding. She had felt it building for days now—the unspoken tension between them. Every glance, every brush of their hands, had added to the pressure until it felt like something was going to break.

Lucien's voice cut through the silence, low and filled with concern. "We're in deeper than we ever thought, Elena. Kallista's not just another enemy. She's playing a game we don't fully understand."

Elena nodded, but her mind wasn't fully on Kallista. It was on Lucien—on the way his jaw tightened when he spoke, the way he always carried the weight of their situation on his shoulders as if it was his responsibility to protect her.

"I know," Elena said softly, her eyes meeting his. "But we can't keep carrying this alone, Lucien. We're all in this together."

Dante scoffed lightly, though there was no amusement in his tone. "Together, huh? Funny, doesn't always feel that way. Seems like you two are constantly trying to keep it all bottled up. What's the plan? Just keep pretending we're not all on the edge here?"

Lucien shot him a sharp look. "This isn't a game, Dante."

Dante's eyes flared with something deeper than his usual cocky attitude. "I know it's not a game. But we've been running on fumes for days now—dodging assassins, dealing with shadowy factions, making deals with people like Mira. There's only so much we can take before something breaks."

Elena felt the words hit her, sinking deep. He was right—they were all running on empty, trying to stay strong for each other while everything around them was falling apart. The pressure wasn't just external; it was inside them too.

Lucien's expression softened as he turned to face her, his voice quieter. "Elena, I've been trying to keep things steady, but... you're right. We can't carry this alone."

Elena stepped closer to him, her heart pounding harder. "Lucien, you've been there for me since this all started. But we're all on the edge, and... I don't know how much longer I can keep going like this."

Lucien's eyes searched hers, and for a moment, the mask he always wore slipped. She could see the exhaustion, the strain, but also something else—something deeper, something he had been holding back.

Dante pushed off the wall, stepping toward them, his voice quieter now. "We're all feeling it, love. This pressure... it's not just about the danger. There's more going on here, and you know it."

Elena turned to face him, her breath catching. "What are you saying?"

Dante's gaze flicked between her and Lucien, and then he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm saying we've been dancing around it for long enough. All this tension, all this pretending like we're fine—it's not working."

Lucien's jaw clenched, but he didn't argue. Instead, he took a deep breath and looked at Elena, his voice raw. "Dante's right. We've been trying to stay strong for too long, but we're all breaking under the pressure. And... I don't want to keep pretending either."

Elena's heart raced, the air between them thick with unspoken emotions. She had felt it building for days—the way her connection to both Lucien and Dante had deepened, becoming something more than just camaraderie in the face of danger. It was something personal, something intimate, and it was about to spill over.

Dante took another step closer, his voice low and serious. "We've been through hell together. I think we've earned the right to be honest with each other, don't you?"

Elena's gaze flicked between them, her breath catching. "What do you mean?"

Dante smiled faintly, though there was no humour in it. "I think you know exactly what I mean, Elena."

Lucien's voice was softer now, filled with an intensity she hadn't heard before. "We've been trying to keep it together for so long, but there's something between us—something we haven't dealt with. And I don't want to keep holding back."

Elena's heart pounded in her chest, the weight of his words settling over her. She had known for a long time that there was something between her and Lucien, a bond that had grown stronger with every battle they had faced. But there was also Dante—wild, unpredictable, but just as important to her.

"I... I don't know what to say," Elena whispered, her voice trembling.

Dante stepped even closer, his voice a low murmur. "You don't have to say anything. Just stop fighting it. We're all feeling it."

Elena's breath caught as she looked between them, her pulse racing. The room felt smaller, the space between them shrinking as the tension grew thicker. She could feel the heat of their bodies, the unspoken desires they had all been holding back for so long.

Lucien's hand moved to her arm, his touch gentle but firm. "Elena, we've been through so much together. We don't have to keep pretending we're just teammates with benefits."

Dante moved to her other side, his voice soft but edged with a hint of danger. "It's time to stop hiding from what we all want."

Elena swallowed hard, her heart thudding in her chest. She could feel the pull between them, the emotions they had all been burying for too long. They were all on the edge, and she knew that once they crossed this line, there would be no going back.

But maybe that was what they needed—something real, something that could break the tension and bring them closer together.

"I'm not hiding anymore," Elena whispered, her voice barely audible.

Lucien's hand tightened on her arm, and she could feel the warmth of his body pressing against hers. "Neither am I."

Dante's breath was hot against her ear as he leaned in closer. "Then let's stop pretending."

Elena felt a shiver run down her spine, the weight of their words crashing into her. They weren't just talking about survival anymore. This was about something deeper—something that had been building between them for weeks.

She closed her eyes, letting the tension and desire take over. She wasn't going to fight it anymore.