Crimson Veil (Book I)

No Turning Back

The room felt heavier after what had just happened, the air thick with unspoken emotions and lingering heat. Elena sat on the edge of the bed, her heart still racing, her breath uneven as she tried to steady herself. Lucien stood near the window, his shirt half-buttoned, running a hand through his hair, his gaze distant but soft as he watched her. Dante, always unpredictable, leaned against the wall, a satisfied grin tugging at the corner of his lips, but even his usual cocky demeanour seemed tempered by the intensity of the moment.

For a moment, no one said anything. The weight of what they'd just done hung in the air, and Elena felt it pressing down on her, heavy but not uncomfortable. It was as if something had finally snapped between them—something that had been waiting to break for too long.

Lucien was the first to speak, his voice quiet, almost hesitant. "Elena... are you okay?"

She nodded, though her emotions were still swirling. "Yeah, I'm okay. I think I just need a minute to... process."

Lucien's brow furrowed, and he moved toward her, sitting beside her. His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "We didn't push you too fast, did we? I just... after everything, I didn't want to hold back anymore."

Elena turned to look at him, her eyes meeting his. "No, Lucien. I didn't want to hold back either. I needed this."

Dante chuckled from his spot by the wall, his voice low but amused. "Told you, love. Sometimes you just have to stop thinking and let go."

Elena's gaze flicked to Dante, and she couldn't help but smile at his usual irreverence. "I guess you were right."

Dante smirked, pushing off the wall and walking over to them. He sat down on the edge of the bed, his hand resting casually on Elena's knee. "I'm always right. You'll learn that eventually."

Lucien shot him a glance, but there was no malice in it, only the lingering tension between them. "Dante, this isn't the time for your usual games."

Dante raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly. "I'm not playing any games, Lucien. This was real, and we all know it. No more pretending."

Elena looked between the two of them, feeling the weight of the moment settling deeper. "I think that's what scares me," she admitted softly. "It was real, and now... there's no going back, is there?"

Lucien's hand tightened slightly on hers. "No. There's no going back. But that doesn't mean it's a bad thing. We've been through so much together, and we've come out stronger for it."

Dante nodded in agreement, his voice losing its playful edge. "He's right. Things have changed, but maybe that's exactly what we needed."

Lucien looked at her, his expression soft but serious. "It means we're in this together. Whatever happens next, we face it as a team."

Dante grinned, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Sounds good to me. But let's not pretend this isn't going to be complicated."

Elena laughed softly, the tension in the room easing just slightly. "When has anything between us ever been simple?"

Lucien smiled at that, his hand resting on her back as he spoke. "We'll figure it out, Elena. We always do."

Dante's grin returned, this time with more of his usual bravado. "And if things get messy, well... that's just part of the fun, isn't it?"

Elena rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help but smile at him. "You're impossible."

Dante winked at her. "And you love it."

Lucien's eyes met Elena's again, and this time his voice was quieter, more intimate. "We don't have to figure everything out right now. Let's just take it one step at a time."

Elena nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle over her like a promise. "One step at a time."

For a moment, the three of them sat in comfortable silence, the tension between them shifting into something more familiar, more grounded. They had crossed a line, yes, but they were still the same team, still fighting for the same cause. And now, they were more connected than ever spiritually, mentally and physically - All as one.

Dante stretched, breaking the quiet. "So, what's the next step, then? Back to fighting shadowy factions, or do we take a day off?"

Lucien chuckled softly, shaking his head. "We don't have the luxury of taking a day off, Dante. Kallista's still out there, and we need to figure out her next move."

Elena's heart tightened at the mention of Kallista, the weight of their mission crashing back down on her. "You're right. We can't waste any time. Kallista's not going to wait for us to figure this out."

Dante sighed dramatically, though there was a seriousness in his eyes. "I was afraid you'd say that. Fine, let's get back to it. But don't think this is over, Elena."

Elena raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Dante's grin returned, full of mischief. "You know what I mean. There's still a lot we need to figure out between us. But for now, we'll save the world."

Lucien stood, his hand lingering on Elena's shoulder for a moment before he pulled away. "We'll take this one step at a time, like I said. But right now, we need to focus on finding Kallista."

Elena nodded, her resolve strengthening. "You're right. We'll deal with everything else later. But for now... we need to stop her."

Dante clapped his hands together, his grin widening. "Alright then. Let's get back to work."

As they prepared to leave the hideout, Elena felt a sense of calm wash over her. Things between them were complicated now, but they were together—and that was all that mattered.

Whatever came next, they would face it together.