Wickedly Yours

Part 13

The room falls into a tense silence after you leave, your hurried footsteps echoing faintly down the hall. Lucius remains standing, his eyes still narrowed in suspicion, his hands clasped behind his back.

He doesn't speak immediately, but his gaze shifts toward Severus, who has remained stoic and silent throughout the entire interaction.

Lucius breaks the silence first, his voice cold and measured. "Did you see her eyes, Severus?"

Severus nods once, but his expression gives nothing away. "I did."

Lucius turns fully toward him, his voice now sharp with accusation. "And you said nothing? You didn't think to tell me that my daughter—my princess—has clearly been using something?"

Severus's face remains unreadable, though there's a flicker of something in his eyes—perhaps hesitation, perhaps caution. "I'm not here to make assumptions, Lucius. I thought it best to observe the situation first."

"Observe?" Lucius's voice rises, his frustration boiling over. "She came home late, smelling like a pub, her pupils blown wide. Don't tell me you think this is merely exhaustion."

Severus meets Lucius's gaze evenly, his voice calm but firm. "I didn't say that, Lucius. I merely refrained from jumping to conclusions."

Lucius moves closer, his frustration palpable. "She's been behaving erratically for weeks now. I've turned a blind eye to it, thinking it's teenage rebellion. But this—this is something else."

Severus watches him closely, his voice softening just slightly. "She's under a great deal of pressure. From you, from her past, and from the expectations everyone places on her."

Lucius's eyes flash with anger. "She's spoiled rotten. Pressure or not, there's no excuse for indulging in... whatever this is. If she's involved in something dangerous, I'll not sit by and watch it ruin her."

Severus nods, his gaze steady. "I understand your concerns, Lucius. But you need to tread carefully. Confronting her too harshly may push her further away."

Lucius clenches his jaw, his expression hardening. "I don't need advice on how to parent, Severus. What I need is the truth. And if she won't give it to me, I'll find out myself."

There's a long pause, the tension between the two men thickening. Severus breaks the silence this time, his voice low but measured. "What are you planning?"

Lucius's eyes darken, and his voice drops to a cold, determined tone. "I'll send someone out first thing in the morning. I'm going to run a drug test on her."

Severus's brow furrows slightly, but he doesn't object immediately. "Lucius, are you certain that's the best approach? She may see it as an invasion, a betrayal."

Lucius turns sharply to Severus, his tone icy. "And what would you suggest? Sit her down for tea and ask her nicely if she's destroying her life? I won't be made a fool of, Severus. If she's involved in something, I need to know. I won't have her falling into ruin. Not on my watch."

Severus regards Lucius for a long moment, his face unreadable once again. "As you wish, Lucius. But be prepared for her reaction. She's more volatile than you think."

Lucius's expression doesn't soften. "She's my daughter. I know exactly how volatile she is."

There's a beat of silence before Lucius's voice turns cold, almost resigned. "If she's using drugs, Severus, I will do whatever it takes to get her back under control. Whether she likes it or not."

Severus's gaze lingers on Lucius, and for the first time, a hint of concern flickers across his features. But he says nothing, merely nodding once before turning away.