BOUND BY ROYALTY

CHAPTER 13

The past....

The ballroom was alive with music, laughter, and the rustle of silk gowns sweeping across polished marble floors. Chandeliers hung high above, their crystals catching and scattering light, creating a golden haze over the gathered nobility. Lucian stood near one of the towering windows, his hand gripping the edge of his glass as he tried to disappear into the backdrop of extravagance. He had never enjoyed events like this; the forced smiles, the sharp laughter, the suffocating air of competition disguised as camaraderie.

But Kastiel thrived in places like this.

Across the room, Kastiel Draeven was the picture of charm. He stood in the center of a small crowd, his deep laughter resonating over the faint hum of the orchestra. His tailored suit clung perfectly to his frame, the navy fabric accented with silver thread that shimmered under the light. He was talking animatedly, his sharp features animated in a way that drew attention like moths to a flame.

Lucian watched him with a soft smile, a lingering warmth curling in his chest despite the sharp tug of discomfort that Kastiel's charisma always inspired. Kastiel had promised that tonight would be different. That he'd stay close, that he wouldn't let the crowd pull him away. Lucian wanted to believe him, wanted to trust in the warmth Kastiel had shown him earlier that evening when he'd whispered reassurances into his ear while clasping the pin of their shared house crest onto Lucien's lapel.

But now, standing alone by the window, he couldn't help but feel like he'd been forgotten.

"Your grace." A voice startled Lucien out of his thoughts. A nobleman whose name he couldn't quite recall stood before him, bowing slightly before gesturing toward the crowd. "A dance, perhaps? It would be an honor to have such a distinguished partner."

Lucian hesitated, offering a polite but firm smile. "Thank you, but I must decline."

The nobleman frowned but nodded and drifted away, and Lucian let out a quiet breath. It wasn't that he didn't know how to dance, it was that he didn't feel like he belonged here. Not tonight. Not while Kastiel shone so brightly on the other side of the room.

But before Lucian could fully retreat into his thoughts, the sound of Kastiel's laughter reached his ears again. Turning his head slightly, he caught sight of him. Kastiel's arm was draped loosely around a young omega noble, her soft giggle echoing as she leaned closer to him. Kastiel wasn't pulling away in fact, he seemed to encourage her closeness, his expression as easygoing and flirtatious as ever.

Lucian's chest tightened, his fingers clenching around the glass in his hand.

It wasn't the first time he'd seen Kastiel like this. In the early days of their relationship, he had learned to brush it off, chalking it up to Kastiel's natural charm and his penchant for drawing people in. But tonight, after everything Kastiel had promised, it felt like a betrayal.

Gathering his courage, Lucian placed his glass on the windowsill and started toward the crowd. The closer he got, the louder the room seemed to grow, a cacophony of voices and laughter pressing in on him.

"Kastiel," he said softly, though it took more effort than he expected to keep his voice steady.

Kastiel turned to him, his expression breaking into a smile that was as dazzling as it was disarming. "Lucian," he greeted, his tone warm but casual, as though they weren't anything more than acquaintances.

Lucian's heart sank. "I thought you said we'd stay together tonight," he said, his voice low enough not to draw the attention of those gathered around them.

Kastiel's smile faltered for a fraction of a second before he stepped closer, resting a hand lightly on Lucian's shoulder. "I know, my dear," he murmured, his voice smooth and practiced. "But you know how these events are. I couldn't very well ignore everyone, could I?"