Chapter 26: 26

Lucian

“It was just sex. Nothing more,” I said coolly, eyes fixed ahead like I hadn’t just shattered a part of myself with that sentence. “And I don’t even want to be with him anymore. He’s beneath me in every way.”

Johan raised an eyebrow, arms folded, leaning back against the doorframe with that insufferable smirk. “So… you won’t mind if I go after him, right? Because unlike you, I know I like him. And I’m not afraid to want him.”

I blinked. That was bold—even for Johan. But deep down, I wasn’t surprised. Shameless was practically his brand. He'd started acting weird during the search for the boy anyway—snapping at everyone, constantly asking where he was. Like a wolf sniffing blood.

“You’re wasting your time,” I said, tone dry. “That boy’s a bitch, Jo. The last thing you want to do is invest real emotions into someone like him.”

Johan chuckled, dark and easy. “Oh, don’t worry—I don’t plan to invest anything. I just want to finally fuck him. You have no idea how long I’ve craved that boy.”

His words hit harder than I expected, like a punch wrapped in velvet. Still, I held my ground, pride sharp in my throat.

“You know I don’t like sharing,” I muttered.

“I know,” he said. “That’s why I asked. But it’s not like you’ve claimed him. Or maybe you thought fucking him was enough?”

I scoffed, waving him off. “He’s not that important. Trust me, he’d open his legs on command. If you want him so bad—go ahead. I don’t care.”

“Sure,” Johan said with a sly grin. “But you’ll care when he moans my name next.”

My jaw clenched. Just slightly.

Johan saw it.

And smiled wider.

I couldn’t care less. Or at least, that’s what I told myself. I didn’t even know why I’d reacted at all.

“Anyway,” I said, brushing imaginary dust from my sleeve, “let me warn you—don’t fall for him. He’s sly. Knows how to play people. You won’t even see it until it’s too late.”

Johan gave me a lazy shrug and a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Noted. I won’t.”

Then, as if we hadn’t just carved open something raw between us, he turned toward the cellar door. “Good night.”

And just like that, he was gone—leaving me alone in the low, flickering dark.

The silence came back fast, heavier this time. Settling into my skin like smoke, choking me.

So that was the reason he’d come tonight. Not for me. Not to talk. Not even to check on the aftermath of everything that had been unraveling.

Just to ask for permission to take the boy I told myself I didn’t want.

I sank back into the shadows, staring at the uneven ceiling stones.

Now I was curious.

How long would it take?

How long before a boy who once claimed he loved me would open his legs for someone else?

Would he hesitate?

Would he whisper Johan’s name the way he used to whisper mine—quiet, desperate, wrecked?

The thought made something sharp twist in my chest.

I told myself it was nothing.

But it stayed.

The next day, I expected things to return to normal—or whatever passed for normal around here.

But Johan was the first to volunteer.

“I’ll take Halo to his old guardian’s place,” he said casually over breakfast, like it was nothing. Like it didn’t mean everything.

My spoon paused mid-air.

That wasn’t his job. It was never his job. Hell, he usually avoided that kind of task altogether. But now—suddenly—he was eager?

Halo barely looked up, just nodded, eyes still shadowed with something unreadable. Tired maybe. Or guarded.

Johan flashed me a look before he turned to grab the keys—smug, knowing, territorial.

I saw it.

He wanted me to see it.

I forced a shrug and went back to eating, pretending it didn’t bother me. But it did.

More than I liked.

By midday, they were still gone. And by dusk, I started pacing.

He’s locked in. That’s what Johan had said before they left. Some weird legal formality.

It was supposed to be routine. Just a brief visit to the man who once raised Halo—a man now too sick or irrelevant to matter.

But something about the silence... the time... it unsettled me.

My gut twisted.

I told myself I wasn’t worried.

But I was.

Not because I thought Halo was in danger.

No.

I was worried he’d choose to stay gone.

Worried that Johan would say the right things, touch the right places, and convince him to forget everything that passed between us.

And worst of all?

I was worried it wouldn’t even be hard.

The moment Johan stepped through the front door, I was already waiting.

I leaned against the hallway wall, arms crossed, smirk firmly in place. “So?” I asked, voice laced with mockery. “Already done? You sleep with him that fast?”

Johan dropped his keys into the bowl by the door and let out a low laugh. “You suddenly interested in my sex life?” he teased, eyes glinting with amusement. “I did have sex… but not with him.”

He turned to face me fully now, that same annoying calm in his posture.

“I just dropped him off. What—did you think it’d be that easy?”

I shrugged, pretending I didn’t care—pretending it didn’t bother me that he hadn’t gotten what he wanted yet.

“He’s easy,” I said flatly. “Give him a little warmth, say the right shit, and he’ll open his legs. Just takes a minute.”

Johan raised a brow, then took a slow step closer, studying me like I was the one under glass.

“If he’s so easy,” he said quietly, “why do you sound jealous?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.” He grinned. “You just don’t like the idea of someone else getting what you threw away.”

I clenched my jaw, heat rising behind my eyes. I hated how smug he looked. Hated how he might be right.

“I didn’t throw him away,” I muttered.

Johan tilted his head. “No? Then why are you so nosy?”