Page 49 of The Panther's Price

The moment her eyes locked on Lucien’s, her mouth curled into a slow, deliberate smile. Not warm. Not mocking.Triumphant.

Then she reached out. And Evryn—hesitant but not resisting—let her.

Thalia’s shadows swept around them, swirling in a practiced, sweeping motion. The portal closed. They were gone.

Gone.

She wasgone.And he had let her go.

The forest around him cracked, soundless but splitting.

Lucien turned, ready to summon the storm in his blood, ready to break whatever had twisted this fate into a sick joke.

But instead of an enemy, it wasCassianwho stepped from the shadows.

“Late to your own heartbreak,” Cassian said lightly, brushing a piece of lint from his silver-trimmed shoulder cloak.

Lucien’s jaw clenched. “You knew.”

Cassian cocked his head. “Knew what?”

“That she’d go to Thalia. That she’dleave.”

“I helped it along, actually.”

“You what?”

Cassian strolled a lazy half-circle around him. “Saw you in the gardens last night. Both of you. All tangled up in emotion and skin andhope.” His lip curled in distaste. “It was nauseating.”

Lucien’s fists clenched at his sides. “You had no right?—”

“I have every right,” Cassian cut in, voice sharpened now. “You’re the Queen’s blade. You don’tlove.You don’t choose sides unless it’s the one that keeps the crown upright.”

Lucien stared at him, fury and disbelief warring in his chest. “So you sided with Thalia instead? She’s manipulating her.”

“Of course she is,” Cassian said simply. “That’s what we do.”

“You could’ve told Mother?—”

“And what?” Cassian scoffed. “She’d have killed the girl. You’d have fallen apart. And the Dominion would lose its only weapon who still has a conscience left to exploit.”

Lucien felt like the ground under him was splitting.

“You destroyed her trust in me,” he whispered. “And for what? A lesson?”

Cassian leaned in, voice low. “To remind you who you are.”

Lucien didn’t move.

Cassian’s smile was cold. “You were never meant to love anyone, brother. You were meant tobe feared.You’ve let that girl make you soft. That’s dangerous—for all of us.”

“You arrogant, manipulative?—”

Cassian stepped back into shadow, already fading. “Careful. That softness might spread.” And then he was gone.

Like fog retreating at first light.

Lucien stood alone at the archway, throat tight, chest hollow. He wanted to burn it all down. Wanted to chase after her and fall to his knees. But most of all, he wanted to knowwhyshe hadn’t looked back.

---