The grand hall was still in silence after Lucien's unexpected confession. All eyes were on Evelyn, whose lips parted slightly, her mind racing to process what had just happened. Her fingers curled against the fabric of her dress, her heart pounding in a way she hadn't experienced before.
Lucien stood firm, his face unreadable but his eyes unwavering. Caius, standing just a few steps away, smirked slightly, but his usual confidence seemed to flicker for a split second.
Evelyn inhaled deeply.
"I…"
BOOM!
A sudden explosion from above shook the entire hall. The grand chandelier trembled, and cracks spread across the ceiling. Gasps and screams erupted from the crowd as dust and debris began to fall.
Evelyn barely had time to react before she felt a firm grip yank her away from danger.
The next second, a massive chunk of the ceiling crashed down right where she had been standing.
Lucien had moved instinctively, his arm wrapped protectively around her waist. The impact sent them rolling onto the polished floor, Evelyn landing against his chest.
The world seemed to blur for a moment. The sound of people running, the distant blare of alarms—it was all muffled.
"Are you okay?" Lucien's voice was sharp but calm.
Evelyn looked up at him, her breathing unsteady. She nodded.
Lucien slowly released her, his sharp gaze shifting immediately toward Caius. His instincts screamed at him—this wasn't a coincidence.
Without hesitation, he took a step forward.
"You planned this?" Lucien's voice was dangerously low.
Caius blinked, then chuckled. "You think I'd ruin my own fun?" He tilted his head, his signature smirk returning. "Please, if I wanted to sabotage you, I wouldn't make it this obvious."
Lucien's fists clenched, but before he could press further—
A gunshot echoed through the hall.
Lucien's reflexes kicked in as he grabbed Evelyn's wrist, pulling her behind cover.
He looked up toward the upper balcony and spotted a figure standing there—a man dressed in black, a red fang insignia on his sleeve, holding a rifle aimed directly at him.
Red Fang.
Lucien's chest tightened. His mind snapped back to Damian's warning—a threat lurking in the shadows. And now, they were here.
Another shot was fired, but this time, Caius reacted. With a swift motion, he grabbed a nearby tray from a fallen waiter and threw it at the gunman, causing the shot to miss.
The chaos intensified. Security rushed in, trying to evacuate the students. Panic spread through the crowd like wildfire.
Lucien turned to Evelyn. "We need to move."
She nodded, still shaken. He kept a firm grip on her wrist and maneuvered through the fleeing students, leading her toward an emergency exit.
They reached the corridor. The sounds of gunfire faded slightly, but Lucien knew the danger wasn't over.
"Stay here." His voice was firm.
Evelyn shook her head. "No, I—"
Lucien placed a hand on her shoulder. "Trust me."
For a moment, she hesitated, then reluctantly nodded.
Lucien turned back toward the hall. His eyes darted to a nearby catering table. Among the scattered silverware, he grabbed the sharpest butter knife he could find.
Caius appeared beside him, brushing dust off his jacket. "You seriously going into a fight with that?"
Lucien twirled the knife between his fingers, his grip tightening. "It's not about the weapon."
Caius laughed, shaking his head. "Alright then, partner. Let's give them a show."
The two of them stepped forward, standing side by side as they faced the Red Fang operatives.
For the first time, Lucien and Caius were no longer just rivals.
Tonight, they were allies against a greater enemy.
To be continued…
End of Chapter 44.