Chapter 202: The Hunt
Lucas watched Adeline with an expression carefully curated. He could not let her suspect him...
But beneath the surface, a storm brewed. He stood a short distance away, mimicking the motions of practice to avoid suspicion.
His palms glowed faintly with the icy hue of his element, weak and faltering, a pitiful contrast to the powerful bolts of lightning Adeline summoned effortlessly. His fingers twitched, and his fists clenched by his sides as his jealousy burned.
Adeline’s power was remarkable, even in its raw, uncontrolled state. Each crackling arc of electricity lit up the space around her, commanding attention and respect.
Lucas could feel the sharp pang of resentment in his chest. He despised his own limitations, the meagre strength of his ice powers. They were a shadow of what they could have been if not for years of neglect and the dismissive attitudes of those around him.
His eyes lingered on Adeline, his thoughts darkening with every second. She was so absorbed in her practice, so unaware of the intricate web of schemes he was weaving. He hated her power, hated the awe it inspired, but most of all, he hated the way Cassian looked at her.
Lucas had seen it clearly earlier at lunch—the way Cassian’s icy blue eyes softened when they rested on Adeline, the way his usual indifference melted into something more. It had been unmistakable. Cassian wanted her, and that was unacceptable. Lucas wouldn’t allow Cassian to have her.
The thought of Cassian filled him with an intense, smouldering rage. The perfect Crown Prince, always one step ahead, always adored. Lucas clenched his jaw as he forced his ice magic to swirl in his palm. He couldn’t allow Cassian to win. Not this time.
His thoughts turned darker, more twisted, as he debated his next moves. Did Adeline need to survive his plans? She was a useful piece, yes, but her existence complicated things. She was tied to Cassian in ways Lucas didn’t fully understand yet, but he knew one thing—if he wanted to destroy Cassian completely, Adeline could play a pivotal role.
Perhaps the ultimate revenge wouldn’t be simply to take Cassian’s throne or his status. Perhaps it would be to take everything he held dear, everything he valued—including Adeline. If she became a tool to bring Cassian to his knees, so be it. And if she resisted? Well, there were other ways to ensure Cassian’s downfall.
A grim, almost cruel smirk tugged at the corners of Lucas’s lips as the idea formed in his mind. If he couldn’t use Adeline to break Cassian, maybe he could unite them—in death. A bitter, poetic justice. Let Cassian meet his end alongside the woman he so clearly cared for.