Chapter 45: The Rumor
The photographer gently lifted Lunara’s chin, angling her face toward the light. "There, hold that," he instructed, stepping back to frame the shot. "Tilt a little... yes, just like that."
From across the room, Eryx watched, his gaze dark and unreadable. His arms were crossed, his stance relaxed, but the way his jaw tightened told another story. His eyes followed every movement and the way the photographer adjusted Lunara’s posture, how his fingers briefly brushed against her skin.
A sharp click of the camera echoed, but Eryx barely registered it. He had no reason to feel anything about this. And yet, the longer he watched, the more he felt something unpleasant coil in his chest.
The photographer clicked his tongue, stepping back to assess the shot. "The color isn’t picking up well on camera," he muttered. Turning to the makeup artist, he held out a hand. "Pass me lipstick."
The makeup artist quickly handed him a tube, and without hesitation, the photographer uncapped it. "Hold still," he instructed Lunara, leaning in to apply the color himself.
From where he stood, Eryx’s eyes darkened. His fingers twitched, and before he realized it, his legs moved forward, an instinctive reaction he didn’t fully understand. He wasn’t sure what he was about to do, maybe stop the photographer’s hand or pull Lunara away but the thought of someone else’s fingers tracing her lips made something in him snap.
Just as he was about to step into the shoot set, a firm hand gripped his arm.
"Sir, not a good idea," Callum murmured, his voice low and knowing. He had moved faster, cutting Eryx off before he could act on whatever impulse had taken hold of him.
Eryx’s jaw tensed, his gaze locked onto the scene before him. The photographer tilted Lunara’s chin slightly, angling her face just right as he carefully applied the lipstick. His touch was professional, but that didn’t matter.