"You can't force him, Seraphina. He's not your property."
Lucian let out a tired breath and pushed his chair back, standing between the two of them. As soon as he stood, he felt the pure heat radiating from Seraphina's body. He looked down. Seraphina's clenched fist had turned white at the knuckles, and thin, hot smoke was now rising from her skin into the air. Her magic was spiking with her unstable heart rate.
"Control your temperature, Seraphina," Elira said in a completely flat, cold tone. There wasn't a single micro-expression of fear on her face. "Otherwise you'll set this entire hall on fire, and poor Lucian's meal will be ruined."
"You shut your mouth!" Seraphina turned and grabbed Lucian's hand. "Lucian. Let's get out of here. We're leaving right now."
At the surrounding tables, everyone had stopped chewing. Only faint whispers were buzzing in the background.
"Look, Ashenblade and Frostveil are at it again..."
"...and that too over that Valemont guy?"
