Maybe… it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be.
Seven men as members of the harem had initially seemed like too large a crowd for Lynsandra. These were men aiming for one goal, after all. But seeing them now—eating quietly and peacefully—made her reconsider.
A quiet chuckle slipped past her closed lips as she picked up her napkin and wiped the corners of her mouth. But as she did, her brows crinkled at the excited voice coming from the seat farthest from hers.
"Lizzie, baby."
Lynsandra arched a brow, clearing her throat as she chose to ignore Cassian's call. He had been trying to get her attention since the beginning of dinner, but she decided to pretend she hadn't heard him for now.
Cassian frowned when she continued as if he didn't exist. He instinctively glared at Elias and August—especially August, who would occasionally speak to her.
"Damn those guys," he hissed, the cutlery in his grip trembling. "Because of them, I couldn't talk to her properly. That should be my seat."
Gareth, seated across from Cassian, quietly studied the disappointment rising on the man's face. He sighed and shifted his attention to the others around the table. Unlike August, who spoke to her casually, and Elias, who threw in side comments here and there, the vampire and the human seemed far more focused on their meals.
Each plate had been prepared according to individual preferences. Gareth knew this because his own plate was filled with Gary's favorites.
He glanced around again and noticed Evander eating his vegetables in silence.
They look more disinterested than I expected, Gareth thought. I assumed that since this is our first dinner with Luna Lynsandra, they'd be scrambling for her attention.
But that wasn't what was happening.
Even Elias—who had been deliberately provoking the childish Cassian earlier—was behaving.
Huh… Gareth shrugged inwardly. I guess I was wrong.
No, Gareth wasn't wrong.
Lynsandra stiffened slightly when she felt something brush against her leg. Her eyes snapped to her left, landing on Elias, who winked at her with a charming smile.
"Haha…" she chuckled amusely, pulling her leg away as she lifted her gaze toward the table.
So peaceful, she thought as her eyelids drooped slightly. I don't like it.
She straightened, scanning the table before breaking the fragile silence.
"I believe all of you heard that on the day you arrived here, tradition dictates that I, Luna Lynsandra, must choose whom I will spend the first night with."
Her voice was soft and controlled, but the room slowly stilled as every pair of eyes turned to her. She smiled, her lips curving upward until the corners of her eyes crinkled.
"I've decided who I'll be spending the first night with," she announced.
The smiles of those who hadn't expected it vanished almost instantly.
"It was a difficult decision," she continued calmly, "knowing that each of you has done your utmost just to be part of this."
She rose from her seat, her gaze sweeping over them. "However, tradition is tradition."
"Having said that, I'll be excusing myself first to prepare for the night," she added with a subtle smile. "And I hope you won't take this to heart. If anything, I look forward to the nights when I'll spend the moonlight with the others."
Her smile widened ever so slightly before she turned and left the dining area… for them to tear each other apart.
The moment Lynsandra exited, the tension returned, thick and oppressive.
"Who…" Cassian's fist trembled, his head hanging low. When he lifted his gaze, his voice thundered, "Who dared seduce my girl?!"
Before anyone could answer, the screech of a chair scraping against the floor cut through the air. Heads turned to see Elias rising from his seat.
"Well." He tossed his napkin onto the table, flashing a cocky smirk. "You heard her. I should wash up for the night too."
He tilted his head, eyeing them with thinly veiled mockery. "Nice meeting you all, by the way."
With that, Elias turned to leave, clearly uninterested in staying behind. But after only a few steps, Cassian leapt from his seat.
"Is it you?!" Cassian snarled. "Are you the one who forced this tradition bullshit on my Lizzie?!"
Elias glanced back over his shoulder, smirking. "You might want to sleep with earplugs tonight, Dumbo." He waved casually. "I'm not sure how loud she is. So… don't say I didn't warn you."
"You—!" Cassian grabbed the back of his neck, his blood pressure skyrocketing.
Elias laughed darkly as he walked off.
Before he could exit completely, Evander also stood.
"It was a lovely dinner," Evander said politely, making Cassian's expression twitch even further. "I'll be retiring to my room as well."
One by one, the men excused themselves. Gareth watched them leave. Even Cassian stomped out, practically vibrating with rage.
Gareth patted his chest and stared at the empty table. "I feel like I'm going to get indigestion."
*****
Servants assisted Lynsandra as she bathed, cleansing her from head to toe and preparing her for the night ahead. Once they finished dressing her in silk, Lynsandra stood before the full-length mirror.
"Is it done?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder.
The servants stepped back with bowed heads. One of them replied softly, "Yes, Luna."
She waved them off. Just as they had worked in silence, their footsteps as they left were light and nearly soundless.
Her hair had been let down, cascading over her shoulders and down her back. Her nightwear was thin—almost sheer—covered only by a satin robe of the same shade. She studied her reflection carefully, as if seeing herself anew.
"Only now do I understand what Virgo meant when he said time flies," she murmured, her lashes fluttering as she held her own gaze. "Because it truly does."
The day she broke up with Victor, she remembered stopping in front of a mirror while packing her things. Back then, she had understood—painfully—why Victor hadn't touched her… and why he'd chosen someone else instead.
Lynsandra inhaled deeply and shook her head, shoving the memory back where it belonged. She met her reflection again and smiled.
Without another word, she turned and left the changing room, heading for her chambers where one man was already waiting.
As she approached her room, her steps slowed.
She narrowed her eyes at the figure leaning casually against the wall beside her door.
Elias Hale.
Lynsandra smirked, keeping her steps steady until she stood before him. Her gaze lingered on his shoes before slowly lifting to meet his golden eyes.
Elias reached out, letting strands of her hair slip between the gaps of his long, slender fingers. Desire burned in his gaze as his low voice echoed through the silent hallway.
"You said we could do as much as we liked in the harem, so long as we didn't cross the line," he said, his voice darkening as his face drew closer to hers. "But you smell so damn good… I might cross it tonight."