Leo immediately felt out of place when he found himself materialized inside a greenhouse-like room within an opulent mansion. Moist air clung to his skin, thick with the mingled scents of soil, flowers, and something faintly metallic. It was beautiful, almost too beautiful, with rare blooms and towering trees packed tightly together beneath a domed glass ceiling. It made him uneasy.
He was about to ask where they had ended up when Lily straightened, her expression shifting as if some part of her had suddenly recognized the surroundings.
"Oh? We are already at my house? That is strange, but that makes things easier."
Her tone was light and unbothered, as if this was all perfectly normal, but that did little to calm him.
Leo’s relief lasted all of five seconds before the sharp and unmistakable sound of dozens of guns being cocked rang out around them. Hidden figures emerged from behind the greenery, weapons trained on the group with silent precision.
He tensed, claws sliding free as his muscles coiled. His golden eyes swept the room, counting the number of barrels aimed his way. Too many.
"This is just great," he muttered, irritation simmering as he dropped into a half-crouch. It felt like every time Discordia got involved, things spiraled into chaos for him and his friends. He was ready for it.
Before he could say anything else, Lily’s voice cut through the tension, sharp and bright.
The words froze the air for a moment. From deep within the dense foliage at the back of the greenhouse, a tall figure slowly approached.
Leo straightened, his claws lowering slightly as the man stepped into view. Silver hair, neatly combed despite his age, glinted in the filtered sunlight. His suit was immaculate, dark fabric tailored perfectly to a frame that spoke of a man who had once been powerful in every sense of the word. He moved with authority even as he leaned lightly on a polished black cane.
It was then that Leo realized this was not just a greenhouse. It was a personal garden, a place carefully cultivated by someone who clearly valued beauty and control in equal measure.
Lucian, Lily’s father, carried himself with an unexpected majesty. The aura surrounding him was not magical but something earned through a lifetime of command. It demanded respect without ever needing to ask for it.
Lily’s smile faltered for the first time as she noticed the cane. Her eyes softened briefly before she schooled her expression again.
Lucian’s face, on the other hand, lit up the moment he saw his daughter. His silver eyes held warmth and pride as he approached. When his gaze swept over the others, it was assessing but not hostile. He raised one hand almost lazily, and without a word, every weapon in the room lowered.
Leo blinked in surprise, watching the disciplined precision as the armed men melted back into the greenery like ghosts.
It clicked for him then. Lily’s father was not just some rich man with hired guards. He was a former Mafia Boss. The thought sent a chill down Leo’s spine, though Lucian’s demeanor at the moment was nothing but amicable.
"Lily," Lucian said with a smile that carried both relief and curiosity, "you have been gone longer than I expected. Why not introduce your friends?"
Lily tilted her head. "You already know Morgan."
Lucian’s smile held, but Leo caught the flicker of confusion when his eyes settled on Morgan. The man’s gaze lingered for a moment, clearly noting the dramatic change in appearance. Morgan looked entirely different now, undeniably beautiful in a way that almost felt unreal.
Lucian’s brow furrowed briefly before smoothing out again, as though he had decided to be open minded about it rather than ask questions.
Then Lily beamed and gestured toward Leo. "And this is Leo, Luna’s little brother and the Party Leader."
The change was instant. Lucian’s smile cracked, and his entire posture shifted as his eyes snapped toward Leo with a sharpness that had not been there before.
"You," Lucian said, voice low and dangerous, "are responsible for my daughter’s appearance, are you not? Did you think you could just steal her away while dragging her through whatever mess you got involved in?"
Leo froze, his brain scrambling to keep up. The man’s anger rolled off him in waves, the weight of his presence suddenly suffocating.
"What? No, sir," Leo said quickly, raising his hands in a half-defensive gesture. "We got caught up in something way beyond our control. Time passed differently for us. It was not like we wanted this to happen."
Lucian’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "Convenient excuse."
"Dad," Lily cut in, her voice firm. "It is true. From my perspective, we were only gone a few hours at most. Whatever happened here, it was not the same for us." Thıs content belongs to novel-fire.ɴet
The effect was immediate.
Lucian’s entire demeanor shifted the moment his daughter spoke. His skepticism vanished as though it had never existed, and warmth returned to his face as he regarded her.
"If that is what you believe, then I will take your word for it," Lucian said smoothly. "Come. All of you. There are things you need to know about what has happened since you disappeared."
Leo stood there for a moment, quietly offended at how fast Lucian’s attitude had flipped. He got accused, glared at, practically threatened, and the second Lily vouched for him, all was forgiven as if Leo’s word meant nothing at all.
He bit back the retort that rose in his throat. He could see it now, clear as day. Lily was a Daddy’s girl through and through. The way Lucian looked at her carried so much pride and softness that it was obvious he would give her anything she asked for without hesitation.
And, to be fair, Leo could not even blame her. If he had a father who looked at him like that, maybe he would be the same way.
With a faint sigh, Leo fell into step with the others as Lucian led them deeper into the mansion.
The greenhouse doors swung open, revealing a hallway lined with portraits and antique furniture that practically radiated wealth and history. Servants moved quietly through the space, giving Lucian and Lily respectful nods as they passed.
Leo stayed near the back, his mind churning. He still felt the sting of how quickly he had been written off, but he pushed it aside. Whatever had happened while they were gone, it was serious enough that even Lucian’s cane and the armed guards felt like small details compared to what they were about to learn.
For now, he would play along.
But he could not shake the thought that nothing about this reunion was going to be simple.