Chapter 110: Pyris’s Eyes on the Prize
As the night wore on, Pyris could feel the pressure mounting. The Valyrians were calculating, precise, and subtle in their efforts to draw him into their web. The entire evening had been orchestrated as part of a larger game, and Pyris was the key piece they were trying to manipulate.
The real question, however, was how far they were willing to go.
His sharp eyes scanned the room, catching sight of Selene Serenova standing at the edge of the ballroom. Her eyes, ever watchful, took in the crowd with cool detachment. She stood apart from the festivities, observing but not engaging, her power simmering just beneath the surface.
Despite her calm demeanor, Pyris knew she was fully aware of the games being played tonight. Her earlier warning echoed in his mind—this was no ordinary gathering, and the Valyrians had plans that went far beyond celebration.
Selene gave him a subtle nod from across the room, a wordless acknowledgment of the tension they both could feel. She knew the Valyrians were laying the groundwork for something much larger, and it wouldn't end with simple political maneuvering.
She drifted into the shadows before disappearing completely.
Pyris took a deep breath, steeling himself. He had no intention of being ensnared by the Valyrian family, no matter how carefully they wove their trap. He wasn't just here to survive the evening—he intended to turn the tables.
_____
As Pyris made his way through the crowd, he felt eyes on him—eyes filled with admiration, desire, and curiosity. The women in the room were drawn to him, just as they always were, their gazes lingering on him longer than necessary, their smiles just a touch more inviting.
It was something Pyris had grown used to, a natural effect of his Lust Dragon heritage and the Goddess's blessings.
But among those captivated stares, one stood out.
Seraphina Valyrian, the youngest princess and the heart of the Valyrian family's plan, was watching him more intently than before. Pyris could sense the growing pull between them.
Like many others, she couldn't seem to resist the magnetic attraction he exuded, but there was something deeper in her gaze now—hesitation.
Seraphina was playing her part well, but Pyris could tell she was beginning to have doubts. Her feelings were conflicting; the cold calculation with which she had approached him was faltering under the weight of something more primal, more instinctive.
She was feeling it—the same draw all others felt around him—and it was starting to disrupt her carefully laid plans.
She's starting to doubt herself, Pyris thought, a small smirk tugging at his lips. Perfect.
As he moved toward her, he could see the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, though her posture remained poised and elegant. Seraphina was known for her ability to manipulate others, to bend them to her will through charm and guile.
But now, Pyris was the one shifting the balance.
He could play the long game too. His goal wasn't just to survive the night; it was to take Seraphina, to make her his, without giving the Valyrian Emperor what he wanted.
Pyris had no intention of becoming a pawn in their schemes. If he was going to walk into their trap, he would walk out of it with more than just his pride intact—he would walk out victorious.
_____
Seraphina's thoughts were tangled. She had approached the evening with a clear objective: draw Pyris into the fold, use the party as a means to bind him closer to the Valyrian family, and in doing so, secure a powerful ally—or a tool for the empire's goals.
The Emperor, her father, had given her the task of luring Pyris in, and she had taken it on without question.
But now, standing before Pyris, feeling the intensity of his presence, the allure of his power, Seraphina was beginning to doubt herself. She had never expected to be affected by him, not like this. His aura was overwhelming—an intoxicating mix of raw strength, elegance, and something else she couldn't quite place.
Every word he spoke, every glance he cast her way, sent a thrill through her that she struggled to ignore.
'Why do I feel this way?' Seraphina thought, her heart pounding in her chest. 'I'm supposed to control him, not the other way around.'
She glanced at Pyris as he approached, and for a moment, her carefully crafted façade slipped. He was more than just another powerful noble, more than just the heir to the Obsidian family.
There was something ancient, something primal in him that she couldn't resist.
Unbidden thoughts crept into her mind—thoughts she had no business entertaining. She shook them off quickly, reminding herself of her duty. But the growing attraction was undeniable, and it was starting to chip away at her resolve.
____
Pyris closed the distance between them, his expression calm but his eyes gleaming with purpose. He could sense Seraphina's inner turmoil, the way her emotions were battling with her logic. She had been sent to manipulate him, but now she was caught in her own web, and Pyris was more than ready to take advantage of that.
He smiled, offering her a glass of wine as he reached her. "It seems the evening is turning out to be... more interesting than either of us expected."
Seraphina accepted the glass, her fingers brushing against his as she did. She felt a shiver run through her at the brief contact, and her pulse quickened.
"Interesting, indeed," she replied, her voice steady but her heart racing.
Pyris could see the conflict in her eyes. She was still trying to play the game, still trying to maintain control, but the cracks were beginning to show. The attraction between them was undeniable, and Pyris wasn't going to let her walk away from it.
He stepped closer, his voice lowering just enough to make the moment feel more intimate. "You're not like the others, Seraphina. You don't follow the rules—they follow you."
Seraphina blinked, surprised by his words. "What are you talking about?" she asked, trying to keep her composure.
"You and I—we're alike," Pyris continued, his eyes locked on hers. "We're not here to be controlled. We're here to take control."
Seraphina's breath hitched, and she felt the pull between them intensify. 'No', she thought, trying to keep her focus. This isn't how it's supposed to go. 'I'm supposed to be the one pulling the strings.'
But Pyris wasn't giving her time to think. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "You feel it too, don't you? The power. The connection. You're not just another pawn in this game, Seraphina.
You're the queen. But queens can still fall."
Her heart raced at his words, and despite herself, Seraphina felt the walls she had built start to crumble. She had come here with a plan, but now she wasn't sure who was controlling the game anymore.
Pyris smiled inwardly. He could see the doubt in her eyes, the hesitation in her movements. She was attracted to him, just like all the women in the room, but with Seraphina, it was deeper.
She had come to ensnare him, but Pyris was already flipping the script. He was going to take her, but not on the Valyrian family's terms—on his.
And when he did, the Emperor would be left with nothing.
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As the music swirled around them and the other guests moved about, Seraphina found herself drawn into the conversation, her carefully laid plans unraveling in the presence of Pyris. Her attraction to him was growing stronger with every word he spoke, every glance he gave her.
She had been tasked with bringing Pyris into the fold, but now she wasn't sure she wanted to let him go—at least not in the way her father had intended.
'What is this?' she thought, her mind spinning. 'I was supposed to control him, but...'
But what?
She couldn't shake the feeling that Pyris was more than he appeared. And it wasn't just his status as the CEO of Obsidian Tech or his impressive business acumen. No, there was something ancient, something otherworldly about him.
Something that both intrigued and terrified her.
Seraphina's thoughts raced as she tried to reconcile her mission with her growing attraction to him. She knew the Emperor had laid out a plan, but now she wasn't so sure she could follow through with it.
There was something about Pyris—something she couldn't resist.
And Pyris could see it all. He could feel the doubt creeping into Seraphina's mind, the hesitation in her actions. She was being pulled toward him, just like so many others had been before. But this time, Pyris wasn't just going to let things unfold naturally.
He was going to take control.
He wasn't just going to play the game.
He was going to win.