This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

Serena's icy gaze pinned Kain in place, her sharp blue eyes a clear warning: Do not even think about it.

But Kain held his ground, the faintest flicker of guilt evident in his expression as he transmitted his plan mentally through Bea's connection.

'It's the surest way,' he reasoned. 'If you just walk close enough to Roman's table, there's no way he won't invite you over. You don't need to do anything beyond getting close enough to drop Bea's split into his drink. That's it.'

Serena crossed her arms, her posture rigid. 'You're suggesting I lower myself to—'

Kain coughed out loud to interrupt her rant that was just beginning and hopefully relieve the atmosphere a bit—not that it worked.

'I'm not asking you to 'lower yourself' to anything,' Kain explained, careful to keep his tone even in the charged atmosphere. 'Just... distract him long enough to get the job done. You're strong enough to handle it. It's not ideal, but we don't have many other options. And the longer we take, the more likely that the kidnapped people will die.'

That final statement seemed to finally chip away slightly at Serena's intense resistance.

Lina fidgeted uncomfortably, her expression torn. She glanced between the two before finally murmuring, 'Serena... I know it's awful, but it's the best shot we have. We need a distraction so that Roman won't notice anything, and you are the best distraction. Even I found it hard ot focus when I first met you because of your face…'

Serena's lips pressed into a thin line, her jaw clenching in suppressed frustration. After a long moment, she exhaled sharply through her nose and straightened. 'Fine,' she bit out, her tone clipped. 'But don't think for a second that I won't get you back for this, Kain.'

Kain rubbed the goosebumps that suddenly rose at the back of his neck at the very real threat as Serena strode toward Roman's table, each step measured and deliberate, her figure commanding attention even amidst the haze-filled chaos of the club.

Heads turned as she passed, her natural elegance heightened by the low lighting and the mysterious allure of her mask. Kain's confidence in her ability to seduce Roman was not misplaced; by the time she reached Roman's section, the men at the table had already taken notice.

Roman himself leaned back in his seat, a cocky smirk spreading beneath his elaborate black-and-gold mask.

His entourage of high-profile second-generation rich young men and a smattering of women in slinky dresses watched as Serena approached, the men with intrigue and the women with undisguised envy.

"Well, well," one of Roman's companions chuckled, elbowing him. "Looks like Roman's picked his flavor for the night a bit earlier than usual."

Another man snorted, swirling the drink in his glass. "Can't blame him. She's leagues above the usual crowd."

The comment drew soft laughter from the table, though the women accompanying Roman glared daggers at Serena, their jealousy palpable. One particularly bold woman in a red dress leaned close to Roman, draping herself over his arm as if to mark her territory. Roman, however, shrugged her off with a dismissive gesture, his focus solely on Serena.

"Care to join us, darling?" Roman drawled, his voice laced with the kind of arrogance that made Serena's skin crawl. He patted the seat beside him, his predatory grin widening. "Don't be shy."

Serena hesitated for the briefest moment, her body unconsciously stiffening as she approached. She lowered herself onto the plush seat beside him, her movements controlled, her spine as straight as a blade.

Though her lips curved into a polite smile, her eyes betrayed her loathing, a fiery glare that could have set Roman ablaze if he had the sense to notice.

But Roman, either too inebriated to notice or too arrogant to care, leaned closer. "What's your name?" he asked, his voice low enough to force intimacy.

"Lily," Serena replied smoothly, picking a random name off the top of her head—likely inspired by the giant flower at the heart of the club. "And you must be Roman Silverhart."

Roman's grin smugly widened at her recognition. "Ah, I see my reputation precedes me. Tell me, Lily, what you to my club?" He makes sure to emphasize his ownership stake in the business, hoping to impress her. Your journey continues with empire

"Curiosity," Serena answered, deflecting with practiced ease. Her voice was cool but not cold, the perfect balance to maintain his interest without encouraging him. "I've heard stories about this place, and I wanted to see for myself."

Roman chuckled, his hand sliding a little too close to her knee. "You've chosen the right guide, then. I'll make sure you see everything worth seeing."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Serena resisted the urge to recoil, her fingers tightening into a fist beneath the table. Roman's companions continued their teasing, making crude jokes about her presence and Roman's luck, while the women at the table looked as though they might claw Serena apart.

"Tell me, Lily," Roman said, his gaze raking over her, "where are you from? I haven't seen you around before, and I'm sure I'd notice a woman like you"

"I travel often," Serena replied, sidestepping his question. "I don't stay in one place for too long."

"Interesting." Roman's hand grazed hers under the pretense of reaching for his glass. Serena barely resisted the urge to pull away, her nails digging into her palm instead. "A free spirit, then. I like that. I also like to act…without any inhibitions." He said while placing one of his arms around her shoulder.

Serena, lowered her head, but Kain could tell that she was mere seconds away from breaking the hand on her shoulder that was in danger of brushing a little too close to an unwanted area.

Kain had Bea suppress her negative emotions briefly to prevent her acting out—otherwise all of the effort they'd already made would be wasted.

As the conversation continued, Roman's questions grew more invasive and Serena played along, her responses calculated and succinct. All the while, she bided her time, waiting for the moment she could complete her task. Finally, Roman grew distracted, turning to laugh at a joke one of his companions made and taking his eyes off of her for the first time in a while. His glass, still half-full, sat unattended on the table.

With a practiced motion, Serena reached for her own drink and brushed her hand against Roman's glass as she picked up her own. In that brief contact, one of Bea's splits slipped from her palm and into the liquid, instantly infecting the liquid without a trace.

Serena leaned back, feigning relaxation as the conversation resumed. Inside, her tension didn't ease until Roman lifted his glass to his lips, taking a long sip without suspicion.

Making eye contact with her as he drank, Serena gave him a genuine smile for the first time that night—likely encouraged by the attention, he made sure to quickly finish the glass.