Love In Disguise: Rebirth of the Heiress
Chapter 103

Chapter 103: Chapter 103

Lucian stood over Jason’s unconscious body, an ornate object in his hand. It shimmered faintly, casting an eerie light over Jason’s face. Without hesitation, Lucian raised the object and brought it down with a sharp crack against Jason’s temple.

Jason’s eyes fluttered open, his familiar gray irises staring up at Lucian in confusion. "What the hell?" he groaned, clutching his head. "Lucian? What are you doing?"

Lucian’s lips tightened into a grim line. "Not you."

Jason’s face twisted in confusion. "What do you mean—"

Before he could finish, Lucian brought the object down again.

"Sorry, Jason," Lucian muttered as Jason slumped back into unconsciousness.

Lucian waited for a beat, then slapped Jason’s face lightly, watching for any sign of change. Nothing. He slapped harder, and suddenly, Jason’s eyes flew open, but this time they weren’t gray—they were the sharp, unsettling blue I’d seen before.

The blue-eyed Jason smirked, his voice dripping with mockery. "Awakening me? Forcing me out totally? Unlike you, brother."

Lucian straightened, his expression cold. "You left me no choice."

Blue-eyed Jason chuckled, sitting up slowly, his movements fluid and deliberate. "So dramatic, as always. You could have just let me sleep."

Lucian’s grip tightened on the object. "You’ve been taking liberties, haven’t you?"

Jason—or whoever this was—shrugged, his smirk widening. "Can you blame me? He’s got such an interesting life. And that girl... Kiara, is it? Quite the firecracker."

Lucian’s eyes darkened. "Stay away from her."

Blue-eyed Jason chuckled, the sound dark and mocking. "Freedom? For our kingdom? Is that what you’ve convinced yourself this is about, brother? Don’t make me laugh."

Lucian’s jaw tightened, his grip on the glowing object firm. "This isn’t a debate. You know why we’re here. You know what’s at stake."

Jason’s blue eyes glinted with defiance, his smirk unwavering. "And yet, here you are, playing the noble martyr while I actually enjoy this second chance. You lecture me about control? At least I’m honest about what I want."

"Wanting her isn’t part of the plan!" Lucian snapped, his voice echoing in the room.

Jason stepped closer, his movements deliberate, like a predator circling prey. "Maybe not your plan. But I’ve been trapped in darkness for far too long. You expect me to throw it all away now that I can finally see her?"

Lucian’s expression darkened, his gaze narrowing. "Kiara is not her. No matter how much you try to convince yourself otherwise."

Jason laughed bitterly, his voice rising. "You think I don’t know that? Do you have any idea what it’s like to feel her presence, to hear her voice, and yet not see her face? Do you know how maddening that is? But now..." He paused, his hand pressing against his chest. "Now I see her clearly. And I won’t give that up. Not for you, not for anyone."

"She’s not your salvation!" Lucian shot back. "You’re clinging to a ghost. The soul may be the same, but Kiara is not your past. And if you can’t separate the two, you’ll ruin everything."

Jason’s eyes burned brighter, his voice dangerously low. "Maybe I don’t want to separate them. Maybe this is my chance to rewrite what was taken from me."

Lucian’s hand tightened around the glowing object, his calm facade cracking. "You’re being selfish."

"And you’re being blind!" Jason roared, stepping forward until they were face-to-face. "Do you even hear yourself? You speak of plans and kingdoms, but you forget that she’s the key to all of it. If she falls, everything falls. I won’t let that happen."

Lucian’s voice dropped, cold and sharp. "Then stay hidden. We do not want more questions than there already are. Your reckless attachment will only draw attention."

Jason smirked, the defiance in his gaze unwavering. "I don’t take orders from you, brother."

Before Lucian could reply, Jason’s body shimmered faintly, and in the blink of an eye, he disappeared, leaving only a faint ripple in the air.

Lucian sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair as the blue light in the room dimmed. "Always the stubborn one."

Suddenly, Jason’s gray eyes fluttered open, his expression groggy and confused. "Lucian...?"

Lucian turned to him, his expression unreadable. "You’re back."

Jason blinked, sitting up slowly as he tried to orient himself. "Back from what? What just happened?"

Lucian crossed his arms, his face tightening ever so slightly. "You were... overwhelmed by residual energy. Nothing you need to concern yourself with."

Jason frowned, his hand going to his head as if trying to piece together fragments of a broken memory. "Residual energy? That doesn’t explain why I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck."

"You’ve been through worse," Lucian replied flatly. He stepped forward, helping Jason to his feet with a firm grip. "Come. Kiara’s waiting."

"Kiara?" Jason’s voice softened at the mention of her name. "She’s here?"

Lucian nodded but didn’t elaborate further. Instead, he turned on his heel and began walking toward the door, his movements sharp and purposeful. Jason followed, still dazed but instinctively trusting his brother to lead the way.

When they stepped out of the room and into the grand hall, Kiara was pacing nervously, her arms crossed as she muttered to herself. The moment her eyes landed on Jason, her entire demeanor shifted.

"Jason!" she called out, her voice a mix of relief and panic.

Before Jason could react, she was running toward him, throwing herself into his arms. He caught her instinctively, his hands going to her back as she clung to him tightly.

"You’re okay," she breathed, her voice trembling. "I was so worried."

Jason held her close, his confusion fading as a small smile tugged at his lips. "I’m fine, Kiara. See? Still in one piece."

She pulled back just enough to look up at him, her eyes scanning his face for any sign of injury. "You scared me," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucian stood silently a few feet away, watching the scene with an unreadable expression. After a moment, he cleared his throat.

"Now that we’re all reunited, perhaps we can get back to the matter at hand?"

Kiara turned her gaze to Lucian, her brows furrowing. "What matter? What happened to him?"

Lucian’s eyes flicked to Jason briefly before returning to Kiara. "Nothing permanent. He simply needed... adjustment."

"Adjustment?" she echoed, her tone sharp with suspicion. She looked back at Jason, her hands still gripping his arms. "Are you sure you’re okay?"

Jason nodded, though his expression was tinged with unease. "I feel fine. Just... tired. Really tired."

Lucian’s gaze softened, but his voice remained firm. "Then rest."

Kiara glanced between the two brothers, her instincts telling her there was more to the story than either of them was letting on. But for now, she chose to focus on the fact that Jason was safe.

"Fine," she said, stepping back reluctantly. "But if anything happens to him again, I want answers."

Lucian inclined his head, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "Of course."

Jason placed a hand on Kiara’s shoulder, offering her a reassuring squeeze. "It’s okay. I promise."