The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 195: Chapter 195: The Smug Smile Of His

Serena’s POV~

The moment Aeron’s lips touched my hand, everything inside me stopped.

It wasn’t just a polite kiss. It was slow and intentional. The kind that made the air around us grow heavier. His touch was warm against my skin, but it burned too...like fire pretending to be gentle.

I froze, barely remembering how to breathe. My heart was beating so fast I thought everyone could hear it.

He didn’t look away. Not even for a second.

His eyes were fixed on mine...calm, deep, and so intense that I felt like he was trying to pull me into them. For a moment, I forgot where I was. The sounds, the lights, the crowd...they all faded until it was just him. Aeron Duskdraven.

When he finally spoke, his voice was low, smooth, and far too steady for the chaos inside me.

"The princess is looking beautiful tonight."

The words hit me harder than they should have. Simple, polite... yet there was something in the way he said it. Something that made my stomach twist and my chest tighten.

I tried to reply, tried to smile or say thank you, but nothing came out. My lips parted, but no sound followed.

I couldn’t look at him anymore.

I turned my gaze down, hoping he wouldn’t notice how my hands were trembling slightly. My skin still felt hot where his lips had touched. It was ridiculous, but it didn’t feel like one. Not from him.

He knew.

They all knew.

That thought hit me suddenly, like a punch to the chest. They must have recognized me. There was no other reason they’d all be here tonight, together, out of nowhere.

I forced myself to look up again, just a little, and caught Kael’s face from behind Aeron’s shoulder.

He was smiling.

That same damn mischievous smile that always made me want to throw something at him.

Of course. Of course it was him.

He must’ve told them everything. How else could I explain it? How else could all four of them appear at the royal dinner so suddenly...like they’d planned it, like they wanted to corner me here in front of everyone?

Why was I even invited to this dinner? I was nothing. A two-day princess that most of them didn’t even care about. I should’ve been kept far away from all this.

But no. They were here. And they had found me.

When Aeron finally let go of my hand, I barely had time to breathe before the next one stepped forward.

Luca.

eyes... they were full of something

just a second

wasn’t teasing like before. It wasn’t cruel either. It was

There was so much emotion there...anger, sadness, and something darker too. He looked tired. Worn out.

away. I couldn’t handle it. His gaze

Then came Lucian.

at me, his expression unreadable. Calm,

he kissed my hand, it was soft...barely there, but it

faint smile on his face.

my

of them. One after

almost hurt. I felt dizzy. It was like the

Kael stepped

grin was wide and playful, his grey eyes gleaming

his voice

to glare at him before he caught my hand and bowed slightly, pressing a

a challenge. His lips

his

exactly what

stupid smile right off his

still racing. My hands were still warm. And my head was spinning

They were all here.

Lucian,

After all the pain, the silence, the distance—here they were, standing in front of me, looking at

I... didn’t know what to do.

wanted was

needed to

fix my dress, pretending to look calm, but all I wanted was to

could move, I heard a familiar

"Serena."

finally, he

time to see him walking toward us. His face was calm and polite as always, but his eyes told a different story. They were sharp, cold, and full of

firmly touching my arm as if to pull me slightly behind him. His tone was smooth, but I could feel the

said, his polite smile

nodded. Lucian stayed quiet. Luca’s

to reply properly. They didn’t even seem to care that a

smile grew tighter. I could almost hear his patience snapping inside

bit back a

funny...watching the calm and composed Prince Vaelen getting ignored so completely. He was trying so hard to be civil, but they

it was