Marcos's hand acted before he knew it. The slap was strangely loud in the beautifully decorated lobby.

"Don't you dare touch Diana," roared Marcos, spitting in the handsome face of young Master Hathaway.

“Watch your words, old man” the words came out of Lucian's mouth, aggressively hissing through teeth, while he scorned and arrogantly wiped his face “Her life is at the mercy of my goodwill” he continued, looking coldly at Marcos's pupil.

With a slight nod from the young master of the Hathaway family, the knife pressed it against Diana's neck and a thin trickle of blood flowed, the apprentice could not contain the groan of pain. Hector almost advanced towards her, but a sharp look from Raul made him freeze in place. Anger and fear clouded his thoughts. What the hell was going on? He thought desperately.

Marcos was shaking with anger and indignation. He shouldn't have brought Diana with him. In an attempt to keep her safe, he ended up throwing his pupil to the lions. It was his fault and responsibility that Diana's blood had been spilled unnecessarily. Marcos turned to her and tried, with his eyes, to pass on some security and calm.

"Move the knife away from my pupil and then we can talk" Marcos' eyes did not deviate from the dagger.

" Good choice, old man” the scorn in Lucian's voice was palpable, he gestured for Raul to take the knife off the young woman's neck.

When Raul finally released Diana, her legs gave out and a startled sob went up to her throat. A part of Lucian took pity on the girl. She had nothing to do with the old wizard's stubbornness. Unfortunately, she would have to be used as a bargaining chip. Although he has seen countless women cry in fear in front of him, this girl, trying hard not to show her fear, made Lucian regret his attitude.

Without thinking twice, the young master knelt in front of the girl to help her up. What Lucian did not expect when he took the little lady's hand in his, which trembled with fear, was to feel a sensation of warmth take over his body. A sensation that he had been deprived of since the death of that miserable witch.

Lucian didn't know he missed the heat so much until he felt it radiate through Diana's hands. The young master felt like he was melting little by little, with just the touch of her hands. It was as if there was a freezing winter inside himself, and Diana's touch was like a beautiful spring sun, the kind that gently melts the ice.

Diana quickly took her hands away from Lucian's, she didn't want to have any relationship with that man, much less touch him. As soon as the touch was undone, the young master felt again his blood frozing in his veins as if he had never experienced the gentle warmth of the irradiating in front of him. He didn't know what was going on, or why, but when he touched her, he felt pleasantly warm. Lucian was only sure of one thing: whatever the cost, he would keep Diana by his side if it meant feeling heated again.