~The Path Between~ Sebastian Sallow x reader

Don't flatter yourself

"Protego!" I deflected his next spell.

"If you spent less time flirting and more time focusing, maybe you'd land a hit"

"Ouch" he laughed, voice full of delight. "That one hurt worse than your spells"

"Levioso!" 

"Glacius!"

He slid back across the floor, boots skidding, but recovered fast. The air between us cracked with heat and energy, spells flew like lightning, colliding mid air, sending bursts of magic scattering across the room like fireworks.

"You're actually trying to hit me" he said, genuinely amused as he ducked another spell. "Didn't know you cared so much"

"Don't flatter yourself"

"Too late. Already did" I rolled my eyes, focusing. My magic surged, deeper than before. Ancient, instinctive. I channeled it, letting it flow through my wand like molten fire. Lucien paused, his cocky grin faltering just slightly when the room dimmed, my magic pulsing, glowing faintly under my skin.

And then bam, I hit him square in the chest with a stunning blast of raw, golden blue energy. He went flying, landing hard on the stone floor. I lowered my wand, panting lightly, surprised at myself. But then his wand twitched.

"Accio!" The force of the charm yanked me forward with no warning. I stumbled, caught off balance, straight into his arms as he stood up, smug and a little out of breath. My palms landed on his chest instinctively.

"That... was cheating" I muttered.

His hand slid to my waist like he'd done it a thousand times. "Call it strategy. You're a difficult one to get close to." His voice dropped, smooth as velvet.

"Had to use something" I blinked up at him, heart thudding slightly too loud for my liking.

"You're playing a dangerous game, Vale" He leaned in just a bit, that wolfish grin returning.

"Darling, danger's half the fun" I furrowed my brows, shoving him back just enough to create space between us. His unwavering confidence was beginning to grate on my nerves.

"So the voices were true" he said calmly. I blinked, thrown.

"What voices?"

"The power you hold" he clarified, eyes locked on mine.

"The ancient magic" I hesitated for a moment.

"Well, keeping it a secret was tricky after I fought Ranrok beneath the school. Pretty hard to stay under the radar after that" Lucien let out a short laugh.

"Yeah, turns out 'saving the wizarding world' doesn't go unnoticed. Students gossip, professors whisper... you're the talk of more circles than you realize"

I narrowed my eyes. His tone wasn't mocking, but it wasn't exactly reverent either.

"What's your sudden interest in my power?" I asked cautiously. He tilted his head.

"Curiosity, mostly. Power like yours, it's not common. Not meant to be"

"And what?" I scoffed. "You're here to study me like some kind of artifact?"

He chuckled, stepping a little closer again, the smirk returning.

"I wouldn't call it studying... More like... observing a rare phenomenon up close" I gave him a flat look.

"Relax" he said, hands lifting in mock surrender. "I'm not your enemy. If anything, I might be someone worth keeping around. You never know who'll have your back when it counts"