*~Lucien's POV~*
My throat was tight. My chest was hurting. My stomach was hot. I didn't know what was hurting me more—Gabrielle dismissing me with that pain in her voice, or the fact that this night was colder than anything I had ever felt. My bones were freezing.
I entered my room and immediately felt ten times—ten times—colder than usual. I covered myself with every robe I owned, layering everything I could find, yet I was still freezing.
What is it about this night that is hurting me?
I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping sleep would just come and carry me away from all this trouble. But it didn't. My heart kept hurting.
Then suddenly, I coughed and blood spilled out of my mouth.
My nights were usually cold and unbearable, but never like this. I had never coughed out blood before. My fingers were shivering uncontrollably.
I managed to get off my bed and crawled toward the door. I needed to find Gabrielle.
"Gabrielle," I called out weakly. But she was no longer outside.
