I made it back to my room without any further incidents after being discharged from the infirmary. The healers said I'd passed all their tests—lungs cleared, pulse steady, magic flow stable.
I should have felt relieved.
Instead, I still felt a little off—like the shadows of the lake clung to me. Or maybe it wasn't the water. Maybe it was him.
The person who had tried to drown me.
How was I supposed to protect myself if he decided to try again? Because I was certain he would.
That kind of hatred didn't just disappear overnight.
As soon as I stepped inside my room, I shut the door tight and whispered a short incantation under my breath. Threads of pale light flickered around me as a simple barrier spell sealed the space—a basic protection ward, nothing fancy, but enough to keep unwanted guests out.
The breeze picked up, cold fingers tangling through my hair.
I froze.
The air was still a moment ago.
How is the wind…?
My eyes widened as realization struck, cold and sharp. A shiver crawled down my spine—the kind that warned you you're not alone.
Someone was here.
My windows.
I spun toward them, already chanting under my breath. The protective spell flared to life around me, threads of golden light swirling in the air.
Not fear. Not this time. Anger burned hotter than panic. Because I knew *exactly* who it was.
"Oh, darling," a familiar voice drawled, smooth and dark, like smoke curling around the edges of my thoughts. "Do you really think any spell can keep me away from you?"
He stepped out of the shadows, moonlight brushing over his sharp features—too perfect, too dangerous.
I clenched my fists, refusing to let him see the way my pulse quickened.
I didn't answer. Instead, I took a slow, steady breath, forcing my heart to calm. The last thing I wanted was for him to know the effect he had on me.
He smiled—slow, deliberate, dangerous. The same smile that used to mock me, tease me, unravel me.
"You shouldn't glare at me like that," he murmured, taking another step closer. "You'll make me think you don't miss me."
"I don't," I said flatly. "And get out of my room, Adrian."
My voice was low but steady, even though my pulse thundered in my ears.
"I see you're still as rude as ever," he said, chuckling. The sound was smooth, dark—like velvet brushing against broken glass.
But then, his smile faltered. His gaze sharpened, all traces of teasing gone.
"Who tried to drown you?" Adrian asked, his tone hard now, protective—or was it possessive? He took another step toward me, the air between us crackling with tension.
"No one tried to drown me. As you might've already known, I fell," I said, keeping my voice as neutral as possible.
That was the curse of dealing with a vampire — they could always tell when you were lying, no matter how convincing you thought you sounded.
His eyes flashed, anger darkening them as he closed the distance between us. "We both know you're lying. Did you forget I've seen you swim?" His tone sharpened. "Tell me, who did this to you?"
I took a step back, needing space—needing air. "It's none of your business," I said sharply. "Why do you even care? It's not like we're friends."
I narrowed my eyes, suspicion flaring. "Did my father put you up to this?"
It was only a flicker in his eyes, but it confirmed my suspicion. My father was a vampire—and his father and mine were close. Of course Adrian would listen if my father asked a favor. He'd promised obedience to his family long before either of us were born.
Hybrids like me were common enough, but acceptance was another matter. We were easy targets, looked down on, shoved aside. Maybe my father worried that being a hybrid made me vulnerable. Maybe that's why he'd asked Adrian to "look after" me—whether I wanted it or not.
Adrian stopped just inches away. The faint scent of iron and cold night clung to him, and my skin prickled under his proximity. "I will find whoever did this to you, Selina," he murmured, each word low and dangerous. "I'll kill them myself if I have to."
He ignored my question as if it didn't matter. For a moment, the teasing, cruel boy I remembered vanished, replaced by something darker and relentless.
"You don't need to be so dramatic. I can take care of myself." I glared at him, even though I knew it wouldn't make a difference. If Adrian found out the truth, he'd act on it—and knowing him, he'd make good on his word. But I couldn't let that happen. His father was a high-ranking member of the Supernatural Council. A fight with the Ashfang Pack would cost him his spotless reputation.
"So someone *did* try to drown you," he said quietly, picking up the meaning I'd tried so hard to bury.
"No," I snapped, exasperated. "I told you, I don't remember."
"Liar." His voice dropped an octave, smooth and deadly. The corners of his mouth curved, revealing the faintest glint of fangs. "You never learned that lying to me is useless."
The air thickened between us—part warning, part challenge—and my heart pounded despite my best efforts to stay calm.
I ignored him and walked to the door. "The spell wasn't to stop you from coming in."
I paused, meeting his moss-green eyes—so bright they almost glowed in the dim light.
"It's to stop you from going out."
Just before the clicked sealing him inside, I was able to see The smile slip from his face, replaced by a sharp scowl.
After years of being around him, I'd learned how to survive him. How to anticipate his moves.
And this time, I was one step ahead.
I needed peace. Quiet. Time to process everything that had happened—and I knew Adrian wouldn't give me that willingly. Not until he pried every last secret from my mouth.
So if I had to trap a vampire in my room to get a moment of calm… so be it.