I had slept… finally. Not deeply, not without awareness, but enough that the firelight and Lucien's arm around me had been a strange comfort.
Even so, the house did not feel safe. In the quiet of the night, I could hear it: faint creaks, distant whispers, the subtle hum of something alive moving just beyond my sight. I forced myself to breathe, counting each sound, telling myself it was normal. That it was just a house.
A soft knock at the door startled me out of the edge of sleep. My heart lurched.
"Yes?" I called, my voice trembling despite myself.
The door opened, and a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped in. Dark clothes, sharp eyes, calm authority.
"Mrs. Blackwell," he said, his voice measured. "I'm Dimitri Scotland. I handle most things for Lucien—security, schedules… problems."
I nodded silently, unsure how to respond. Something about him felt… different. Safe, almost.
"You're not what they expected," he added, as if reading my thoughts. "The Council. The staff. Lucien himself."
Before I could ask, Lucien appeared in the doorway. Silent. Cold. Commanding. As if hecame through thin air — no footsteps, no sound.
Dimitri didn't move. Didn't bow. He simply said, "She's awake."
Seraphina sees that Dimitri wasn't scared nor afraid of Lucien like the others, he seems they had a natural connection.
"I can see that," Lucien replied.
The air shifted in a way I could feel in my chest. Shadows seemed to flicker differently, pressing just slightly closer. My pulse quickened.
And then I saw it.
A shape — tall, indistinct, like smoke given form — loomed just behind Lucien's shoulder. Eyes glowing faintly, wrong in a way I couldn't explain.
"What do you see?" Lucien asked, his voice sharp.
I hesitated. My instinct screamed to lie. But his rule echoed: Never lie to me .
"There's… something," I whispered.
Dimitri froze. Lucien's eyes darkened, dangerous.
"It looks… angry," I added. "Like it's waiting."
The room fell silent. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the shape dissolved.
Dimitri's disbelief was obvious. "She sees them," he muttered.
Lucien didn't answer. He only looked at me — really looked at me — for the first time.
"You're not afraid," he said.
"I am," I admitted. "Just… not of you."
That earned a brief pause from him. A flicker I didn't understand.
"Send for her," I added suddenly, my voice trembling. "My maid. Lisa. I need her."
Lucien held my gaze. Then, a single nod.
The door closed. Dimitri's last look carried… respect. Fear, maybe.
I stood and freshened up, shaking off the lingering tension. The room smelled faintly of lavender from the cleaning staff, and the cool water running over my hands helped me feel… almost human again.
When I turned back, Lucien was there.
Not in the doorway. Not stepping in. He was simply… there. As if he had appeared from nothing, like he appearedfrom thin air. My heart skipped.
He moved aside slowly, and there she was grinning from ear to ear, Lisa Timberland rushed forward, squealing with excitement. We embraced tightly, whispering quick greetings, and I could feel Dimitri standing quietly nearby, watching us with an unreadable expression.
Oliver stepped closer as well — tall, strong, his presence commanding yet slightly nervous around Lucien. I could tell he admired the girl in front of him… but feared the man.
"You look… amazing," Lisa breathed, pulling back slightly.
I laughed softly, my nerves still jittering. Then, on impulse, I walked forward, straight to the center of the room where Lucien stood. Without thinking, I pecked him on the cheek.
The room froze.
The maid paused mid-cleaning.
Lisa's mouth fell open.
Dimitri's eyes widened, a mix of shock andamusement.
Oliver looked like he was about to faint.
I pulled back immediately, my face burning, realizing what I had done.
Lucien's lips curved slightly, and his cheeks… they were red. Red in a way I had never seen before.
"You're… bold," he said softly, voice low, almost unreadable.
Then, just like that, he turned and left.
Almost instantly, Dimitri and Oliver followed, leaving Lisa and me alone.
"You did what?" Lisa gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.
I laughed nervously, pacing a little. "I… I don't know. I just… felt like it."
Lisa shook her head, grinning. "Oh, Seraphina… you've got him good. And he —" she paused, smirking—"he's never seen anyone like you before. Not even close."
I let out a small sigh, sitting back on the edge of the bed. "Everything… everything that's happened… I still don't understand it."
Lisa flopped down beside me, tugging me into another hug. "Don't worry, babe. We'll figure it out. But you? You just made Lucien Blackwell very aware of you."
And for the first time, I felt… a little less afraid.