Chapter 28 - Shackles of the Heart

Lucian was gone, leaving the night quieter, darker, and far too still. Yet, the imprint of his touch lingered on my skin, burning like a brand I couldn’t erase. I stood in the cold night air, my breath visible in the dim glow of the streetlights, my thoughts tangled in a web of fear, anger, and something far more dangerous—desire.

Why did he have this effect on me?

I could still taste the kiss he had stolen—no, the kiss I had let him take. My hands clenched into fists at my sides as the memory of his lips on mine sent a wave of heat through me, followed immediately by guilt. Edward was lying in a hospital bed, broken and bruised because of Isolde’s cruelty, because of Lucian’s world.

And yet, Lucian was the one who made me feel alive, even as he suffocated me with his dominance.

I took a shuddering breath, my legs feeling weak beneath me. How had I gotten here? How had I become this person, torn between two men and a version of myself I didn’t recognize?

\---

When I returned to the hospital, the sterile scent of antiseptic and the low hum of fluorescent lights brought me back to reality. Edward was where I had left him, his face pale against the white sheets. His chest rose and fell steadily, but his once vibrant presence seemed dulled, as though he were fading from the world.

I sat by his bedside, my hand finding his once more. “I’m here,” I whispered, though I wasn’t sure if I was saying it for his sake or mine.

He stirred slightly, his eyes fluttering open. “Seraphina…”

“I’m here,” I repeated, leaning closer. “I’m not going anywhere.”

His lips twitched into a faint smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “He was here, wasn’t he?”

I froze. “Edward—”

“You don’t have to lie,” he said, his voice weak but steady. “I know how he is. I know how he looks at you, how he makes you feel.”

My throat tightened, and I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. “It’s not like that.”

“Isn’t it?” His words were soft, but they carried the weight of truth. “You don’t owe me an explanation, Seraphina. But you need to be honest with yourself.”

Tears pricked at my eyes, and I shook my head. “This isn’t fair. You shouldn’t have to deal with this. None of this should have happened.”

“But it did,” he said simply. “And now you have to decide.”

Decide. The word echoed in my mind, a cruel reminder that my heart was no longer my own to control.

\---

I left the hospital hours later, my mind heavy with Edward’s words. The world outside felt colder, emptier. I wanted to escape, to find some semblance of peace, but there was nowhere I could go that would silence the war raging within me.

The drive to my apartment was a blur, and by the time I stepped inside, the weight of the day crashed down on me. I sank onto the couch, my head in my hands.

A knock at the door startled me, and my heart leapt to my throat.

I didn’t need to open it to know who it was.

“Go away, Lucian,” I called out, my voice trembling.

The door opened anyway, and there he was, standing in the dim light of my apartment, his presence as overwhelming as ever.

“You didn’t think I’d let you walk away that easily, did you?” he said, his tone low and dangerous.

“What do you want?” I demanded, standing to face him.

"You,” he said simply, the single word dripping with possession.

I shook my head, backing away. “You don’t own me.”

His lips curved into a smirk. “Don’t I?”

His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I hated the way my body responded to him, betraying the defiance I tried so hard to maintain.

“I’m not some toy you can control,” I said, my voice wavering.

“No,” he agreed, stepping closer, his gaze never leaving mine. “You’re much more than that. But you’re mine all the same.”

I clenched my fists, trying to summon the strength to push him away, but he was already too close. His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face, and I froze.

“Why do you keep running from this?” he asked, his voice softer now, almost tender. “You know it’s inevitable.”

“I hate you,” I whispered, the words trembling on my lips.

“No, you hate yourself for wanting me,” he said, his thumb brushing over my cheek. “For wanting this.”

I turned my face away, but he caught my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. His eyes burned with a mix of desire and determination, and I felt myself unraveling under their intensity.

“You can keep fighting it, Seraphina,” he murmured, his lips inches from mine. “But we both know how this ends, in bed with you shaking and enjoying pleasure several times like the night after our training”

Before I could respond, his lips were on mine again, claiming me with a ferocity that left me breathless, while his knee rubbed against my pussy, turning me on.

This time, I didn’t resist.

I hated myself for it, but I kissed him back, pouring every ounce of anger, confusion, and longing into it. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer, and I felt myself surrendering to the darkness he represented.

When he finally pulled back, his breath warm against my lips, he smirked. “That’s more like it.”

I stepped back, my mind reeling. “This doesn’t mean anything,” I said, my voice shaking.

He chuckled, a dark, knowing sound. “Keep telling yourself that.”

As he walked out of my apartment, I sank to the floor, my hands trembling.

Edward’s face flashed in my mind again, a stark contrast to Lucian’s overwhelming presence. I felt torn, broken, and utterly lost.

But one thing was clear—I couldn’t keep running from the darkness.

It had already caught me.