Chapter 29 - The Pull of Darkness

The silence after Lucian left was deafening. The only sound was my shallow breathing as I stood frozen in place, back pressed against the wall where he had cornered me. My lips still tingled from his kiss, and the heat of his touch lingered on my skin, a phantom sensation I couldn’t shake.

The space felt too small, too suffocating, like it couldn’t contain the chaos swirling inside me. My thoughts were a jumbled mess of anger, confusion, and something far darker—desire.

I wanted to scream, to slam my fists against the wall, to claw the memory of him out of my mind. But instead, I stood there, helpless and trembling, as his scent—smoke, spice, and something uniquely him—wrapped around me like a cage.

I hated him.

But I hated myself more for the way my body betrayed me, for the way I couldn’t stop thinking about him, even now.

\---

The hours crawled by, and I couldn’t find peace. Sleep was a distant dream, the bed a battlefield of tangled sheets and restless thoughts. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him. His dark, piercing gaze, I remembered the night he devoured me completely and the smirk that tugged at the corner of his lips, as if he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

I rolled onto my side, clutching the pillow against my chest as though it could steady the storm inside me. But it was no use.

His voice echoed in my mind, low and rough, dripping with the promise of things I didn’t dare name.

“You’re mine, Seraphina.”

I sat up abruptly, my heart pounding. The words weren’t just a memory; they were a declaration, a claim that refused to leave me alone.

“Damn it,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair.

I couldn’t stay here. The walls felt like they were closing in, trapping me with the ghost of him.

I grabbed my coat and stepped out onto the balcony, hoping the cold night air would clear my head.

\---

The city stretched out before me, glittering and alive, but I couldn’t focus on its beauty. My grip on the railing tightened as I tried to steady my breathing.

Edward’s face flashed in my mind, and a wave of guilt washed over me. He needed me. He was the one I should be thinking about, the one I should be fighting for.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake Lucian from my thoughts.

I hated him for what he was doing to me, for the way he had taken over every corner of my mind.

And yet, beneath the anger and guilt, there was something else. A dark, forbidden longing that terrified me.

I closed my eyes, the cold metal of the railing biting into my palms.

“Get out of my head,” I whispered, though I knew it was a futile plea.

\---

The knock came just as dawn was breaking, shattering the fragile stillness of the morning.

My pulse quickened, dread and anticipation warring within me. I told myself it couldn’t be him. It shouldn’t be him.

But when I opened the door, there he was, leaning casually against the frame as if he belonged here.

“Lucian,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. “What are you doing here?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his presence filling the space like a storm.

“You didn’t answer your phone,” he said simply, his tone casual, but there was a flicker of something darker in his eyes.

“You can’t just show up here whenever you want,” I snapped, folding my arms over my chest.

His gaze swept over me, lingering just long enough to make me self-conscious of my rumpled appearance. “I can do whatever I want,” he said, his voice soft but laced with steel.

“Of course you think that,” I muttered, turning away from him.

He caught my wrist, spinning me around to face him. The intensity in his eyes made my breath hitch.

“Don’t walk away from me,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

“Let go of me, Lucian,” I said, trying to pull free, but his grip tightened.

“Not until you stop pretending,” he said, his eyes boring into mine. “You feel it too. Don’t lie to me.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine. I hated how easily he could see through me, how he could strip me bare with just a look.

“You’re delusional,” I said, though my voice lacked conviction.

He smirked, the corner of his mouth lifting in that infuriatingly confident way. “Am I?”

I glared at him, my heart pounding as he stepped closer. The air between us felt electric, charged with a tension that was impossible to ignore.

“Lucian, you need to leave,” I said, my voice trembling.

“Do you really want me to?” he asked, his voice soft but heavy with meaning.

“Yes,” I said, though the word felt hollow.

“Liar,” he whispered, his lips brushing against my ear.

My knees nearly buckled, and I hated myself for the way my body leaned toward him, craving his touch despite everything.

“This is wrong,” I said, my voice barely audible.

“Wrong has nothing to do with it,” he said, his lips ghosting over my jawline.

I closed my eyes, a tear slipping down my cheek. “You don’t own me.”

“No,” he said, his voice dark and possessive. “But I will.”

His words sent a jolt through me, equal parts fear and desire.

“Get out,” I whispered, though my voice cracked under the weight of my own emotions.

For a moment, he hesitated, his eyes searching mine. Then, with a smile that made my heart race, he bit and sucked my neck making me let out a moan of pleasure and surprise. He released me and took a step back.

“This isn’t over, Seraphina,” he said, his voice a promise that made my stomach twist.

As the door closed behind him, I sank to the floor, my hands trembling.

I hated him.

I wanted him.

And I was losing the battle against myself.