The alcohol scorches my throat, but it’s a welcome distraction from the icy fear clawing at my insides. I slump against the wall, the bottle dangling from my trembling fingers, allowing my gaze to drift back to Seraphina.
She looks so fragile, so breakable, lying there like a shattered porcelain doll. It tears me apart to see her like this. I want to scoop her up in my arms and protect her from all the darkness in this fucked-up universe.
I'm torn; part of me wants to rip open my wrist and force-feed her my blood like the world's most fucked-up smoothie, thinking it will heal her and bring her back to me.
But then my conscience decides to pop up like an unwanted parasite, waving a red flag the size of Texas: "Hey, numbnuts, remember what happened with Dani?" No, Iwant my cupcake to sip from my veins because she wants to—because she craves that intimate connection with me. I'm not about that non-consensual blood-sucking life, no matter how much my body is begging me to just go for it.
So here I am, stuck between wanting to be a savior and not being a complete asshole. It's like being in a terrible choose-your-own-adventure book where all the endings suck.
Instead, I'm left doing the one thing I fucking hate—waiting. I’m drowning my sorrows in booze that tastes like it was filtered through a hobo's sock, praying to every god, demigod, and comic book hero I can think of.
I’m praying those golden eyes will open and light up my world again—losing her now, after just finding her? That's a twist I'm not ready for, a punchline I can’t handle.
So I sit here, marinating in my helplessness, hoping that somewhere in the cosmos, someone’s listening to the desperate pleas of a lovesick vampire. Come on, universe. Don't screw me on this.
And then, like a Hallmark movie, "Lucian?"
The bottle slips from my fingers, shattering on the floor in an explosion of glass and wasted alcohol. I couldn't care less about the mess. I'm at her side in a flash, my hands hovering over her, afraid to touch, scared I might break her even more.
"Hey, baby girl," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "Welcome back to the land of the living. You had me worried there for a second. How ya feeling? Like you got trampled by a herd of elephants or just a really enthusiastic marching band?"
She lets out a weak chuckle. "More like a marching band of elephants," she croaks, her eyes fluttering open to meet mine. "You came for me? Saved me?"
The way she asks the question, like it’s a surprise, makes my heart clench. I cup her face, my thumbs brushing over her cheekbones. "Of course, I came for you, Cupcake," I say fiercely, my eyes locked onto hers. "I would've moved heaven and earth to get to you. Hell, I would've taken on the whole fucking universe if that’s what it took. You think I’d just leave you hanging like a forgotten ornament? Not a chance in hell, sweetheart."
I shake my head, my jaw tightening at the memory of those agonizing hours spent not knowing if she was alive or dead. "It was a nightmare not being able to get to you sooner," I admit. "I've never felt so helpless in my life. And trust me, I’ve been in some pretty fucked-up situations, but this? This was a whole new level of suck."
Seraphina sighs, her sunlit gold eyes watching me. Her voice is soft and exhausted, like a whisper in the wind. "They gave me something—put it over my face—it smelled horrible. I couldn’t breathe—I couldn’t fight them—they were so strong and—"
She’s trying so hard to explain, and each word is a struggle. It tears me up inside, like watching a wounded bird trying to fly.
"Shhhh, easy there, angel face," gently combing my fingers through her golden locks. It feels like touching spun sunshine, if sunshine could get traumatized. "You're okay now. You're safe now."
My mind races, piecing together this fucked-up puzzle. Sounds like those assholes hit her with some knockout gas, probably chloroform or something equally nasty.
Her eyes, those golden pools I’d happily drown in, shimmer with unshed tears. Her voice barely above a whisper, "I saw what they did to you, Lucian. It hurt so much—I thought they killed you. I screamed and—"
The thought of her witnessing that hits me like a freight train. I close my eyes for a moment, trying to keep my composure, but I can feel the rage and pain bubbling beneath the surface.
"Phina-baby," my voice low and intense, fighting to keep it steady. "I'm okay... see? I'm right here, baby girl. Not going anywhere."
I want to make a joke, to lighten the mood, but I can’t find the words. All I can think about is how terrified she must have been, how much it hurt her to see me like that. It makes my chest ache in a way that has nothing to do with physical pain.
Before I can even blink, she launches herself at me, her arms wrapping around my neck tightly. Her embrace knocks me off balance, and we tumble back onto the bed in a tangle of limbs.
"I'm so glad you're okay…thank you," she whispers into my ear, her breath hot against my skin. "Thank you for saving me."
I bury my face in her neck, breathing in her sweet, intoxicating scent. She smells like cinnamon, sugar, and everything good in this world, and I never want to let her go. I wrap my arms around her waist, holding her close, feeling the steady thump of her heartbeat against my chest.
"I'll always save you, Cupcake," I murmur, my lips brushing against her pulse point. "No matter what it takes or what I have to do, I’ll always come for you. You’re my everything, baby girl. My whole fucking world. Without you, I’m just a sad, lonely sack of shit with a healing factor and a smart mouth."
She laughs, the sound sending shockwaves through my body like an earthquake. Little Lucian stands at attention, ready to salute the skies, and I'm pretty sure Seraphina can feel the effect she’s having on me.
"You’re not lonely, Lucian. Not anymore. You are so brave… caring," she pauses, "And…"
She stands up, her movements fluid and graceful, positioning herself directly before me. I sit up on the edge of the bed, my eyes glued to her every move as her fingers thread through my hair, tugging gently as she nudges her way between my legs. The sensation is so intense, so overwhelming, that my eyes roll back, and I have to fight back a moan.
I reach up, my hands finding her luscious hips, anchoring myself to her like she’s the only thing keeping me from floating away.
