“Not exactly the usual second outing.”
“To be fair,” he replies, “most people don’t start with emotional trauma and existential reflection.”
“Next time we should probably try something simple. Like coffee.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Careful. That sounds suspiciously normal.”
We step into the hotel lobby and head toward the elevators. The ride up is quiet, not awkward, just full. When the doors open on our floor, we walk down the hallway together.
Room 107.
Room 108.
My hand hovers near my door, and suddenly I’m debating something I shouldn’t even be considering. Part of me wants to ask him to stay just for the night but something stops me. Lucien’s heart feels… soft. Not weak. Just open. Like something that could break if handled the wrong way. And I’m not sure my hands are steady enough right now.
My phone buzzes. I glance down.
Dominic: I haven’t heard from you. I’m starting to worry. Please call me.
The guilt hits immediately, sharp and confusing. What I feel for Dominic shifts inside me, something that used to be love, something I don’t recognize anymore. Before I can sort through any of it, Lucien speaks softly beside me.
“Good night, Sera.”
I look up. His expression isn’t disappointed but there’s something in his eyes, hope, quiet and patient. Like he’s giving me the space to walk away, even though a part of him wishes I wouldn’t. Like he’s waiting to see if I might change my mind.
“Good night, Lucien.” I turn toward my door.
And then I feel it. Lucien’s hand gently catching mine. I stop. He turns me back toward him. His gaze holds mine, deep, steady, wanting. For a moment neither of us says anything.
Then he leans down and kisses me softly. The kind of kiss that doesn’t rush. The kind that feels like a promise whispered instead of spoken. Something slow and steady, like love that refuses to disappear, even after loss, even after death.
I kiss him back before I can stop myself. The world narrows to the warmth of his mouth, the quiet certainty in the way he holds me. For a moment it feels endless, like time is pausing again. Then he pulls back slightly. A small smile touches his mouth.
“If we keep doing this, tomorrow’s meeting is going to be very difficult to conduct professionally.”
I laugh softly. “Good thing I’m not the one running it.”
Lucien leans in and presses a gentle kiss to my cheek. “Sleep well, Sera.”
Something in the way he says my name feels soft. Almost protective. Then he steps back. I step inside my room.
The door closes softly behind me and for a long moment, I just stand there in the quiet.
CHAPTER 8
Lanterns
I lie back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The room settles into silence again. My phone rests on my chest and Dominic’s name is still glowing on the screen. For a long moment I just stare at it. Part of me wants to ignore it. Pretend the message doesn’t exist.
But the other part, the part that still aches for him—wins.
I press call. The phone rings. Once. Twice. Three times. Each second settles heavier than the last. Then the call goes to voicemail.This is Dominic Vale, please leave a message.I close my eyes. Of course. I wait for the beep.
“Hey,” I say softly. My voice sounds strange and thin. Like it belongs to someone else. “I just… I saw your message. I’m okay. I’m in New York. I made it safely.”
I pause.
There are so many things I want to say. Why? Why would you do that to me? What did I do wrong? But the words stay trapped somewhere in my throat. So instead I say quietly, “I’m calling it a night.”
