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"We are." Even though it was my idea, I feel less committed to it than if he had suggested it.

Still, my heart hammers at the idea of going back to that house, opening up my old room, and living there with all the echoes lurking in the halls.

"We'll have to tell Lucien."

"Tonight?"

"Tonight," he agrees.

"And if she doesn't want all of us?" I ask.

"Then, we let her go."

Licking my lips, I chug the last of my coffee. "That's if the house lets her free."

Standing on the stairs leading to the basement, Kyrin and I stare at the door to Lucien’s room, begging the universe to deliver courage fast enough to face the man behind it.

So far, I've only been gifted light indigestion from the bourbon I chugged in the car on the way here.

The years since the fire have been tough. Watching a man we both looked up to as children grow more troubled by the day was one of the hardest things either one of us has had to deal with.

"We just walk in..." Kyrin clears his throat, motioning toward the door.

"Rip it off, like a Band-Aid,” I add.

Soft music behind the door hints at Lucien’s mood, and I can only hope he’s willing to listen.

"What are you guys doing?" a voice says behind us, jarring my heart into my throat.

Kyrin jumps back, going flush with the wall behind him, which prompts a laugh from me.

"Oh God, your face." I laugh.

Lucien's serious nature bleeds down the stairs, and I quiet down, covering the remainder of the laugh with a cough.

Kyrin finally recovers and pushes off the wall. "We were coming to talk to you."

"Looks to me like you were haunting the stairs. There's enough spirits here; we don't need you two lurking, too."

"We?" I ask, genuinely curious whether he means us as a whole or him and Sera.

"Yes, us." Lucien waves his scarred hand around, motioning between the three of us.

Kyrin and I share a look before he turns his gaze back over Lucien.

"Have you… interacted with Sera?" Kyrin asks.

My eyes narrow on Lucien, watching for any of his tells.

"Minimally." He shifts on his feet, scoffs, and brushes past us down the stairs, opening his door.

Music cuts off as Kyrin and I stare at one another.

This actually might work...

I tamp down the hope in my chest, not wanting to get myself too worked up.

"What does minimally mean?" Kyrin asks, sloughing down the stairs and bursting into Lucien’s room.