"Mind if I join you?" Lucian's voice broke through the labyrinth of Lily's thoughts, pulling her back to the present. She looked up at him, his tall form casting a shadow in the moonlight.
A mix of emotions flickered across her face before she managed a small smile. "Of course."
He settled beside her on the bench, the cool night air enveloping them in a shared silence. The faint scent of flowers wafted on the breeze, a reminder of the beauty that still thrived despite the internal turmoil.
"I've been thinking," Lucian began, his gaze fixed on the moon above. "About the bond, about what it means."
Lily turned to him, curiosity and apprehension mingling within her. "What have you thought about?"
He took a deep breath, as if gathering his thoughts. "The bond we had, it was powerful, unde
