The mansion sinks into darkness, every corner heavy with silence. I press my back against the cold wall, breath shallow, the shattering of glass cuts through the stillness like a scream. My heart pounds so hard I can feel it in my throat. It’s not fear, at least, not entirely. I can fight. I know I can, but how?
The air shifts behind me, and before I can turn, a low, calm voice whispers against my ear.
“Go to your room and hide. I’ll fight them off.”
Lucian.
His presence, even in the dark, is grounding, steady where I’m trembling. For a heartbeat, I want to argue, to tell him I can help. But the sound of footsteps closing in swallows my protest. This isn’t the time.
I nod, barely. Then I ran.
The shadows chase me. Every creak of the floor feels like a target on my back. I slam the d
