Evelyn.
1141 Words
Lucien.
The fire cracked quietly, throwing long shadows across the stone floor. Lucien watched them curl and dance, wine untouched in his hand. The castle felt different tonight — the kind of different that made even the shadows restless.
He didn’t need to turn when he heard the door open.
“Say it,” Lucien murmured, sipping the wine.
“You’ve never been good at pretending to hold your tongue.”
Silas stepped into the room like a storm held at the edges — all silent tension and unspoken judgment.
“She’s changing things.”
Lucien’s jaw tightened.
“She’s a complication. Nothing more.”
Silas gave a humorless chuckle. “That complication walks through your realm like it already belongs. You haven't sent her back. You haven’t contained her. You haven’t even looked away.”
Lucien turned, slowly, setting the glass down.
“You think this is care?”
“You mistake interest for weakness.”
“Do I?” Silas stepped forward. “Because the last time I saw you like this, it ended in fire. And blood.”
Lucien’s eyes flared with golden light.
“She’s not like her.”
Silas folded his arms. “No. She’s worse. She doesn’t know what she is — and still, this place bends to her. The castle, the shadows, you.”
Lucien was in his face in an instant, voice a growl.
“I am still in control.”
“Are you?” Silas didn’t move. “Because I’ve seen how you look at her. How you listen to her. You’re not just watching her. You’re waiting for her.”
The silence between them was razor-sharp.
Lucien turned away, jaw clenched.
“I'm not foolish silas. I keep threats where I can see them” dials nodded once, but the firelight caught something in his eyes. Doubt. Maybe pity.
“just be sure you're the one holding the leash”he said
“because if you're wrong and she's the one…you won't realize it until she pulls”and with that he left.
Lucien didn’t answer.
He stared into the fire — and for the first time in centuries, it didn’t warm him.
Lucien stood in the war room when a shadow moved at the edge of the doorway.
Silas stepped in — uninvited, as always. Why was he back again?
“you're back to tell me how I've lost—”
“A raven came through the border,” he said flatly.
“From the human realm.”
Lucien turned. “And?”
Silas hesitated. “It’s about the aunt.”
Lucien’s jaw locked.
“Evelyn?”
“There was an attack. Fire. She survived, but barely. She’s unconscious.”
Lucien’s thoughts snapped sharp. Fire magic. Someone was testing boundaries — or sending a message.
“Secure her,” he said. “Move her somewhere safe.”
“And Anara?”
“She doesn’t need to know.”
Silas frowned. “Are you sure that’s wise?”
Lucien didn’t answer. He already felt the pull in his chest but instantly shoved the feeling away
“yes”Silas doesn't say anything
“just spit it out”I said through gritted teeth, knowing he was holding his words back in
“She's gonna find out and she's sure not gonna be happy about it”
“I don't give a f**k about what she thinks, it's about protecting myself and her, if she wants to throw a tantrum she can as well go ahead”
“it's not about a tantrum lucien, I mean the lady is her family”
“I'll eventually tell her, just not now. I don't need her acting out with emotion. Besides I said to secure her she's in safe hands”
“as you wish”
Anara.
I had walked around the castle a bit, not even reaching half of it I got tired and decided to head back to my room.
I sat by the window, staring into the cold sky and suddenly it hit me.
A sharp ache. Not physical. Not quite emotional.
It was something else — deep and wrong and far away.
And familiar.
I gasped, grabbing the windowsill. A single image flashed in my mind.
Fire. Smoke. And Evelyn—
My Evelyn—burning.
I immediately got down and ran straight to Lucien, he knew. No way he didn't.
I didn’t knock.
The doors to Lucien’s war room slammed open, crashing against the walls with a boom that made even the guards flinch.
Lucien turned, eyes narrowing — but I was already marching toward him.
“Evelyn’s in trouble”
“She's not—”
“Don't lie to me.”
His face was unreadable. “Anara—”
“Don’t.” my voice was like steel.
“Don’t talk to me like I’m stupid. I felt it. The fire. Her fear.”
I stopped in front of him, chest rising fast, shadows crawling under my skin like they were listening to my fury.
“Something happened to Evelyn. And you didn’t tell me.”
Lucien stayed silent.
“She’s the only family I have left, and you hid it like it was nothing.”
“I was protecting you,” he said in a very unusual low tone.
“No.” Her eyes burned now. “You were controlling me.”
He stepped toward me. “If you had known, what would you have done?”
“Gone after her.”
“And walked into a death trap?”
“Then I’d die fighting for the person who gave a damn about me.”
Lucien’s jaw tensed. The air thickened.
But I didn't back down, I was too angry. Without further thoughts I stepped closer — eyes locked on his.
“You don’t get to play god with my life.”
“I’m not yours to cage. I’m not your pet. And if you think you can keep me here while she suffers—”
My voice dropped, deadly soft:
“Then burn this entire castle down trying.”
The shadows behind me floated like smoke. My magic cracked through the floor in thin lines of black fire.
Lucien stared at me — and for the first time… he didn’t know what to say.
The shadows crackle behind me. My words hang between them like a blade.
But his voice, when it comes, is cold.
“You will stay here.”
“You think you can stop me?”
He steps closer, gaze burning gold.
“Try me.”
We’re inches apart now. Power colliding. Emotions clashing.
“She’s my family,” i hiss.
“And if she dies while I’m trapped here—so help me, Lucien—nothing will stop me from tearing you apart.”
His smile is cruel.
“Then we’ll both bleed.”
- Writer
