CHAPTER 136: TWO LOST SOULS!

Author’s POV

Seraphina drew in a slow and shaky breath, her chest rising and falling. Though her voice trembled when she spoke, her resolve did not waver. Every word she spoke was laced with unwavering conviction and a hint of anger.

"You must not doubt my feelings for you," she said, her gaze locked onto Lucien’s. "And you must not question my sincerity."

Her hand tightened around his. Her hold was weak but unwavering, and Lucien felt the warmth of her skin against his own.

"This... whatever this is between us," she continued in a steadier voice now, "It’s not just some feeling that’ll fade. I’m not gonna wake up tomorrow and take it back." Sera’s voice shook a little as she continued. "I didn’t say these things because I was desperate for someone or to have a man in my life!"

She paused for a second to catch her breath. Her body still felt heavy, but she didn’t let it drag her down. It seemed she had found some new kind of strength to face her feelings in front of Lucien.

When she spoke again, there was no anger in her voice.

"Do not compare me to your past and what you have been through!" Her words were not sharp but firm.

"I know you’ve been through hell," she added as her eyes locked on his. "And I know you are thinking that this is some kind of infatuation, or it might end soon! But trust me... I had been through hell... which might even be worse than you!"

"So... If I can gather courage to trust you... Then why not you?"

She didn’t blink or flinch as there was no doubt on her face.

"I’m still here," she whispered. "Even when it hurts. Even when I’m scared or angry or have no idea where this is going... I’m still choosing you."

Seraphina clung to Lucien like she was afraid he might vanish the second she let go. Her hands held onto him with quiet desperation. "You are really precious to me..." She opened her mouth and inhaled deeply as she continued.

"Please," she whispered, her voice almost breaking, "just give me a chance... choose me too."

She looked at Lucien with plea and fear. The ache in her voice was evident that she had been through something so bad that she was really afraid of losing the man in front of him.

Lucien didn’t move. He stared at her with that same unreadable look. His gaze was still steady, but... something had changed. There was a flicker in his eyes, and a softness appeared just barely there beneath the surface as if he was ready to reach back.

"I..." He started to speak, but the words didn’t come out fast enough.

Before he could say anything, Seraphina rose onto her toes and leaned in, pressing a soft, swift kiss to his cheek.

It was barely a touch, but it landed with the force of everything she couldn’t say.

When she pulled back, she didn’t meet his eyes. She turned her head slightly, gaze dropping to the floor, her face flushing red, so deep the color crept from her ears down to her neck.

"This..." she mumbled. Her voice was quiet but determined: "This is my stamp on you."

Then her eyes lifted again, looking at him as she was still shy.

"No one else gets to touch you. No one else gets to claim you. You’re mine now."

"When did I ever say I’m going anywhere?" Lucien’s voice came low, almost a whisper at first, like he was still shaking off the shock he had just received from her words. He blinked once as if trying to ground himself in the moment. "I was just... thinking."

His eyes flickered as he tried to keep himself composed after what Seraphina had done to him. "I was thinking about how you’d react, knowing someone from my past is back and..." His words trailed off. He drew in a long breath.

The truth was, he wasn’t scared of her anger. He was scared that the look in her eyes might change. He was scared that Sera might not understand him.

He’d been left before more than once. And every time, it had been for reasons he couldn’t understand, and he was left broken.

"You..." His hand came up, hesitating for a second before resting on her shoulder.

He wasn’t trying to touch her; he was just taking energy from her. "You’re as precious to me as well," he said, and this time his voice was firmer, but still softer than she’d ever heard from him.

He made her meet his gaze, but not to dominate her; it was to make sure she saw him. The man who had been through too much, the man who didn’t give his trust easily, the man who feared this might all be too good to keep.

And in that moment, he believed all the words that the girl in front of her was saying!

Lucien felt like a fool, but he was more than happy to be one for once.

In his life, Lucien had always been the one to hold the other person. He was the one who reassured, promised, and he was the one who gave the words needed to keep things from breaking apart.

But no one... no one had ever said those words to him. No one had ever grounded him, given him something solid to hold onto when insecurity clawed at him and made him feel agitated until Sera came to his life.

"Sera," he said again. "You shouldn’t doubt my feelings for you... because I’m not the kind of man who can just run around looking for something else. My life isn’t that free." His gaze stayed locked on hers, steady but burning. "However... for you... I could leave everything behind. Every single thing. But..." His fingers tightened just slightly on her shoulder; that was enough for her to feel the urgency behind his words. "But I want you to promise me one thing."

His breath caught for a moment before he spoke again. "Promise me that... if one day... if one day you’re no longer willing to be with me... You won’t just disappear. Don’t leave me without a reason. Don’t—"

A sharp sting pulled him from his thoughts. He blinked, only to realize she was pinching his cheeks hard, her grip looked both funny and full of anger.

His brows furrowed as he looked at her. Her eyes were wide and sharp with anger, but under it was something raw and hurt, like his words had hit one of her deepest fears.

"Why are you even talking about leaving?" Seraphina’s cheeks puffed as she glared at him, her voice sharp with fury. "I’m not the kind of person who walks away from someone they love!" She took a deep breath, letting go of his cheeks as she rolled her eyes in frustration.

"Can’t you see how my brothers are?" she continued, her tone dropping lower but softer. "And still, I’m here, holding onto them, slowly trying to make my way into their hearts. So don’t you dare think I’d ever leave you. Because I, Seraphina Lancaster, am possessive when it comes to the things I own... and even more when it comes to the people I love."

A small smile tugged at Lucien’s lips. He had the sudden urge to pinch Sera’s cheeks in return, but before he could even reach for her, she smacked his hands away.

She was still fuming, her eyes locked on his. "And if..." she started, her voice firm, "and if one day you even think about leaving me... I will break your legs and make you fall in love with me all over again!"

Lucien froze for a second, then burst out laughing. The sound echoed through the room. His shoulders were shaking as he tried to catch his breath. He couldn’t believe this small, fierce girl in front of him was bold enough to say something so outrageous.

"What are you laughing at?!" Seraphina gritted her teeth, clearly ready to say more, but she bit it back, forcing herself to keep quiet, though the fire in her eyes didn’t dim one bit.

*****

The people gathered outside the room had been straining to catch the conversation, but most of it was too soft to hear what they were talking about. Then, out of nowhere, Lucien’s deep, unrestrained laughter rang out from behind the door.

Everyone froze. The sound seemed so out of place, so unexpected, that it left them all staring at each other. But the one who looked the most stunned was Alistair.

"He..." Alistair pointed toward the closed door, his voice almost uncertain. "Did I just hear Lucien laughing?"

"What’s so shocking about that?" Asher muttered, rolling his eyes at Alistair’s expression.

"You don’t know, and you wouldn’t understand..." Alistair’s voice was low and rough, as if each word carried a hint of happiness in them. "But I haven’t heard him laugh like that in over a decade."

The corners of his eyes glistened, though he quickly blinked them away before anyone could notice.

He had always wanted his sister to heal from the bullying and the pain she’d carried for so long. But just as much, he had wished for Lucien to find his own peace. He wanted to live a life free from the shadows that had been clinging to him for years.

What Alistair hadn’t expected was that these two, both so deeply scarred in their own ways, would find each other, and heal them slowly.