CHAPTER 105: SHE CHOOSE TO HURT

The door to the office swung open. I could hear it, even though my mind was still drowning in what I had just learned.

The hologram was gone.

Just like always.

"Thank God..."

Lucian’s voice reached me first, rushed and unsteady as his footsteps closed the distance.

"Tell me... this is really you, right?" His hands cupped my face, warm and careful, his eyes searching mine like he was afraid I would disappear again if he blinked.

I opened my mouth to answer but nothing came out.

Instead, a sharp ache climbed into my chest, tight and suffocating, pressing against my ribs until it hurt to breathe.

My eyes burned.

Not with tears.

With everything I couldn’t release.

Lucian didn’t wait for an answer.

He pulled me against him, holding me tightly, one arm wrapped protectively around my back like he was afraid the world might steal me from him again.

"Hey..." he murmured against my hair. "It’s okay. You’re here. You’re safe."

Safe.

The word felt wrong in my body.

I pressed my face into his chest, shaking silently, my hands clutching his clothes as if they were the only real thing left in existence.

"Lu–Lucian..." I finally managed to whisper. "Is it true... that I’m pregnant?"

He pulled back slightly, just enough to look at me, and nodded with a weak, careful smile.

"Mm. Darian checked you himself," he said gently. "He confirmed it. You’re pregnant."

The air vanished from my lungs.

My knees gave out instantly, my body folding in on itself but Lucian caught me before I could hit the floor, his arms locking around me as he pulled me tightly against his chest again.

"Hey—hey," he breathed urgently. "I’ve got you."

I clutched onto him, my fingers digging into his coat like it was the only thing stopping me from falling apart completely.

Something sharp twisted in my chest.

"She said..." I whispered hoarsely. "She said I already lost it..."

The whole room fell into dead silence.

"She said..." My lips trembled as I forced the words out. "She said I lost our baby the moment I chose myself over..."

I trailed off, my throat burning too much to continue.

"But Lucian..." I whispered, shaking my head. "I–I don’t know what’s real anymore..."

My fingers curled into his coat, helpless.

"She sounded so sure," I murmured. "So cruelly... confident."

He tightened his hold on me without hesitation, "Look at me," he said quietly.

I lifted my eyes toward him, searching his face like it might give me an answer my heart couldn’t.

"Who is it?" Lucian said firmly. "Who told you that?"

"Elyndra, she was here, just now..." my voice cracked. "What if... what she told me is true... what if..." I paused, couldn’t continue my words afraid it would become reality.

His jaw tightened as his hand slid to my back, grounding me.

"Don’t worry," he said softly but with certainty. "Let’s get you home first and check. I’ll call Darian to come as soon as possible."

He brushed a hand through my hair, slow and careful, like I might break if he moved too fast.

"You don’t have to face this alone," he whispered. "Not your fears. Not her words. Not anything."

I nodded weakly, even though the tightness in my chest refused to loosen.

"I’m just... grateful you came back to me," he said quietly. His eyes closed for a few seconds, like he was finally allowing himself to breathe again after fearing he might lose me forever.

When he opened them, a part of the panic had faded.

I looked down, unable to meet his gaze. "I’m sorry," I whispered. "This... this is all my fault."

My fingers curled into my sleeves.

"I shouldn’t have believed her. I shouldn’t have listened. I shouldn’t have..." My voice wavered. "Maybe if I hadn’t done anything at all... none of this would’ve happened."

Lucian’s hold on me tightened.

"Don’t," he said immediately.

He lifted my chin gently, forcing me to look at him.

"Elyndra didn’t ruin us because you were weak," he said softly but firmly. "She ruined us because she chose to hurt us."

The words sank deeper than comfort ever could.

"You survived something that should’ve erased you," he continued. "That’s not your fault. That’s strength."

I didn’t know how to respond.

No matter how gently he said it... his words couldn’t undo the weight in my chest.

Couldn’t quiet the doubt whispering that maybe I should’ve been smarter, braver and less trusting.

I lowered my head, my fingers clutching his sleeve.

"I still let it happen," I whispered. "I still walked straight into her trap."

Lucian exhaled slowly, pressing his forehead to mine.

"You were trying to live," he said quietly. "You were trying to survive."

His thumb brushed lightly over my cheek.

"Don’t confuse that with foolishness."

My chest tightened again, but this time for a different reason.

"Hm... let’s go back," I whispered, drawing in a long breath. "I really, really hope our baby is safe..."

Lucian smiled faintly and nodded, firm and certain.

"Let’s go home."

But the moment we stepped out into the corridor, someone dropped to their knees in front of me.

"My Lady—"

I flinched.

Vaylen.

He knelt low, his shoulders shaking as he lifted his head, desperation written across every line of his face.

"Please," he said hoarsely. "Help me save my daughter. Celeste... Celeste still needs to be healed."

The hallway went quiet.

I stared at him for a long moment... then spoke softly.

"I’ve met her," I murmured. "She’s really beautiful..."

Vaylen’s head snapped up, eyes widening.

"I promised her," I went on quietly, my fingers curling against my palm, "that I would bring her out from that... hellish prison."

His lips parted, trembling.

"You... you’ve... seen her?" he whispered, disbelief tangled with fragile hope.

I nodded slowly.

"Mm... she doesn’t want to die," I said quietly. "She doesn’t want to lose her memories... or forget who she is."

My fingers tightened at my side.

"So we’re not letting her disappear," I added, lifting my gaze to him. "We’ll figure out another way. A real way to bring her back."

Vaylen swallowed hard, his shoulders shaking as he bowed his head again, this time not in despair... but in gratitude.

"Thank you," he whispered, voice breaking. "Thank you for not giving up on her."

Lucian stepped forward then, his presence firm and unyielding.

"We won’t," he said coldly. "We need to trace Elyndra first, to make sure the same thing wouldn’t happen again and to save others from her..."