Seraphina barely remembered the drive to the hospital.
One moment, she had been standing in the parking area, staring at the blood on Lucien’s shirt.
The next, she was sitting beside him in the back of an ambulance, her hands trembling while the paramedics worked.
Lucien was unusually quiet.
His face was pale, and one hand was pressed against his side to slow the bleeding.
For the first time since Seraphina had met him, he didn’t look untouchable.
He looked human.
“Stay awake,” the paramedic told him.
Lucien opened his eyes.
“I am awake.”
Seraphina looked at him.
“You’re bleeding everywhere and you’re still being difficult.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.”
She wanted to laugh, but the fear in her chest wouldn’t let her.
When they reached the hospital, the doors opened immediately.
The medical team rushed Lucien inside, leaving Seraphina standing in the hallway with blood still on her hands.
She stared at it.
Her heart sank.
She had never seen him like this.
And she didn’t like how frightened she felt.
Nearly an hour passed before anyone came to speak with her.
Seraphina sat on one of the plastic chairs outside the treatment room, her phone resting on her lap.
She had called Darius to let him know what happened, but she hadn’t told him everything.
She didn’t know who attacked Lucien.
She didn’t know why.
And, more importantly, she didn’t know whether the attacker was still nearby.
A doctor finally stepped out.
“Are you here with Mr. Silva?”
Seraphina immediately stood.
“Yes. How is he?”
“He lost some blood, but fortunately the knife didn’t damage any major organs.”
She released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
“Can I see him?”
“He’s awake. Just don’t let him move around too much.”
Seraphina nodded.
“Thank you.”
She entered the room.
Lucien was sitting against the raised hospital bed, looking annoyed.
She stopped at the doorway.
“You look angry.”
“I hate hospitals.”
Seraphina walked closer.
“You were stabbed.”
“I noticed.”
“And you’re complaining about the hospital?”
Lucien looked at her.
“They smell strange.”
Despite herself, Seraphina laughed.
“You’re impossible.”
“And yet you came.”
Her smile disappeared slightly.
“Of course I came.”
Lucien watched her quietly.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Seraphina pulled a chair beside his bed.
“Who did this to you?”
Lucien’s expression hardened.
“I don’t know.”
“But someone attacked you deliberately.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Seraphina lowered her voice.
“Are you in danger?”
Lucien looked at her.
“Yes.”
The simple answer made her uncomfortable.
“And now?”
“Now you’re in danger too.”
Seraphina stared at him.
“Because I’m your guardian?”
Lucien’s eyes moved toward her left hand.
“Because of the cross.”
She instinctively covered her palm.
Before she could ask another question, Lucien suddenly reached for her hand.
His fingers closed around her left palm.
The black cross immediately began to glow.
Seraphina’s eyes widened.
“Lucien—”
A dark warmth rushed through his hand.
Lucien’s breathing changed.
The pain in his face disappeared.
Seraphina looked at his side.
The bloodstained bandage began to loosen as the wound underneath it slowly closed.
Her mouth fell open.
The cut disappeared.
Completely.
The only thing left was clean skin.
Seraphina stared at him in disbelief.
“What…?”
Lucien slowly released her hand.
“The cross.”
She looked down at her palm.
“You healed yourself.”
Lucien shook his head.
“No.”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“You healed me.”
Seraphina couldn’t speak.
Lucien stood from the bed.
She immediately grabbed his arm.
“Wait. You were just stabbed!”
“I know.”
“And now you’re completely fine?”
“Yes.”
She looked at his side again.
“That makes no sense.”
“Not everything about me will.”
Seraphina frowned.
“You could have told me this before.”
“You never asked.”
“I didn’t know I needed to ask whether you could magically heal yourself!”
Lucien almost smiled.
Then his expression became serious.
“The problem is that I couldn’t do it without you.”
Seraphina looked at her hand again.
“So if the cross isn’t with you…”
“I can’t use my power.”
“And that’s why you were hurt.”
Lucien nodded.
“For the first time in centuries, someone managed to hurt me.”
Seraphina became quiet.
She finally understood just how dangerous his situation was.
Without the cross, Lucien wasn’t invincible.
He could be stabbed.
He could die.
“Then we’re leaving,” she said.
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
“Now?”
“Yes. You’re coming home with me.”
“I thought I was your guardian.”
“You are.”
Seraphina grabbed her bag.
“I’m just returning the favor.”
The drive home was unusually quiet.
Seraphina sat in the passenger seat while Lucien drove.
She kept glancing at him every few minutes.
“You’re staring.”
“I’m checking if you’re still alive.”
“I am.”
“Good.”
A few minutes passed.
Then Seraphina spoke again.
“Does it hurt?”
“No.”
“Not even a little?”
Lucien glanced at her.
“Your concern is becoming obvious.”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
He smiled.
She turned toward the window so he wouldn’t see her smile too.
When they finally arrived at the house, Seraphina stepped out first.
Lucien followed.
The moment they entered, the familiar silence of the house surrounded them.
Seraphina dropped her bag onto the sofa.
“You’re staying here tonight.”
Lucien looked at her.
“I wasn’t planning to leave.”
“Good.”
She walked toward the kitchen, then stopped.
“Do you want something to eat?”
Lucien stared at her.
“You’re asking me if I want food?”
“You’ve been stabbed. I don’t know what you’re supposed to eat after that.”
He shook his head.
“You’re strange.”
“And you’re annoying.”
She disappeared into the kitchen.
For the first time that night, Lucien smiled.
But his smile faded when he looked toward the window.
Across the street, a black car was parked beneath a streetlight.
Someone was sitting inside.
Watching the house.
Lucien’s expression immediately changed.
He reached for Seraphina’s left hand.
The black cross beneath her skin gave a faint pulse.
His eyes narrowed.
“They followed us.”
Seraphina slowly turned toward him.
“Who?”
Lucien kept his eyes on the window.
“I don’t know.”
Then the black car started moving.
And disappeared into the darkness.