CHAPTER 133: HOME!

Seraphina’s POV

I was speechless at Lucien’s bluntness, which was driving me crazy. The way he spoke so directly, like always.

I had thought about going to him so many times. But every time thought arrived... I saw myself as nothing but a burden, someone he’d have to protect always.

I didn’t want that. I wanted to stand beside him, not behind him. I tried to be strong... someone who’d fight side by side with him and not become his weakness.

"I... I’m thankful that you’re being..." I trailed off, not knowing what word to use... My heart kept racing on top of that.

Lucien tilted his head slightly, his eyes still locked on me. "You don’t have to be thankful to me." He further added. "I wish to see you safe and not in such a condition as you are! So, you don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to!"

But I wanted to speak. I wanted to explain all the thoughts that had eaten me alive. I wanted to tell everything. I inhaled deeply and started.

"I didn’t want to be your weakness," I whispered, looking down at my hands. "That’s why I stayed away."

Lucien leaned forward, elbows on his knees. He didn’t say anything for a few seconds, then quietly replied,

"Then you don’t know me at all."

I thought he’d be angry if I said such a thing, but his voice didn’t sound angry at her. He was as honest as before.

And that made me feel ashamed.

"So, what are you planning to do with them?" He asked as he sat straight in the chair.

"I don’t wish to do anything to them, yet," I responded. "I don’t have any plan but... I do not wish to forgive them."

Lucien inhaled deeply. "Even if you let them go... I won’t!" He stated in a declaratory tone. "I’ve had enough of them and... I’ve decided to take you with me!"

"No!" I denied firmly. "I can’t go with you!"

I was already struggling to bring my brothers on my side, and now... that I had this chance, I couldn’t let anything or anyone take it away from me.

Lucien’s jaw clenched. "Why not?" he asked in a low but sharp voice. "You’re barely healing, and they’re still out there walking freely with smug faces."

"I’m not running away again," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I finally have a chance to make things right with my brothers... and with myself."

"And what if they betray you again?" he asked, eyes narrowing. "What if they use this chance just to hurt you more? After all... Stephanie and Melissa are not the people who’d change overnight."

"Then I’ll deal with it," I said. "They won’t change, but I’ll!"

He stood up slowly, hands clenched at his sides. "You don’t get it, do you? Every second you stay here, you’re at risk. I won’t watch it happen again."

I tried to get up, too, even though my legs trembled a little. "Don’t worry!" I said in a shaky tone. "Even though I was not ready for what happened, but... It worked in my way!"

He stared at me like I was saying something ridiculous, as if I were some fool who didn’t know what I was talking about.

I could feel the heat of his gaze pressing heavily on my skin. It made my throat dry as I looked away, trying to escape that intensity.

But as I turned, my legs gave in. My world spun for a second as my body swayed... It was too weak to hold itself up.

Before I could fall, a strong arm wrapped tightly around my waist, catching me and holding me in my place.

My breath hitched.

"You can’t even stand," Lucien said, his voice low and sharp, fire burning in his eyes as he stared into mine. "And you think you’ll fight them alone?"

"I..." My voice cracked as I tried to reply, but just then, the door burst open.

Lia came in again with her pale face and was full of nervousness, eyes darting to Lucien and then to me. "I-I’m sorry, Young Miss," she stammered, bowing her head. "I... I couldn’t stop them."

I blinked in confusion, still in Lucien’s arms... until I saw who followed behind her.

It was Alistair and Asher, followed by Emma.

They stepped into the room slowly. My eyes locked with my brother’s. For a moment, none of us spoke.

I didn’t know what to feel. They had not come to see me for all these days. Even though I intended to hide from them.

They had been in contact with Fae and asked about me every day. But they never showed up until now.

So why now, all of a sudden, when Lucien was here?

The moment Lucien’s name flashed in my mind, I suddenly became aware that I was still in his arms.

My breath caught as my face turned crimson. My brothers were standing right there and looking at us.

I panicked and tried to pull away from him, my hands weakly pushing at his chest. But Lucien’s grip only tightened around my waist.

"Do not move," he said firmly, his voice cold against my ear. It was warm but commanding.

What...? My heart thudded painfully as my eyes almost grew bigger.

Alistair was watching.

Even though Alistair knew how I felt about Lucien. But he had still not approved of him, and... being shameless in front of them was not the type of person I was!

I didn’t dare meet their eyes.

What would they think, seeing me like this?

Author’s POV

"You rascal... let go of my sister!" Asher shouted, his voice booming across the room.

He had been trying to keep calm, just waiting for Lucien to back off. But the longer Lucien held Seraphina like she was his to claim, the more it pushed Asher past his limit.

And when he saw how Lucien didn’t even flinch under his glare, how shamelessly he held her as if no one else in the room mattered to him other than her... Asher finally snapped.

"Let... let me go," Seraphina struggled in Lucien’s arms restlessly, her hands weakly pressing against his chest. But Lucien didn’t move... Not until he noticed she was hurting herself in the process.

Without saying much, he shifted his stance and carefully helped her sit down on the bed, handling her with care and quiet authority.

"I told you not to move," Lucien said firmly, placing her injured leg gently on the mattress.

But Seraphina didn’t even look at him. Her gaze was locked on Asher.

"Brother..." she whispered. She felt a lump in her throat with emotion. "I... I’m sorry for running away."

Lucien turned his head sharply toward her. He was stunned.

"Excuse me?" His voice was low but cold. He looked at Sera with eyes filled with disbelief. "You’re sorry? For what? For escaping death? For running and saving your life from those witches?"

His eyes narrowed as his eyes turned darker. "Do not tell me that... that’s what you’re apologizing for?"

"It’s not like that..." Sera opened her mouth but was cut off by a sharp voice.

"No?" Lucien stepped back, glaring at Sera. "Then tell me, Seraphina. What is it like?"

The room fell into silence.

Asher did try to talk, but was held back by Alistair.

"Didn’t I already tell you that... I didn’t want to be anyone’s burden," she said finally in a tight voice. "Either it’s you or my brothers. I want their love, not their sympathy or pity."

Asher exhaled through his nose. "How could you say that?" He came forth and stood in front of the bed. "You were never a burden."

Lucien scoffed under his breath bitterly. "She doesn’t believe that. She’d rather bleed alone than reach out for anyone’s help."

"Lucien..." Sera muttered in a stunned tone.

He didn’t look at her. "You think you’re doing this to protect everyone. You think suffering in silence makes you stronger. But what you didn’t realize is that... all you’re doing is burning everything around you."

"Even if we are burning..." Asher spat back again. "You are not the one to talk. And even if she is in the wrong, you have no right to discipline her! We... Her brothers are more than enough for her!" He said and added. "She is not yours!"

"I never said she was," Lucien shot back. "Until she agrees... But I’ve already devoted myself to her... And for your kind information... Whenever she’d suffered, I’d been with her, not you!"

Those words landed a tight slap on Asher’s face. His mouth opened to say something, then shut again.

"Enough—both of you!" Alistair’s voice cut through the storm in a sharp voice and controlled tone. "We’re not here to play hero or settle scores. We’re here to take Sera home."

Home.

The word made Seraphina freeze as if someone had thrown a cold bucket of water on her.

Her breath caught in her throat as her vision blurred slightly. A cold sweat broke across her skin, and for a second, it felt like her heart had stopped.

How could she go back to that place from which she had clawed her way out of and bled while escaping?

Her body trembled reflexively, and Lucien noticed it, but he said nothing.

As if he waited for her to say no and tell them that she had no intention of going back there.

But instead, her lips parted, and after a long breath, she whispered, "Okay."