Lucas still calls me every night, but Lisa had helped encourage me to text him yesterday, asking for space, at least until he returns to Westwood.

I''m sure he gets hourly reports from all my guards, but at least I don''t have to worry about playing nice when I''m starting to feel resentful and frustrated, despite knowing I should be grateful for being saved.

I''m grateful to him for a lot. Having guards around should be a small price for all of this. It''s just hard.

"Welcome home!" Lisa exclaims as she flings open the door to her new apartment.

When Lisa said that Lucas had settled her into an apartment, I''d expected something... I don''t know.

Normal?

This is far from normal.

The luxurious living room has been decorated in some sort of eclectic, artistic mix of boho wall decor and minimalist furniture, leaving bright, wide open spaces with bright splashes of color and texture on the walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light, framed by curtains I''m afraid to even touch. How can curtains look so expensive?

A sleek kitchen gleams in the corner, all stainless steel appliances and marble countertops, with white cabinets that are going to be a terrible experience to keep clean. It''s like the entire apartment was made with maid service in mind.

"Wow," I breathe, running my fingers along the back of the luxurious leather couch. "Lucas really went all out, didn''t he?"

But they don''t hear me, because—well, they''re still arguing.

Lisa''s voice rises, competing with the clatter of her heels against the hardwood as she storms after Kellan. "We don''t need a guard dog watching our every move in here. What, you think someone''s going to scale fifteen stories and bust through the window?"

I tune out Kellan''s gruff response, focusing instead on the sprawling cityscape beyond the glass. Skyscrapers pierce the sky, glinting in the afternoon sun. Cars crawl along the streets below, tiny and insignificant from this height. People crowd the streets.

It''s busy.

Almost dying will change a lot of things, I guess.

Slowly, I turn from the window, my gaze settling on Lisa and Kellan as they face off in the middle of the living room. Lisa''s cheeks are flushed, her eyes bright with indignation, while Kellan looks like he''s aged a decade in the span of their conversation.

"I appreciate your concern," I say quietly, my voice steady despite the emotions churning in my gut. "But Lisa''s right. I need space to breathe, Kellan. I can''t live my life constantly looking over my shoulder."

Kellan''s brow furrows, his mouth opening as if to argue, but I hold up a hand to stop him. "I''m not saying I don''t want protection. I know the risks, and I''m grateful for everything you and Lucas have done to keep me safe. But there has to be a balance. I can''t heal if I''m suffocating under the weight of my own security detail."

Lisa nods emphatically, her hand coming to rest on my shoulder in a show of solidarity. "Exactly. We''re not saying no guards at all. Just not in the apartment. Give us some room to exist without being watched."

Kellan drags a hand down his face, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "Fine," he grumbles. "No guards inside the apartment. But I''m posting them in the hallway and the lobby. And you''re not to leave without an escort, understand?"

It''s not perfect, but it''s a start. A small victory in the battle for my autonomy. I nod, relief loosening the knot in my chest. "Understood. Thank you, Kellan."

He grunts in acknowledgment, already turning to leave. "I''ll be back in the morning. Get some rest, both of you."

And then he''s gone, the door clicking shut behind him with a finality that feels strangely anticlimactic. Lisa lets out a whoosh of breath, her hand falling from my shoulder as she turns to face me.

"Well, that was fun," she deadpans, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Nothing like a good old-fashioned pissing contest to welcome you home."

I snort, shaking my head. "Home. Right." My gaze drifts back to the window, to the unfamiliar skyline and the aching absence of Selene''s presence. "Feels more like just another prison."

It''s unfair to feel that way. I know it is. But I feel like I haven''t been able to breathe in forever.

Lisa''s expression softens, her eyes shining with understanding. "I know, Ave. But at least you''re out of that house, right? We''ll make it work. It won''t be so bad here. I can already tell."

She loops her arm through mine, tugging me towards the kitchen. "Now come on, I''m starving. Let''s see what kind of gourmet shit Lucas stocked this place with."