CHAPTER 20: LET’S TEST THE THEORY

"Vivian?" I called again, louder this time. My voice echoed off the marble walls, but no one answered. Still... I was sure. That voice... it was hers. Soft, a little shaky, like she’d been worried.

But how could that be possible? Vivian was in my world. The real world. There was no way she could reach me here.

I stared at the mirror for a while, my pulse quickening. "Vivian, if this is some kind of dream, please... say something again."

I froze for a few seconds, waiting, but no one answered. The mirror stayed silent, and the voice didn’t come again.

Letting out a shaky sigh, I pressed a hand to my forehead. "Great... now I’m hearing things while sitting on the toilet," I muttered. "Perfect. Just perfect."

I looked down, pouting. "I must be missing you so much that I’m starting to imagine your voice," I mumbled softly. "You’d probably laugh at me right now, wouldn’t you?"

Silence followed, the kind that made even the dripping sound from the faucet feel too loud. When I was finally done doing my... business, I pushed myself up slowly. The moment my foot touched the ground, a sharp jolt of pain shot through my whole body.

"Argh—!" I hissed, clutching my side. "If this is the effect of dying and awakening that so-called damn phoenix power," I muttered through gritted teeth, "I’d rather just die without being reborn."

"I’ll make sure you won’t experience it again... so don’t die."

The deep voice came out of nowhere.

"AHHHH!" I shrieked, whipping my head toward the door, only to see him standing there like it was the most normal thing in the world. "Lucian! What the hell—!"

He blinked once, clearly unfazed, while I frantically tried to yank my pajama pants up. "You—get out!" I yelled, voice cracking in pure mortification.

His brows lifted slightly. "You were taking too long," he said calmly, as if that justified anything.

"I was peeing!" I snapped. "Normal people wait when someone says they’ll call!"

He didn’t even flinch. Instead, he stepped forward like I hadn’t just yelled at him and, before I could protest, scooped me up again.

"Let’s go eat," he said simply, his tone annoyingly calm. "Then I’ll help you with the medication... it’ll ease the pain."

I rolled my eyes, glaring up at him. "Oh, how sweet," I muttered. "You mean the pain you caused when you nearly froze me to death?"

Lucian’s lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smirk ghosting over them. "Technically, I was saving you," he said, as if that made it better.

"Wait—wait," I shot back, glaring up at him. "You did freeze me to death before that!"

His steps faltered, just for a moment. The smirk vanished, replaced by a flicker of something else... guilt, maybe? His voice dropped, quieter than before. "I’m sorry... for that one time."

I blinked up at him, caught off guard by the sudden sincerity. "You think one sorry is enough for killing someone?"

Lucian glanced down at me, a faint sigh escaping him. "You’re alive now, aren’t you?"

I frowned. "That’s not how apologies work!"

His mouth curved slightly again, the smirk threatening to return. "Then what do you suggest, little phoenix? Should I let you freeze me instead?"

I squinted my eyes glaring at him in annoyance, "How about burn you instead?"

His eyes glinted, a faint trace of amusement flickering in them. "You can try," he said, voice low, almost teasing. "But you can barely stand on your own right now."

I scowled, heat rushing to my cheeks. "You really know how to ruin a good threat."

Lucian leaned a little closer, his eyes glinting. "I just remembered something the doctor mentioned earlier," he said, voice dipping low. "Something that might make your threat actually work."

My brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

His lips curved, the faintest trace of mischief flickering in his otherwise composed face. "Apparently," he murmured, "if our elements mix too closely... say, through... physical interaction.... it could ignite something quite destructive."

I blinked. "Physical interaction?"

He nodded, eyes locked on mine. "Hmm... Something like a kiss. A touch. Anything that stirs the bond too much." His voice dropped, almost teasing. "So, if you ever feel like burning me... that would be the most efficient way."

My jaw dropped. "Liar... pervert dragon..." Instantly pushed his lips to the side, I wriggled myself to get down.

Lucian let out a low chuckle, clearly amused by my struggle. "Careful," he warned, his grip tightening just enough to keep me from falling. "You’re still injured."

"I’d rather crawl than listen to another word of your nonsense," I shot back, pushing against his chest.

"Then crawl," he said smoothly, leaning close enough that his breath brushed my ear. "Should I crawl with you then?"

I knew my face turned red instantly. I swear, I wasn’t imagining anything perverted.

I sighed, dragging my palm down my face. "Can you stop acting like a crocodile instead of a dragon?"

Lucian arched his brow. "A crocodile?"

"In my country, it means someone sly," I explained, squinting at him. "Someone who smiles sweetly while planning their next move. Usually to flirt or... seduce."

His eyes glinted, a slow smirk tugging at his lips. "Ah. So a predator of a different kind."

I froze. "That’s not what I—"

He leaned closer, voice dipping low. "Funny, though. Here, dragons were known to steal hearts, not eat them."

I stared at him, heart skipping. "Steal hearts?"

He smiled, and somehow it felt warmer than it should. "And keep them safe until their owner decides what to do with them."

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. The faint scent of frost and heat tangled in the air between us, and my fingers twitched against his chest.

"Lucian..." I started, but the rest of my words vanished when his breath brushed my ear.

His lips hovered dangerously close to my neck, sending a jolt down my spine. "Lucian!" I yelped, flinching. "You said something bad would happen if we did any physical interaction!"

His eyes gleamed with that unreadable mix of mischief and intent as he looked down at me still in his arms. A slow, knowing smile curved his lips. "Then let’s test the theory..."

"Wait—no! Lucian—no!"

And before I could protest again, he was already walking us straight toward the bed.