CHAPTER 21: WARNING : HE IS REALLY TESTING THE THEORY

My eyes flew wide open as he laid me down on the bed, his gaze locked on mine.

Thankfully, he didn’t press his weight against me... though on second thought, that wasn’t exactly something to be thankful for when he was hovering just above, his arms braced on either side of my head, trapping me in place.

The air between us felt heavy, charged, and I could barely breathe. "Lucian..." I whispered, unsure if it was meant to be a warning or a plea.

His lips curved, eyes glinting faintly with mischief. "Relax," he murmured, voice low. "I’m just trying to prove that the doctor was a quack. How could a simple kiss make me lose control of my own power?"

My breath caught. "That’s not something you test on me!" I snapped, trying to push at his chest but he didn’t budge.

His smile deepened, faint but enough, the kind that made it hard to tell if he was teasing or scheming. "You’re the only one I could test on," he said quietly, eyes fixed on mine. "Because you’re the only one I trust not to burn me alive if things go wrong."

I frowned, unsure if that was supposed to be a compliment. "That’s... not exactly comforting."

He chuckled softly, the sound low and smooth. "Then take it however you want. But I’ll keep my word... I won’t hurt you."

"Wait—wait, wait!" I pushed at his forehead as he leaned closer. "What do you mean you won’t hurt me? That’s not right... we’re not doing that thing, right?!" My heart was about to explode from how fast it was pounding.

Lucian’s smile deepened, eyes glinting with mischief. "Why? Are you nervous?" he teased, voice dropping lower. "You’re trembling more than when I froze you."

"I am not!" I snapped, but my voice betrayed me with how shaky it came out.

He leaned closer, close enough that his breath brushed my lips. "You sound like you are."

"I—" I choked, face burning. "I never even did it with a human! And now you want me to give my first time to a dragon?!"

Lucian stilled, eyes narrowing slightly. Then, his lips twitched... just barely. "You make it sound like I asked," he said, voice low, cool, and unbothered.

My jaw dropped. "Y—you’re impossible!"

"Mm." He tilted his head slightly, gaze still fixed on me. "You’re loud for someone who claims she doesn’t want this."

"Lucian!" I squeaked, grabbing the pillow beside me and smacking his shoulder. "Someone who doesn’t want this is usually loud! Whoever wants this will just surrender to your cunning, overgrown lizard!"

He didn’t even flinch, just stared at me with that calm and unreadable expression, with the ghost of that infuriating smirk tugging at his lips. Then, without warning, he flopped down beside me, the bed dipping under his weight.

"It’s surprising you didn’t groan in pain when you swung that pillow," he murmured, eyes half-lidded, amusement flickering faintly in them.

"That’s what we called reflex," I shot back automatically, rolling onto my side to glare at him. "And maybe the pain ran away out of pure annoyance because of you—"

Lucian turned his head slightly, eyes meeting mine. The small, almost lazy smile that curved his lips this time wasn’t mocking, it was dangerous. Effortlessly charming.

The rest of my words died in my throat.

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. The teasing, the anger... all of it dissolved, replaced by the sound of my own racing heartbeat.

"You’re the first one," he murmured, voice low and rough. "The first who ever made me lose control of my power."

Before I could even blink, he was already closing the distance between us. I didn’t know if it was his voice, his eyes, or the way his presence filled every inch of the space between us.

I felt compelled, completely drawn to him, like something inside me moved on its own.

’How can someone have eyes like that?’ I thought, my chest tightening. ’So cold... yet so heartbreakingly sad.’

His hand moved slowly, brushing against my cheek. It was cold at first, then warmer, like he was testing how close he could get without scaring me off.

My breath caught. "Lucian..." I whispered, though I didn’t know what I was trying to say.

He didn’t answer. Just watched me for a heartbeat before leaning in, closer, until I could feel his breath against my lips.

And then he kissed me.

It was soft. Careful. I could feel he was afraid I’d push him away if he went any further.

I should’ve pulled back. I knew I should’ve.

But I didn’t move. Why, Seraphina? Why?

His kiss deepened, slow and deliberate. He shifted closer, one arm sliding beneath me, his touch steady and warm.

Then his other hand slipped under my neck, fingers brushing against my skin as if testing how much I would allow.

Every movement felt intentional and restrained, yet it was enough to make my pulse trip over itself.

I could only flinch every time his lips hovered around my neck before drifting toward the hollow of my collarbone. His hand moved beneath me, sliding gently over my stomach, and then... I realized it was already slipping inside my pants.

"Lucian..." I breathed, my chest tightening.

He just gazed at me, low humming escaping his throat, before his finger suddenly slid inside me. The shock made me jerk upright, gasping.

His finger pressed deeper, slow but sending jolts of fire through my body, and panic clawed at my chest. "Stop—Lucian!" I shouted, my voice breaking as I reached for his hand, desperate to stop him.

For a heartbeat, everything froze... the warmth of him, the closeness, the rapid thump of my own heartbeat. And then...

A sudden, invisible force slammed into him, hurling Lucian across the room. My body tensed instinctively, energy crackling around me like a shield I hadn’t known I possessed. My chest heaved, my limbs trembling, as the shock of my own power left me breathless.