CHAPTER 32: THE FORBIDDEN BOOK

"My lord..." Sebastian gulped, forcing the words out even when his voice trembled, "Are you sure about this?"

Lucian’s hand paused on the car door, his gaze lowering. "Which one are you referring to?" His tone was low, sharp. "Sealing them again? Or..." He turned slightly, his eyes cutting through the night, "The phoenix?"

Sebastian hesitated, his throat tightening. "Miss Vale, my lord..." he finally said, the words barely above a whisper.

"Why?" Lucian’s lips curved faintly, though the smile never reached his eyes. "You seem deeply concerned for her... Did I miss something?"

Sebastian frowned. "No, my lord." He hesitated, words slipping out before he could stop them. This was the first time he had ever questioned Lucian’s actions. He was loyal—too loyal, some might say. Everything Lucian commanded, he did without question. After all, his life belonged to the man before him.

"I just... noticed you acted differently with Miss Vale," he continued quietly, his tone careful, almost unsure. "It’s not like how you treat others, my lord. You seem... protective."

Lucian’s expression didn’t change, but something definitely flickered in his eyes. "Protective?" he repeated slowly. Then, with a faint exhale that might have been a laugh or perhaps a sigh, he pulled the car door open.

"Don’t mistake hesitation for care, Sebastian," he said flatly before sliding into the car. "I’m only making sure she lives long enough to fulfil what fate demands of her."

He shut the door. The engine purred, and the city lights blurred as they drove into the thick of night.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The hum of the tires on the wet road filled the silence until Lucian finally broke it.

"Sebastian," he said, his tone calm but heavy, "get me the book Alden and Darian mentioned before, the one about the phoenix lineage."

Sebastian glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "The rare flame, my lord?"

Lucian nodded once. "Yes. The one said to burn strong enough to revive even those on the brink of death."

A brief pause followed.

"My lord," Sebastian began carefully, "You know the book is forbidden after the fall of the phoenix royal family."

Lucian’s gaze was fixed on the blur of passing lights beyond the car window. "That book wasn’t banned because of what it contained," he said finally, his tone low but certain. "It was banned because of the people who used it."

Sebastian glanced up from the front seat, uncertain if he should respond.

Lucian continued, his voice steady. "The royal phoenix clan didn’t fall because of their own flame... It was because others sought to control it. They turned something meant for renewal into a weapon. That’s why the council buried every trace of that knowledge... to erase the shame of what others did to them."

Sebastian hesitated before answering, "Then... you believe the book isn’t cursed?"

Lucian leaned back against the seat, his expression unreadable. "Power itself isn’t cursed. Only those who misuse it are."

The car was silent for a long moment, save for the soft hum of the engine.

Then, Lucian added quietly, "Find that book, Sebastian. Every record, fragment, or copy that survived. I want everything you can get your hands on."

"Yes, my lord."

Lucian gave a brief nod before his gaze drifted toward the darkened streets outside. "And dig deeper into her," he said after a pause. "Seraphina Vale. Everything about her past... where she came from, who raised her, what she’s hiding. Anything you could find..."

Sebastian turned slightly, uncertain. "You think she’s... connected?"

Lucian’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Since when did you become this stupid? Her flame shouldn’t exist!" he snapped, his voice echoing in the confined space. "Not if the royal line truly ended!"

For a moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the hum of the engine. Then Lucian spoke again, quieter this time, but the weight in his tone was heavier.

"If this gets out," he said, "she won’t live long enough for fate to decide anything. Every power-hungry fool in this world will come for her."

Sebastian’s fingers tightened on his knee. "Then I’ll make sure that information doesn’t slip out."

Lucian leaned back, eyes fixed on the passing city lights. "Find me that book. And dig into everything you can about her. Where she came from, who she’s connected to..." He paused briefly, his gaze turning distant. "Her grandmother. Where is she?"

Sebastian hesitated. "The Blazes hid that well, my lord. I couldn’t locate her. Likely to keep Miss Vale from finding her."

Lucian’s lips curved, not in amusement but in thought. "Of course they did. They always keep what’s useful hidden." He tapped his finger once against the window, then said quietly, "Her grandmother is my source of information now... she might be the key who could answer all my questions."

He straightened, voice firm. "Change of plan. Drive to Blaze’s manor... now."

"But, my lord... it’s almost midnight," Sebastian said carefully, trying to reason with him. "We could go there in the morning—"

A sharp glare landed on the back of his head. "Honestly... What’s making you so chatty tonight?" Lucian’s voice was low, cold.

The temperature inside the car dropped instantly, frost creeping faintly along the edge of the window.

Sebastian stiffened, his breath visible in the chill. "N-nothing, my lord," he stammered, quickly signaling the driver. "Straight to Blaze’s manor."

Lucian leaned back in his seat again, his gaze fixed on the window as the car rolled through the thinning mist toward the city. "Has Darian called?"

Sebastian opened his mouth to answer, "No, my lord—" but his words were cut off by the sharp buzz of his phone. The screen lit up with Darian’s name.

He quickly answered, "Dr. Darian?" A brief pause followed before his eyes widened. "She’s... awake?"

Lucian’s gaze snapped toward him instantly, cold and sharp. "What did you just say?"

"My lord... Miss Vale is awake," Sebastian said carefully, lowering the phone from his ear.

Lucian straightened immediately. "Turn the car around," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We’re going back... for now."