CHAPTER 82: YOUR MOTHER FIRST

"I did not agree!"

Lucian’s voice rang in every corner of our bedroom after we coming back from The Blaze.

After meeting Celeste earlier, I didn’t know how to express what I felt.

All my life, I thought I was alone. But when she told me I was her twin, a part of me... felt so happy.

I have a family.

I finally have a family.

So I asked her to wait. Wait for me to find a way to save her.

But now here I was, confronting the mad ice dragon when I told him about using my flame to heal Celeste.

"I am not letting you do that," Lucian growled, with his eyes full of fear.

I blinked. "Lucian—"

"No." His voice was sharp, final. "You are NOT using your flame on her."

I stepped back a little. "But she’s dying. And if my flame can stabilize her core, even for a while—"

"That’s exactly the problem," he snapped.

His eyes burned cold, "You don’t even understand what your flame is."

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

Lucian ran a trembling hand through his hair. Not angry but more to scare.

Lucian’s jaw clenched, his voice dropping to something quieter, almost unsure.

"Seraphina... I don’t know how phoenix twins work. But what if your flames weren’t meant to be used on each other? What if doing something like this..." He exhaled shakily, "hurts you instead?"

He shook his head, frustration and fear mixing in his eyes.

"You’re twins. That alone could change everything. Maybe your flames react differently. Maybe fate works differently for a phoenix like you."

His voice softened even more.

"I’m not saying I know the rules. I’m saying... What if... what if interfering makes things worse? What if saving her means losing you?"

I swallowed hard. "But... I can’t just watch her die."

Lucian’s shoulders tensed, his breath catching for a moment before he spoke.

"I know," he murmured, barely above a whisper. "I know you can’t. You’re not someone who walks away."

He looked at me then, eyes tired, looking so conflicted and hurting.

"That’s one of the things I..." He stopped himself, jaw tightening. "That’s why I’m afraid."

I lowered my gaze, "She’s my sister," I said softly. "My only family."

"And you’re mine," Lucian answered immediately, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

My heart fluttered painfully, tightening my throat.

"Give me some time," he said as he stepped closer. This time, he didn’t hesitate.

His hands came up and cupped my face warmly, holding me as if I might disappear if he let go.

"Let me find a way to save her, okay?"

I drew a shaky breath. "How long, Lucian?"

His brows pulled together. "Seraphina—"

"How long do you need?" I whispered, voice cracking. "She’s dying. I don’t think she has much time left."

Lucian’s fingers tightened slightly against my cheeks. "I said I’ll figure something out."

"But what if she doesn’t last—"

"Then I’ll move faster," he snapped, fear bleeding into his tone. "But you don’t risk yourself like that. Not for anyone."

"It wasn’t a risk," I protested softly.

"No?" His jaw tightened. "Because it feels like you’re ready to burn yourself for her. After one day. One conversation."

My chest tightened painfully. "She’s my sister."

"And what if she’s lying?" Lucian’s voice rose, tension finally snapping. "You trust too easily, Seraphina. You always do."

The words hit me hard, sharper because they came from him.

I felt heat rush up my chest, emotion breaking through.

"Yes, I did!" I snapped, louder than I meant to. "I trusted too easily! That’s why I’m still here with you!"

Lucian froze.

This time, his grip on my face softened, not loosened, it was like he was surprised with my words.

"Seraphina..." he whispered.

But I wasn’t done. My voice shook, but I held his gaze. "I trusted you when I didn’t trust anyone else in this world. I stayed... with you. Even when you betrayed my trust... here I am still holding onto the tiny thread of trust I have in you..."

His breath hitched, a raw ache crossing his eyes.

Like my words cut straight into something he’d been trying to hide.

He closed his eyes for a brief second, jaw tightening as if he was fighting his own heartbeat.

When he opened them again, his voice was barely steady.

"I know I hurt you," he murmured, his thumbs brushing the sides of my face gently, "And I hate myself for it every single day."

I swallowed hard, trying not to crumble under the warmth of his touch.

"But Seraphina... that thread you’re holding onto?" He leaned closer, his forehead pressing lightly against mine. "I’m holding onto it too. With everything I have."

My breath trembled.

"I’m trying," he continued softly, voice rough with honesty. "I’m trying to earn that trust back. But I can’t do that if you keep throwing yourself into danger. I can’t do that if I wake up one morning and find out you burned your life away for someone I don’t even know."

"She is my twin sister!" I snapped, the words bursting out of me before I could stop them.

Lucian’s eyes widened in hurt, fear, frustration all tightening at once.

"I know," he whispered. "I know what she said."

I pulled back slightly, but he kept his hands on my cheeks, not letting the distance grow.

"You don’t believe her?" I whispered.

Lucian swallowed hard, the muscles in his jaw flexing.

"It’s not that," he said softly. "It’s not that I don’t want to believe you have a family. I do... I want that more than you think."

His voice dropped lower, trembling.

"But I don’t know her, Seraphina. I don’t know what she wants. I don’t know what she’s capable of. And neither do you."

My chest tightened. "She’s dying, Lucian."

"I saw," he murmured. "I saw how weak she looked. I’m not denying she’s hurt. But pain doesn’t make someone innocent."

I felt my breath stop in my throat.

Lucian’s hands cupped my face more gently, his thumbs brushing slow circles on my skin.

"You heard her story once," he said quietly. "You saw her for a few hours. You don’t even know who she really is."

My anger snapped faster than my breath. I glared at him, heat rising in my chest.

"Okay," I hissed, "what if I tried to use my flame on your mother first... would that make you agree then?"