Chapter 45 Lucian #2
I sigh heavily, looking down at my hands like they hold the secrets to the universe. "I guess you could say I was a bit of a hero, even back then. Always trying to save the day, always putting others before myself. It's what got me into trouble with Lilith in the first place."
Seraphina's brow furrows, her lips pursing in confusion. "What do you mean?"
I run a hand through my hair, really not wanting to take this trip down memory lane. But I know she deserves the truth, even if it's not pretty.
"So, remember how I told you Lilith came to my village? All of us young guys were practically tripping over ourselves to get her attention. She was gorgeous and mysterious, making you feel like you were the only man in the world when she looked at you."
I shake my head, a rueful smile on my lips. "She worked as a seamstress for a while, but none of us knew what she really was. A vampire, a seductress, a manipulative bitch who played us all like fiddles."
Seraphina listens intently, her hand resting on mine, anchoring me to the present.
"Anyway, there was this one night when a bunch of us were at the local tavern, drinking and carrying on like the young idiots we were. Lilith was there, too, flirting and teasing, making us all think we had a shot with her."
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the next part of the story.
"I noticed she was paying extra attention to my friend, Thomas.
He was a good guy, kind of naive and easily swayed.
I saw something in her eyes that night—something unnatural.
I could see Lilith was reeling him in, and I didn't like it.
Call it intuition, but something about her just didn't sit right with me. "
I pause, the memories playing out like a twisted nightmare.
"I tried to warn Thomas and get him to see that Lilith was bad news. But he was too far gone, too caught up in her spell. He brushed me off, told me I was just jealous that she wanted him and not me."
I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head. "If only he knew how wrong he was. I couldn't have cared less about Lilith's affections. I just wanted to keep my friend safe."
Seraphina squeezes my hand, her eyes full of sympathy and understanding.
"Later that night, I saw Thomas leave the tavern with Lilith. I had a bad feeling, so I followed them. They headed into the woods, and I kept my distance, not wanting to intrude. But then I heard Thomas scream."
I close my eyes, the sound still echoing in my mind after all these years.
"I ran towards the noise, my heart pounding in my chest. And that's when I saw her, Lilith, with her fangs buried in Thomas's neck. She was draining him dry, and he was lying there, helpless and afraid."
Seraphina gasps, her free hand coming up to cover her mouth.
"I don't know what came over me, but I charged at her, tackling her to the ground. We struggled, and she was so strong, so fast. But I managed to get in a few good hits, enough to make her let go of Thomas."
I take a shaky breath, the weight of the memory pressing down on me like a physical force.
"I told Thomas to run, to get help. But it was too late—he was dead. Lilith, she was pissed. She came at me with a fury I'd never seen before, her eyes glowing red and her fangs bared."
I unconsciously rub at my neck, remembering her bite.
"She overpowered me easily, pinning me to the ground like I was nothing more than a rag doll. And then she bit me, her fangs sinking into my flesh like hot knives. I screamed, I fought, but it was no use. She was too strong, and I was just a human."
Seraphina's eyes are wide, her face pale as she listens to my tale.
"The last thing I remember before blacking out was her voice whispering in my ear. 'Such fire in you—you're mine now, Lucian. Forever.' And then everything went dark."
I let out a long, slow breath, the weight of the memory finally lifting from my shoulders.
"When I woke up, I was different. Changed. Lilith had turned me, made me into a monster like her. And that's how I became a vampire, by trying to save my friend…" I breathe deep, "who in the end died anyway."
I stare into Seraphina's eyes, scanning her face like a paranoid TSA agent, half-expecting to find even a trace of fear or disgust. But instead, I'm greeted by an endless ocean of understanding and empathy, and it's like a swift kick to the emotional nuts.
I'm laid bare, my soul exposed like a naked hitchhiker on a busy highway, but somehow, in her presence, I feel completely safe and accepted. It's a mindfuck of the highest order.
"You see, angel face? Even back then, I was willing to throw myself under the proverbial bus for the people I gave a damn about."
Seraphina's eyes are filled with a cocktail of sadness and curiosity, "Just like when you sacrificed yourself for Dani," she says, her voice as soft as a kitten's purr. It's not a question but a statement of fact.
I lock eyes with her, my mind buzzing with unasked questions like a swarm of caffeine-addicted bees. "So, you've heard about that little incident, huh?"
Seraphina nods, her golden curls bouncing with the motion. "Yes, Dani told me what happened before she made it to Aquaria. She shared how you willingly put yourself in harm's way...for her," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "She's alive because of your bravery."
I swallow hard, the memories of Azrael pinning me down and that witch making scrambled eggs out of my brain all so Dani could get to safety. "It's just who I am, for better or worse. Mostly worse." I wink.
Seraphina's smile is like a ray of sunshine piercing through the clouds of my fucked-up existence.
Her hand reaches to cup my cheek, and I lean into her touch like a touch-starved puppy.
"For better, Lucian. Definitely for better.
You are not like them—the ones lost. Or like Lilith. You are better than all of them."
I gaze into her eyes—my own darting back and forth like a metronome on crack, trying to detect even a glimmer of doubt or hesitation.
But there's none to be found. I'm stripped down to my core.
My heart laid out on a silver platter for her to do with as she pleases.
It's a level of vulnerability that would normally have me running for the hills but with Seraphina?
I've never felt so safe, accepted, or completely at home.
It's like she's the missing puzzle piece I never knew I needed.
It's a lot to process, even for a smooth operator like myself.
I clear my throat, trying to dislodge the boulder-sized lump of emotions suddenly taking up residence there.
"So, let me ask you something, my precious angel cake.
I know I've got a metric fuck-ton of feelings for you, but can you tell me how you feel?
You know, about this whole 'destined to bump uglies for all eternity' thing? "
Seraphina's smile is like a ray of sunshine piercing through the clouds of my fucked-up existence.
"At first, it scared me," she admits, her voice soft and contemplative.
"We've always been taught that your kind is tied to darkness, that you'd snuff us out given the chance.
Our blood calls to you, which should be a bad thing. "
She pauses, and I feel my heart doing somersaults in my chest. But then she continues, her words wrapping around me like a warm, fuzzy blanket of hope.
"But after talking with Dani—understanding her experience with it and getting to know you? I've started to form my own opinions and feelings."
"Like what?" I prompt her, my voice barely above a whisper. I need to know what's going on in her beautiful head and hear her say the words that will either make or break me.
"It's like... I feel this spark between us, this pull towards you. It's deep inside, like a part of me I never knew existed until now. And it's not just physical, though; trust me, that's definitely a factor."
"Oh, do tell, my naughty little seraph," I purr, waggling my eyebrows at her. "I'm all ears, and other parts, too."
She blushes, and I feel a surge of pride, knowing that I'm the one who put that rosy hue on her cheeks.
"I—I've never felt anything…" she stammers, trying so hard to explain, and it's fucking adorable, "physical. Or attracted to anyone. It's emotional, too. Like my heart recognizes yours, like a puzzle that just clicked into place."
I nod, my throat tight with emotion. "I feel the same way, Cupcake. But for me, it's more primal, more instinctual. I need you in every way possible. And I need you to know I would never, ever hurt you—unless you ask me to, of course. Then I'm totally down for a little consensual rough play."
Seraphina laughs, the sound like a choir of angels singing a dirty limerick.
I take her hand in mine, placing it over my chest where my heart beats a steady, strong, and sure rhythm.
"Do you feel that? That's because of you, Seraphina.
You make me feel alive in a way I never thought possible.
" She nods, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"And also, like, super horny. But that's beside the point. "
She giggles, "Oh, Lucian, you have such a way with words."
"What can I say, baby girl? I'm a cunning linguist," I quip, giving her a suggestive wink. "All I want to do is protect you, love you, worship you like the goddamn goddess you are. I want to be your knight in shining armor, your personal love slave, your—"
Before I finish my impassioned speech, Seraphina silences me with a kiss that would make the angels weep with envy. Her lips are soft and sweet, like sugar dipped in cinnamon, and I can't help but melt into her embrace.
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close and devouring her mouth like a starving man. A rare moment of clarity strikes me, and I break away, gasping for air. "Whoa there, my eager Heavenly S'more! At least buy me a drink first before you go all in. I'm a gentleman, and gentlemen—"
But once again, Seraphina cuts me off, smashing her lips against mine with an enthusiasm that could start a forest fire. She wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me closer, and I can feel every delicious curve of her body pressed against mine.
She pulls back just enough to whisper against my lips, her voice breathy and sexy. "Shut up and just kiss me, Lucian."
Well, fuck me sideways and call me a bitch. My sweet and spicy chimichanga just turned up the heat, and I am so here for it. I mean, who am I to deny my mate what she wants? Especially when what she wants is me.
Oh, she's going to be begging me to fulfill her every desire, to make her scream my name until she's hoarse and seeing stars. And I am more than happy to oblige with gusto and enthusiasm.
Because that's just the kind of mate I am. Attentive, devoted, and always ready to please.
Pleasing Seraphina will be my new favorite hobby. Sorry, knitting; you've been replaced.