Chapter 12
Jealousy wasn’t something I had ever experienced before. Not when my brothers got more of our father’s attention. Not when I saw other kids with mothers who actually loved them.
Jealousy was a stranger to me.
Now it’s the only damn thing I feel.
And today—today I finally understand the curse.
You don’t outrun it.
You don’t outsmart it.
The bastard just waits… and when you think you’re safe, it tears into you.
I don’t think. I just drive straight to Lucian’s.
I’m two seconds from detonating, and he’s the only one who’ll either talk me down or put a bullet in me—whichever is necessary.
That’s what eldest brothers do, I guess.
I pull right onto his lawn—he can beat me up later.
I hammer on his door.
He opens it with murder in his eyes.
“You’re lucky Aurora sleeps like she’s six feet under,” he growls. “If you woke her, I’d break your jaw.”
I push him aside and walk in. He already knows something’s wrong. I don’t need to say a word.
“Whiskey,” I mutter.
He pours two glasses. I empty mine in one swallow.
“There better be a reason you dragged your ass here,” he warns. “I was having a perfectly good night with my wife.”
“It’s the damn curse.”
His whole posture changes—like a man hearing a loaded gun cock behind his head.
“Finally?” he asks quietly.
I don’t answer. That’s all the answer he needs.
“Fuck.” His voice drops low. “You tried to fight it, didn’t you?”
I nod.
“And let me guess—it didn’t work?”
“It blew up in my face.”
Lucian exhales. “The more you push it away, the harder it sinks its teeth in. You should’ve known.”
“I thought I could keep her like this,” I mutter. “Orbiting me. Close enough to touch. Mine without the label. Mine without the risk.”
“Who?”
“My assistant.”
“You’re telling me you pretended to resist the curse when she was practically under your nose every day?”
“I didn’t resist,” I say bitterly. “I pretended I was immune. That I could have her without having her.”
“And now? What changed?”
“She left. And when she left, the curse hit me like a fucking truck.”
Lucian whistles low. “Is she receptive at least?”
I sneer. “She’s got a little boyfriend.”
“A boyfriend?” He laughs. “You didn’t kill him yet?”
“I’m getting there,” I growl.
“I’m surprised you didn’t kill him on sight.”
“I wanted to. Still do.”
Lucian takes a slow sip of whiskey. “So… you accepted it, then.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I haven’t accepted anything.”
“Enzo,” he warns.
“How the hell do you accept something like this?”
“What are you afraid of?” Lucian asks.
“I’m not afraid.” The words are a snarl.
“Then why the fuck are you here?”
I slam my glass on the table so hard it cracks.
Lucian raises his voice. “WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?”
“LOSING HER.”
I drag a hand through my hair, finally confronting my fears.
“What if something happens to her?” I whisper. “What if she sees who I am and can’t stomach it? What if she leaves like—like our mother fucking left?”
“So what? You’d rather live without her and lose your mind slowly than risk the pain? She should be the safest and happiest she ever is when she’s with you.”
“She deserves better.”
“She deserves you,” he snaps. “The man who would burn the world down for her. That curse isn’t punishment, Enzo. You think she’ll be safer without you? Some other man could touch her, claim her—”
“Don’t fucking say that.”
“It’s the truth,” Lucian says coldly. “Either you have her—or another man will.”
The thought alone makes me feel like I’ll go insane.
“You’re losing her right now,” he continues. “Every second you waste pretending you’re in control.”
Before I can speak, Aurora appears in the doorway, drowning in one of Lucian’s shirts.
“Lu? Why aren’t you in bed?”
Lucian straightens instantly. His whole presence shifts—eyes warming in a way I’ve never seen on him with anyone else.
“I’m coming, my little muse,” he murmurs.
She notices me. “Oh—hi, Enzo.”
I nod. My throat feels tight.
She presses into his chest. His arm wraps around her automatically, like his body has been trained to respond before his mind catches up.
The sight hits me harder than anything Lucian said tonight. Is that what I’ve been running from? She isn’t his weakness. She’s his anchor. The thing that keeps him human—but he’d burn cities for.
A drop of cold sweat runs down my spine.
Is that what Mila would be? Is that what I’ve been pushing away?
Lucian guides Aurora back toward the hallway. He glances over his shoulder and mutters low: “Go get her, Enzo.”
I finally understand—
I’m already too far gone.
Running only makes it worse.