Escape

The moment the door crashes inward, the room erupts into chaos.

Lucian steps through the wreckage, his golden eyes locked onto me like a predator that has finally cornered its prey.

Liam moves instinctively, pushing me behind him, his body tense. He doesn't know who Lucian is, but he knows danger when he sees it.

"Step away from her." Lucian's voice is quiet, but there's no mistaking the threat beneath it.

Liam doesn't move. His stance is steady, protective, but there's a slight tilt of his head—calculating, as if he's trying to make sense of why this stranger is coming after me with such fury.

I should stop this. I should say something. But my mind is racing too fast. Lucian found me. He found me, and Liam is in the middle of it.

I step forward quickly, placing a hand on Liam's arm. "Liam, you need to—"

Before I can finish, Lucian moves.

One moment, he's standing in the doorway. The next, he's in front of Liam, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him against the wall.

Liam lets out a sharp grunt of pain, but his expression twists into anger. He doesn't flinch, doesn't cower. He meets Lucian's glowing gaze with defiance.

"Let him go!" I snap, lunging forward.

Lucian doesn't even look at me. "This is who you've been sneaking off to see?" His voice is laced with disgust. "A human?"

Liam struggles. "Who the hell are you?"

Lucian tightens his grip. "The one who's going to make sure you never see her again."

Something inside me snaps. I don't think—I act.

I grab Lucian's wrist, sinking my nails into his skin, forcing him to look at me. "Let. Him. Go."

For a fraction of a second, something flickers in his eyes—hesitation, confusion. My compulsion. It's trying to take hold.

But Lucian is older. Stronger. His expression hardens, and he shakes off the influence like it was never there. His grip on Liam tightens.

"That won't work on me." He said.

Liam, oblivious to the silent battle happening between us, grits his teeth. "You don't get to decide who she sees."

Lucian laughs, low and dark. "You think you know her? You think you understand what she is?"

Liam's jaw clenches. "I know enough."

"No." Lucian's expression turns cold. "You don't."

And then, with barely any effort, he throws Liam across the room.

I barely have time to move before Liam crashes into the wooden table, splintering it beneath his weight. He groans, rolling onto his side, his face twisted in pain.

"Lucian, stop!" I rush toward Liam, but Lucian grabs my arm, yanking me back.

"This ends now," he growls. "You're coming with me."

I struggle against his grip, panic clawing at my chest. "You don't understand—"

"I understand perfectly." His voice is cold. "You've been compromised."

I shake my head furiously. "No, Lucian. Please, just listen—"

His patience snaps. He shoves me backward, sending me skidding across the floor. I barely catch myself before colliding into the broken remains of the table.

Pain flares through me, but I push it down. I get to my feet, my breath coming fast.

Lucian's expression turned darker than normal. "You're not leaving me a choice, Aria."

Then he lunges.

I dodge just in time, his fist slicing through the air where my head had been. I counter, striking out with my own speed, but Lucian anticipates it, blocking my attack with ease.

He's faster. Stronger. But I refuse to back down.

I feint left, then twist mid-motion, landing a hard kick to his side. He grunts, barely flinching before retaliating, his fist slamming into my ribs.

White-hot pain erupts through me. I stumble, but I don't fall. I can't fall.

Lucian presses forward, relentless.

"You think you can fight me?" His voice is mocking, but there's frustration behind it. He is so pissed now. "You think you can beat me?"

I grit my teeth, launching myself at him again. Our movements blur together—strike, block, counter, repeat. The room trembles with the force. I land a sharp elbow to his jaw, making him stagger. I barely get a moment to recover before he grips my throat, lifting me off my feet for a second before slamming me onto the ground.

I gasp, vision fading. I gasp for breath.

Lucian crouches over me, pinning my arms down. "You're done."

My chest burns. I force a smirk despite the pain. "Not yet."

I twist sharply, wrenching my arm free and delivering a brutal kick to his stomach. He grunts, stumbling back just enough for me to move.

I don't hesitate. I lash out, my claws unsheathing for a split second—just long enough to slash across his shoulder.

Lucian hisses, stumbling back. Blood seeps through his torn shirt, his eyes blazing with so much anger it could melt me right where I stand.

I don't wait for his retaliation.

I grab Liam's wrist and run.

...

We sprint through the shattered remains of the inn, out into the cold night air. My lungs burn, but I don't stop. I can't stop.

Behind us, I hear Lucian recover. I hear the snarl of frustration, the sound of his pursuit.

He's coming.

Liam stumbles beside me, gripping his ribs. "We—" he exhales sharply. "We can't keep running like this. He might...catch up."

I slow, my own breathing unsteady. He's right. We need to hide. But where?

Liam looks at me, searching my face. "Who is he?"

I press my lips together. "Someone I can't escape."

Liam's eyes darken. "You're not going back to him."

I shake my head. "No."

Softer, Liam says, "Then where do we go?"

I swallow hard. "I don't know."

For the first time in a long time, I don't have a plan.

And that terrifies me.

The wind howls through the trees. The danger hasn't passed. Somewhere in the shadows, Lucian is still hunting us.

And I know, deep in my bones—he won't stop until he finds me again.

Why did the situation turn out this way?