Chapter 18

Lucien’s POV

She was lying.

Not about everything.

But enough.

I stood by the window, watching the faint movement of the curtains as the wind slipped through the slightly open glass.

Behind me, I could hear the soft clink of cutlery.

Hannah eating.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Like every movement cost her something.

She said she was fine.

She wasn’t.

Anyone could see that.

But what bothered me wasn’t just her condition.

It was what she said.

Don’t let her come near me.

Selene.

Kael left not long after she started eating.

He didn’t say much before he walked out.

He didn’t need to.

When Kael decides something, it’s already done.

Riven followed a few minutes later, though he hesitated at the door longer than usual.

That was new.

He didn’t like leaving things unfinished.

And Hannah

She was definitely unfinished.

Now it was just the two of us.

And Tianna.

But even she kept her distance, moving quietly around the room like she didn’t want to interrupt anything.

Smart girl.

I turned slightly, my gaze settling on Hannah.

She hadn’t noticed me watching.

Her focus was on the food in front of her, though she paused every few bites like she was forcing herself to continue.

Not hunger.

Survival.

There was a difference.

“You don’t trust her.”

My voice broke the silence.

She froze.

Just for a second.

Then slowly, she looked up at me.

Her eyes met mine.

Tired.

Guarded.

But clear.

“No,” she said.

No hesitation.

No fear.

Just truth.

I studied her.

“Why?”

A simple question.

But not an easy one.

She looked down briefly, her fingers tightening slightly around the spoon.

“I just… don’t.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one I have.”

Silence.

I didn’t push.

Not yet.

I moved away from the window and walked closer.

Not too close.

Just enough.

She tensed slightly.

Expected.

I ignored it.

“You think she’ll hurt you.”

It wasn’t a question.

Her jaw tightened.

“Yes.”

“And your mother?”

Her breathing hitched.

There it was.

The reaction I was waiting for.

She looked away quickly.

“I don’t want to talk about that.”

Too late.

We already were.

I crouched slightly so I was at her level.

Not above her.

Not towering over her like we usually did.

Something about that mattered.

“She’s the reason you’re here,” I said quietly.

Her eyes snapped back to mine.

“She’s the reason I stayed,” she corrected.

A pause.

Interesting.

“You could’ve left,” I said.

“No,” she replied immediately. “I couldn’t.”

“You could’ve refused.”

“And what?” she shot back. “Watch her die?”

Her voice wasn’t loud.

But it carried.

Heavy.

Sharp.

Real.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then she looked away again.

Her voice softer this time.

“You don’t understand.”

Maybe not.

But I understood more than she thought.

I straightened slowly.

“You’re right,” I said.

That caught her attention.

“I don’t.”

A small silence followed.

Then

“But I understand this.”

I held her gaze.

“You’re scared.”

Her lips parted slightly.

Like she wanted to argue.

But nothing came out.

Because she knew it was true.

“I’m not scared of you,” she said finally.

I almost smiled.

Almost.

“I didn’t say you were.”

Her brows furrowed slightly.

“Then what”

“You’re scared of losing control.”

That hit.

I saw it.

The shift in her expression.

The way her fingers tightened again.

The way her breathing changed just a little.

Bullseye.

I stepped back slightly.

Giving her space.

“You came here thinking you had a choice,” I continued.

“You don’t.”

Her eyes hardened.

“I figured that out already.”

“Did you?”

A pause.

Then

“Because from where I’m standing…”

I tilted my head slightly.

“…you’re still fighting like you do.”

Silence.

Heavy silence.

Tianna moved quietly behind us, clearly uncomfortable.

Good.

She should be.

This wasn’t a conversation meant to be comfortable.

Hannah placed the tray down slowly.

Her appetite gone.

“I’m not going to just accept this,” she said.

There was no anger in her voice.

Just determination.

“And I’m not going to break,” she added.

That one

That one stayed.

I looked at her for a long moment.

Then nodded once.

“Good.”

She blinked.

Confused.

“Good?” she repeated.

“Yes.”

I straightened fully now.

“Because broken things are useless.”

Her expression changed instantly.

Hurt.

Anger.

I saw it.

I meant it.

But not the way she thought.

I turned slightly, heading toward the door.

Then paused.

Without looking back, I spoke.

“Stay away from Selene.”

Her breath caught.

Confirmation.

I opened the door.

But before I stepped out

“I don’t say things twice,” I added.

Then I left.