IF YOU LET ME

CHAPTER TWELVE: IF YOU LET ME

SERENA'S POV

Caspian’s voice was low and steady as he sat me on his lap.

“Why are you scared? What's wrong?” He asked, his eyes softening.

“I can protect you from anything, Serena. If you let me.” he added.

The words made my chest tighten. I kept my eyes down. I didn’t know how to answer. Protect me from what? From the woman who kept pushing me to look into you? From the messages? From the truth about that night? Or from himself?

“What are you scared of?” he asked again.

I still didn’t answer. I looked down at my hands. My fingers were slightly trembling. My heart was beating too fast. I could feel his eyes on me, waiting. Waiting for me to give me an answer.

He put two fingers under my chin and gently lifted my face. I had no choice but to look at him. My eyes were watery. I could feel the tears trying to form, but I held them back. I couldn't cry. Not in front of him.

His voice softened. “What’s wrong?”

I opened my mouth. “I…i…”

Before I could say anything else, my phone started ringing on the nightstand. The sound made me tense immediately. My whole body went stiff. I stared at the phone like it might explode.

Why was she calling again? Who was calling? Was it A?

Caspian reached over, picked it up, and looked at the screen. Then he held it out to me.

“It’s the doctor,” he said.

I took the phone with shaking hands and answered.

“Hello?”

“Ms. Vale? This is Dr. Ramirez. Lucas is asking for you. He’s a bit restless tonight. I think it would help if you came to see him.”

My heart jumped. “What? Is he okay? What happened?”

“He’s stable. He just needs to see you. Can you come?”

“Yes. Yes, I’m coming.”

I ended the call and stood up too fast. My mind was spinning. I started looking around the room like I didn’t know what to do first. Where were my clothes? Where were my shoes? Should I call a taxi? Should I—

“Calm down,” Caspian said. His voice was firm but not harsh.

I looked at him. My hands were still shaking.

He stood up. “Get dressed. Wear some comfortable clothes. I’ll drive you there.”

I nodded quickly. I went to the closet and pulled out a pair of soft pants and a simple top. My fingers fumbled with the buttons. I changed as fast as I could, still feeling the leftover heat on my skin from earlier and the panic rising in my chest.

Hope Luca is fine?

Caspian was already waiting by the door with his car keys when I came out. He didn’t say much. He just guided me outside the house and into the car. The night air felt cool on my face. He started the engine and drove.

The ride to the hospital felt long and short at the same time. I kept checking the time on my phone. My knee bounced up and down. I was uneasy and nervous. Caspian glanced at me once or twice but didn’t speak. His hand stayed on the gear stick. The city lights passed by the windows in a blur.

It felt like an eternity and when we finally reached the hospital, I almost jumped out of the car before it fully stopped. Caspian parked and followed me inside. I didn’t wait for him. I ran down the familiar hallway toward Lucas’s room.

The door was open. Lucas was sitting up in bed, looking smaller than I remember under the white sheets. When he saw me, his face lit up a little.

“Serena,” he said weakly, his hands reaching for me.

I rushed to the side of the bed and took his hand. The relief that hit me was so strong my knees almost gave out. He was okay. He was here. He was looking at me.

“Hi, my love. I’m here,” I said, my voice shaking. “I’m here, Lucas. Everything is fine.”

I sat on the edge of the bed and held his hand tightly. He squeezed back weakly. For a few minutes I just stayed like that, watching his face, making sure he was really okay.

Caspian stood near the door for a moment, watching us. Then he stepped back into the hallway. I saw him speaking quietly with Dr. Ramirez just outside the room.

I focused on Lucas. I brushed his hair back from his forehead. He looked tired, but the panic in his eyes slowly faded because I was there.

“Is everything okay? Have you eaten? Are you cold?” I asked, bombarding him with questions.

After a while, Caspian came back into the room. His expression was serious but calm.

I looked up at him. “What did the doctor say? Is Lucas alright?”

Caspian’s voice was even. “Lucas had a reaction earlier today. But everything is fine now. The specialist is coming next week, and he's on top of the priority list, so everything is fine.”

I nodded, still holding my brother’s hand. The words settled in my chest. A reaction. But fine now. Specialist next week. I repeated them in my head so they would stick.

Lucas looked between us. “You’re staying, right?” he asked me.

“Yes,” I said immediately. “I’m staying.”

Caspian stayed near the wall, quiet. I could feel his eyes on me, but for once I didn’t care about the tension between us. All that mattered was the small hand in mine and the steady beep of the machines.

I sat there for a long time, talking softly to Lucas, telling him everything would be okay. Outside the window the city kept moving, but inside this room everything felt smaller and sharper.

Caspian eventually stepped closer and rested a hand on the back of my chair. He didn’t say anything. He just stayed.

And for the first time in a long while, I didn’t pull away.