Part Seven

Even as her mother warned against him, Lily felt a pull deep within her, a magnetic force drawing her thoughts back to Caspian's silver eyes and enigmatic smile. She knew, with a certainty that both thrilled and terrified her, that staying away was the last thing she wanted to do.

Lily's fingers traced the rim of her untouched coffee mug, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. She nodded slowly, unable to meet her mother's gaze. The weight of her mother's words hung heavy in the air, but Lily knew her lack of conviction was painfully obvious.

"I understand," she murmured, the lie tasting bitter on her tongue.

Her mother sighed deeply, the sound laced with a mixture of frustration and fear. Lily glanced up, catching the worry etched across her mother's face. It made her chest tighten with guilt, but it wasn't enough to quell the burning curiosity ignited by Caspian's touch.

"Lily," her mother said softly, reaching across the table to grasp her daughter's hand. "Please, I'm begging you. Be careful. Don't put yourself at risk."

The warmth of her mother's touch was a stark contrast to the cool, electrifying sensation of Caspian's fingers on her skin. Lily squeezed her mother's hand, trying to convey a reassurance she didn't truly feel.

"I'll be careful, Mum. I promise," Lily whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart.

As she spoke, her free hand unconsciously drifted to her lower back, where Caspian's palm had rested just hours before. The phantom touch sent a shiver down her spine, a silent rebellion against her mother's warnings.

The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans enveloped Lily as she pushed open the door of the local café, the bell's gentle chime a stark contrast to the turbulent thoughts swirling in her mind. Her fingers absently traced the outline of her pentacle necklace, a habit born of anxiety and the need for magical reassurance.

As she approached the counter, her gaze swept across the dimly lit interior, settling on a familiar silhouette that made her breath catch in her throat. For a fleeting moment, her heart raced with anticipation, thinking it was Caspian. But as the figure turned, revealing features eerily similar yet distinctly different, a primal surge of revulsion coursed through her veins.

Vampire.

Her magic crackled beneath her skin, urging her to attack, to eliminate the threat. It was the instinctual response she should have felt with Caspian, but didn't. The dichotomy was jarring.

The vampire's eyes locked onto hers, a flash of recognition sparking in their depths before they flared a violent crimson. Lily's fingers twitched, itching to form a defensive spell.

Lily gripped the edge of the counter, her knuckles turning white as she fought to maintain control. The air between them crackled with tension, thick and suffocating.

"Large latte, please," she managed to say to the barista, her voice tense.

The vampire's nostrils flared, and Lily knew he could smell her magic, just as she could sense the cloying scent of death that clung to him. They circled each other warily, predators locked in a silent dance of mutual distrust.

Lily's mind raced. 'Why isn't this how I felt with Caspian? What's wrong with me?'

Just as the tension threatened to snap, a familiar voice cut through the haze of hostility.

"Brother, there you are!"

Lily's heart leapt into her throat as Caspian's smooth timbre filled the café. She turned, her eyes immediately drawn to his tall figure striding through the door. His silver gaze found hers, and a small smile played at the corners of his lips.

"Lily," he purred, her name a caress on his tongue. "What a pleasant surprise."

But as quickly as the warmth had spread through her chest, it vanished when Caspian's eyes darted between her and his brother, taking in their defensive stances and the palpable animosity.

Lily swallowed hard, her voice barely audible. "Caspian. I didn't expect to see you here."

Her magic surged again, torn between the urge to kill his brother and the inexplicable desire to move closer to Caspian. The contradiction left her dizzy and confused.

Caspian moved swiftly, positioning himself between Lily and his brother. His broad shoulders blocked her view, and she felt a sudden, irrational surge of irritation.

"I can look after myself," Lily snapped, her power crackling along her skin like static electricity. The air around her hummed with barely contained energy.

She stepped around Caspian, her movements deliberate and controlled despite the storm raging inside her. The sugar dispenser rattled slightly as she reached for it, her magic seeping out in waves of frustration.

'Get it together, Lily,' she chided herself internally. 'You're not some damsel in distress.'

As she stirred her coffee, Lily could feel Caspian's gaze on her, intense and searching. She refused to meet his eyes, focusing instead on the swirling liquid in her cup.

"Lily," Caspian's voice was low, a mix of concern and something darker. "Perhaps we should-"

"I have to get to work," she cut him off, her tone clipped. She turned, pausing only to shoot a venomous glare at Caspian's brother. The other vampire's red eyes narrowed, a silent challenge in their depths.

Lily's heart raced as she pushed past them both, the bell above the door chiming discordantly as she stepped out into the crisp morning air. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her frayed nerves.

'What the hell just happened?' she wondered, her steps quick as she headed towards the bookstore. The memory of Caspian's proximity lingered, a phantom warmth that both thrilled and terrified her.

Behind her, she heard Damien's laughter, rich and mocking. His words drifted out to her, carried on the cool morning breeze.

"Well, that proves the little witch is only reacting to you like that, Caspian," Damien's voice was laced with amusement. "Because I'm pretty sure I'd be dead if we weren't in public."

Lily's fingers tightened around her coffee cup, her knuckles whitening. She fought the urge to turn back, to confront them both. The crackling energy beneath her skin begged for release, but she forced it down.

'He's right,' she thought bitterly. 'Why is Caspian different?'

She could still feel Caspian's presence, like a shadow at the edge of her consciousness. It was infuriating and intoxicating all at once. The memory of his hand on her back in the bar flashed through her mind, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, quickening her pace. The bookstore loomed ahead, a sanctuary from the chaos of her thoughts.

As she reached for the door handle, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the window. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed. She looked... alive. More alive than she had in years.

'This is dangerous,' she reminded herself. But even as the thought formed, she couldn't quite bring herself to regret the encounter.