Lucian's warning echoed in my mind all night. I tossed and turned, unable to shake the strange, electric tension that clung to me after our brief exchange. Who was he? And why did he think I needed to stay away from him?
The next morning, Crestwood High felt different. The air was heavier, thick with an unspoken energy. It wasn't until I reached my locker that I realized why.
Lucian was waiting for me.
Leaning casually against the row of lockers, he looked effortlessly perfect his dark clothes sharp against his pale skin, his silver eyes unreadable. My pulse kicked up a notch as he pushed off the locker and stepped toward me.
"Evelyn," he said smoothly, his voice like silk. "I owe you an explanation."
I crossed my arms, trying to ignore the way his presence unsettled me. "You think?"
He chuckled a soft, almost bitter sound. "Walk with me."
Something in his tone told me I wouldn't get another chance like this. With a deep breath, I nodded, falling into step beside him as we moved toward the courtyard.
The sun was bright, but somehow, Lucian remained untouched by its warmth. He walked in shadows, always just out of reach of the golden rays.
"There are things about me you don't know, Evelyn," he began. "Things that could put you in danger."
A cold dread curled in my stomach. "Like what?"
He hesitated before exhaling slowly. "I'm not...normal. And neither is my past."
I stopped walking. "Are you trying to scare me? Because it's kind of working."
His eyes met mine, and for a fleeting moment, I saw something raw and haunted beneath the surface. "I'm trying to protect you."
I wanted to push him for more, and demand answers, but before I could, a sudden gust of wind swept through the courtyard, carrying a whisper one that sent a chill down my spine.
A warning.
Lucian's jaw tensed. "They know you're close to me now. That means they'll be watching."
"Who?" I whispered, fear tightening its grip on me.
His silver eyes burned with something fierce. "The ones who want me dead. And now, they'll be coming for you too."
The next morning, Crestwood High felt different. The air was heavier, thick with an unspoken energy. It wasn't until I reached my locker that I realized why.
Lucian was waiting for me.
Leaning casually against the row of lockers, he looked effortlessly perfect his dark clothes sharp against his pale skin, his silver eyes unreadable. My pulse kicked up a notch as he pushed off the locker and stepped toward me.
"Evelyn," he said smoothly, his voice like silk. "I owe you an explanation."
I crossed my arms, trying to ignore the way his presence unsettled me. "You think?"
He chuckled a soft, almost bitter sound. "Walk with me."
Something in his tone told me I wouldn't get another chance like this. With a deep breath, I nodded, falling into step beside him as we moved toward the courtyard.
The sun was bright, but somehow, Lucian remained untouched by its warmth. He walked in shadows, always just out of reach of the golden rays.
"There are things about me you don't know, Evelyn," he began. "Things that could put you in danger."
A cold dread curled in my stomach. "Like what?"
He hesitated before exhaling slowly. "I'm not...normal. And neither is my past."
I stopped walking. "Are you trying to scare me? Because it's kind of working."
His eyes met mine, and for a fleeting moment, I saw something raw and haunted beneath the surface. "I'm trying to protect you."
I wanted to push him for more, and demand answers, but before I could, a sudden gust of wind swept through the courtyard, carrying a whisper one that sent a chill down my spine.
A warning.
Lucian's jaw tensed. "They know you're close to me now. That means they'll be watching."
"Who?" I whispered, fear tightening its grip on me.
His silver eyes burned with something fierce. "The ones who want me dead. And now, they'll be coming for you too."
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