CHAPTER SIX
Lily didn't sleep.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him.
Not clearly. Just pieces.
Dark shadows. A calm voice. Eyes that watched too much.
Lucien.
And then the other one.
Rowan.
She turned in bed, pulling the blanket tighter around herself. The room was quiet, but not empty. It hadn't felt empty since last night.
"You're imagining things," she whispered.
The lamp flickered.
Lily sat up immediately.
"No," she said under her breath. "Not again."
She stared at it.
Nothing.
Then slowly… carefully… she reached out her hand.
The light brightened.
Lily gasped and pulled back. The light dimmed again.
Her heart started racing.
"I did that," she whispered.
A small, nervous laugh left her lips. "No… no, I didn't."
She tried again.
This time slower.
Her fingers trembled as she lifted her hand.
The light flickered… then steadied.
Controlled.
Lily's breathing slowed.
For a moment, she felt it—something soft, warm, listening.
Then—
A knock hit her door.
Hard.
Lily jumped.
"Why is your light still on?" her stepmother's voice came through. Calm. Too calm.
"I—I couldn't sleep," Lily said quickly.
Silence.
Then, "Don't waste electricity."
Footsteps faded.
Lily exhaled slowly, her body tense.
When she turned back—
The window was open.
Cold air slipped into the room.
Lily froze.
"I didn't open that…"
A shadow moved near the curtains.
Her heart slammed.
"Who's there?" she whispered.
A figure stepped forward.
Not Lucien.
Rowan.
He looked exactly the same—calm, composed, like he belonged there.
Lily scrambled back on the bed. "No—no, you can't just come in here!"
Rowan smiled.
"I didn't come in," he said softly. "You let me."
"That doesn't make sense!"
"Not yet," he replied.
Her pulse raced. "Get out."
Instead, he stepped closer.
The air shifted—thicker, heavier than before.
"You tried it, didn't you?" Rowan said. "The light."
Lily said nothing.
His eyes gleamed. "You felt it respond."
Her silence gave her away.
Rowan's smile deepened. "Good."
"Stop," she said, her voice shaking. "Just stop talking like you know me."
"I don't know you," Rowan said. "But I know what you are."
"I'm not anything," she snapped.
"You are," he said quietly. "You just haven't decided what kind."
Her breath caught.
Rowan reached out—
Lily flinched.
But he didn't touch her.
Not quite.
The air between them warmed.
"You don't have to be afraid," he murmured.
"Stay away from her."
The voice came from behind him.
Lucien.
Rowan didn't turn immediately. He just smiled wider.
"Ah," he said softly. "There you are."
Lily's gaze snapped past him.
Lucien stood near the door, still, controlled—but something about him felt different tonight. Tighter. Colder.
"Leave," Lucien said.
Rowan turned slowly. "You always arrive at the worst moments."
"You don't get moments with her," Lucien replied.
The tension in the room snapped tight.
Lily looked between them. "Both of you need to leave."
Neither moved.
Rowan glanced back at her. "Think about what I said," he murmured. "About choosing."
Then he stepped back—
And vanished.
Just like that.
The room went quiet.
Too quiet.
Lily's breathing was uneven. "What is wrong with you people?" she said, almost laughing from the stress.
Lucien didn't answer right away.
He walked toward the window and closed it.
Slow. Careful.
Like he was trying not to scare her.
"You shouldn't have opened yourself like that," he said.
"I didn't open anything!" she snapped.
"You reached," Lucien corrected. "And something answered."
Lily shook her head. "I don't understand any of this."
"I know."
He stepped closer.
She didn't move back this time—but she didn't relax either.
"You need to learn control," Lucien said quietly. "Or he will come back."
Her chest tightened. "And you won't?"
Lucien paused.
"I will," he said.
That should have scared her.
But it didn't.
Not in the same way.
Silence stretched between them.
Too close now.
Too aware.
Lily looked up at him. "Why do you sound like you're trying to protect me?"
Lucien's gaze dropped to her lips—just for a second.
Then back to her eyes.
"I don't try," he said quietly.
Her breath caught.
The air shifted again—different this time. Not heavy.
Charged.
Neither of them moved.
Then Lily did something she didn't fully understand.
She stepped closer.
Just a little.
Lucien didn't stop her.
Didn't move either.
"Maybe you should leave," she whispered.
But she didn't step back.
Lucien's voice lowered. "Maybe I should."
He didn't.
Their faces were closer now.
Too close.
Lily's heart pounded.
This was a mistake.
She knew it.
But she didn't move.
Lucien hesitated—
Then, very gently—
He touched her.
Just her cheek.
Warm. Careful. Like she might disappear.
Lily's breath hitched.
And for a brief second—
She leaned into it.
That was all it took.
Lucien pulled back immediately.
Like he had crossed a line.
"I shouldn't," he said, more to himself than to her.
Then he stepped away.
The distance returned all at once.
"I'll come back," he said.
And then—
He was gone.
Lily stood there, frozen.
Her skin still warm where he had touched her.
Her heart still racing.
And for the first time—
She wasn't sure which one of them scared her more.