Cristina's Terrace…
Cristina was sitting on a chair, her body slouched as though the weight of the world pressed against her. The night air wrapped around her, cool and restless, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the garden below. Her crop top and jeans clung to her trembling frame, her hair falling loose across her tear-streaked face.
She tugged at the ring again, desperate, but it refused to move. Her voice cracked, spilling into the silence: "I know it's all fake…"
Lucian stepped closer, his shadow stretching across the marble floor. His heart tightened at the sight of her pain, his voice low and worried. "Cristina… what happened to you?"
She lifted her gaze, eyes shimmering with despair. "Lucian… I'm doomed."
He knelt before her, the cold marble biting into his knees, his eyes locked on hers. "Tell me.
Her trembling hand rested on his shoulder. "I'm cursed, Lucian…"
Lucian's voice was steady, though his chest ached with conflict. "What are you saying, Cristina?"
She leaned forward, collapsing against him, her face pressed into his neck, her breath uneven. "Lucian… why? Why?"
He held her tightly, his arms firm around her waist, his demon heart torn by a forbidden tenderness. The night air carried her sobs, and for the first time he felt powerless against human pain.
Finally, she whispered, broken: "I saw my mother… with her new family. Their child, a girl, ten years old. They were happy."
She pulled back, her face streaked with tears, her fists clenched. "But why did they abandon me? If they didn't wanted me they could have killed me instead… Why me?"
Lucian brushed her tears away with his thumb, his touch lingering against her cheek. His voice was low, protective, yet heavy with forbidden longing. "It's not your fault. Humans betray. They are selfish, chasing only what benefits them. And yet…" His eyes lingered on her face, dark and conflicted.
He leaned closer, looking at her and his breath warm against her skin. ..
I am here ...for you ... ."I should not touch you. But every time I see your pain, I feel it inside me. That is not what demons are meant to feel… and yet you have made me weak.
His voice faltered, then deepened with certainty. "You have broken every law of Hell inside me cristina...
Cristina's tears shimmered in the dim light, her lips trembling as she whispered, "Lucian…"
Their eyes locked .. In that moment, the world around them vanished—the city lights, the broken glass, the weight of curses and betrayal. There was only her fragile humanity and his forbidden devotion.
Cristina sat in silence, her voice breaking after a few seconds with a faint, fragile smile. "Look at me… I'm alone in this human world. I called for you… I don't know why, but I trust you." She gave a broken laugh. "I'm drunk, Lucian…"
She staggered a few steps away, but Lucian caught her hand, pulling her back. One hand rested firmly on her waist, his fingers brushing against her bare skin. Her other hand pressed against his chest. For a moment, they simply looked at each other, breath mingling in the night air.
Then she lifted her leg slightly to reach him—he was taller—and kissed him. She pulled back, but Lucian drew her closer, kissing her passionately. Their eyes closed, their bodies pressed together, until she collapsed against his chest, weakened by the alcohol.
Lucian sighed softly. "She always collapses…" He lifted her into his arms, carrying her down the terrace stairs into the drawing room. He laid her gently on the sofa, then sat nearby, watching her with conflicted eyes. How could I love a human… while Lydia and David's words still echo in my mind?
Suddenly, her phone rang. She answered on speaker, her voice faint. "Hey…"
Alexander's voice came through. "Hey, how are you?"
Cristina whispered, "I'm fine…"
Alexander replied, "You're drunk."
Lucian glanced at her, then leaned forward, taking the phone. "Hey, Alexander."
Alexander stammered, "Sir… sir…"
Lucian's tone was firm. "She's sleeping. Call her tomorrow." He ended the call.
Cristina sat up weakly, cupping his face with her hands, pulling at his cheeks. "You're so handsome… caring… loving. If you were human, I would have married you."
Lucian's cheeks flushed red. He muttered, "You're drunk…"
Suddenly, she felt sick and rushed to the washroom. Lucian followed, helping her, cleaning her face gently. "What am I doing? You've made me this…"
Cristina laughed faintly. "I need water."
Lucian looked around. "Where can I find it?"
She whispered, "Take me in your arms… please."
He lifted her again, holding her close. "Did anyone ever tell you… when you are drunk you become like a child?" He opened the fridge with one hand, still holding her, and let her drink from the bottle. "Anything more you need?"
Cristina whispered, "No… my love."
Lucian's voice was firm, protective. "You'll regret this when you remember. Don't you dare get drunk with any other man."
Cristina murmured, "I want to go to my room."
He guided her upstairs, laying her gently on her bed. For a moment, they looked at each other in silence. He switched off the light, covered her with a blanket, and whispered, "She won't be able to work ."
He stood, tracing a circle of magic in the air, then returned to her bedside. As her blanket slipped a little, he adjusted it, then lay down beside her, one leg resting outside the bed.
As she turned in her sleep, she caught his hand, pulling him closer. Then she hugged him fully, clinging to him as if he were a teddy bear. Her hair brushed against his neck, one leg draped across his waist, her hands clutching him tightly.
Lucian froze, his breath caught, feeling her warmth, her scent, and her breathing against his face. He forgot to breathe and muttered softly, "How can a woman sleep like this…"
After a few moments, in her dreams she whispered, "Why did you do this… why…"
Lucian held her gently, whispering back, "I'm here for you. You are not alone… my love." He kissed her forehead and added, "I will never let anything happen to you."
Her hand rested on her chest, clutching the ring on her finger. He held her hand, brought it toward his lips, whispered something faintly, and kissed the ring.
She stirred, shifting slightly, and leaned up against him. Her hair fell across his face; she tried to brush it back, but Lucian reached up and gently moved it aside.
Her hand rested on her chest, clutching the ring on her finger. He held her hand, brought it toward his lips, whispered something faintly, and kissed the ring.
She stirred, shifting slightly, and leaned up against him. Her hair fell across his face; she tried to brush it back, but Lucian reached up and gently moved it aside.
She spoke softly, her sleepy voice fragile. "Lucian…"
He looked into her eyes, answering with quiet tenderness. "Yes…"
She whispered, "Don't leave me…" A tear slid down her cheek.
Lucian turned toward her, wiping her tears. His hand moved to her neck, cupping her face. "I will never leave you… my love."
They gazed at each other with intimacy, both struggling to control themselves. Their faces drew closer until their lips met again. His hands moved over her body—her neck, her shoulder, her waist. He pulled her slightly upward and kissed her neck.
Cristina gasped softly, "Ahh…"
Lucian deepened his kisses—her collarbone, her neck, her hair, her cheeks, her eyes. In the moment, Cristina's hand tore open four buttons of his shirt, exposing his chest.
He held her tightly, turning again, his hands roaming—touching her neck, her shoulders, her waist, her stomach, her chest.
Then he stopped suddenly, pulling back, his voice conflicted. "You're making me want more…" In his mind, he whispered to himself, This is wrong… He paused, torn between desire and restraint.
.
.
Cristina turned toward him, kissing his forehead, his cheeks, his nose. As she kissed his eyes, she whispered, "I love your face, your eyes, your hair… your concern for me. I don't know why, but I adore everything about you…" She kissed his eyes again, then his neck, craving him.
Lucian pulled her back gently. "You are drunk…"
Cristina's voice was slurred with alcohol. "I'm not drunk…"
She hugged him tightly. "If this is a dream, I don't want it to end."
He embraced her, whispering, "Yes… I don't want it to end either. You are mine, my love."
Cristina murmured, "You are mine too."
They fell asleep in each other's arms.
.
.
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