"Really?"
I jolted up from the couch the mont I heard the news.
"Is she coming here today?" I blinked hard at Lucian, barely able to contain my excitent.
Lucian shook his head.
"Nope, unfortunately not. She has another appointnt at the hospital today." He paused, then added, "Vaylen just called . He wanted to ask if we’d like to co over, they’d like to invite us for dinner."
"Of course we should go!" I turned imdiately, already halfway toward the stairs to change, before Lucian caught my arm and stopped .
"Seraphina..." he said, hesitating. "Celeste... she’s... changing..."
His words ca out slightly mumbled, but I heard them clearly enough.
I frowned, "What do you an by ’changing’?"
Lucian lifted a hand and gestured vaguely around his face. "Her face."
"Oh gosh—really?" I covered my mouth, delight bubbling up instantly. "That’s great! You need to see her real face. She’s seriously beautiful." I grinned at him. "I’m not lying. Like—really beautiful."
Lucian blinked, clearly caught off guard by my enthusiasm.
"Oh—oh, wait!" I suddenly raised my palm. "You can’t co with to dinner."
He frowned imdiately. "Why?"
I hesitated just long enough to be dramatic, "I’m afraid you’ll fall for her."
The silence that followed was short but sharp.
Lucian stared at , "What?"
"I’m serious," I said solemnly. "She’s beautiful. Like, dangerously beautiful."
His brow twitched. "Seraphina."
"And kind," I added quickly. "And gentle. And—"
He reached out and flicked my forehead.
"Ow!"
"You’re impossible," he said flatly. "And no."
"No?"
"No," he repeated, stepping closer. "I am not going to fall for soone else because you say she has a pretty face."
I rubbed my forehead, squinting at him. "You say that now."
Lucian leaned down slightly so we were eye to eye. "I married you," he said calmly. "Not your beauty standards."
My cheeks ward despite myself. "Still," I muttered, turning away, "I’m watching you."
He huffed, amused. "I’m terrified."
I smiled to myself as I headed upstairs. Maybe teasing him like this wasn’t fair.
But it felt nice to joke without fear, to smile without weight, to believe that this ti... I wouldn’t be left behind.
And that night, we finally went to the Blaze’s manor again.
Surprisingly, by the ti we arrived, Auren was already there, lounging on the sofa in the Blaze living room as if he owned the place.
"What is this?" I covered my mouth dramatically, then imdiately latched onto Lucian’s arm, pulling him closer. I leaned in and whispered, "You know, as a writer... I sll a second couple."
Lucian, who clearly could not read the room, turned his head toward and muttered far too loudly, "What couple?"
Auren looked up. Celeste paused mid-step. Vaylen blinked.
And I slowly closed my eyes.
"Lucian," I whispered through clenched teeth, still smiling politely at everyone else, "inside voice."
Auren raised a brow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Can you guys stop with your public display of affection? At least show so pity to the single person."
"Wanna bet?" I raised my pinky finger, already stepping toward Auren but Lucian was faster. His hand closed around my arm, stopping mid-stride.
"What bet?" he asked, narrowing his eyes as if he could already sll trouble.
I turned back to him, lips pouting dramatically. "I just want to bet that he won’t be single anymore in a few months."
Auren snorted from the sofa, "That’s not a bet. That’s slander."
"Denial," I corrected calmly. "Stage one."
Celeste, who had been standing awkwardly near the doorway, nearly tripped over her own step.
Vaylen cleared his throat loudly. "Shall we... move to the dining room?"
"Yes," Lucian said imdiately, tightening his grip on my arm. "Before my wife starts gambling with other people’s love lives."
I smiled sweetly at him. "You married a writer. This was inevitable."
Auren rose from the sofa, shooting a warning look as he passed, "I’m watching you."
I bead, "Good. Foreshadowing works best when the characters are aware."
Lucian sighed. "I don’t understand half of what you say anymore."
I leaned closer and whispered, "That’s because you’re not the male lead of this storyline."
He paused. "Should I be concerned?"
"No," I said cheerfully. "We already have our own."
Lucian shook his head, still smiling, clearly having a hard ti understanding his own wife.
As I moved to take a seat, my step halted midway. "Wait—you really—"
I covered my mouth, eyes widening the mont they landed on Celeste.
"You got your face back!"
I rushed toward her without a second thought, grabbing her hands and bouncing slightly in place.
"See? I told you!" I bead. "She’s beautiful, right? I wasn’t lying!"
Lucian and Auren exchanged a look of pure disbelief.
"I get it," Lucian said quickly, stepping forward and gently tugging back by the waist. "Co here. Your enthusiasm might be... a bit much."
I blinked, then glanced at Celeste.
Her eyes were wide, her posture stiff, clearly startled by my sudden affection. She looked down at our joined hands, then back up, cheeks flushing faintly.
"I—I’m sorry," she said softly. "I’m just... not used to this yet."
I imdiately loosened my grip.
"Oh—sorry! I forgot." I smiled apologetically. "You look amazing. Just like I rembered when we were locked up. I just got excited."
Celeste visibly relaxed, her shoulders easing as her lips curved into a shy smile.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Auren cleared his throat. "She does look different," he added, then paused before finishing, "and yes. Beautiful."
Celeste froze for half a second.
I tilted my head slightly, glancing back at Lucian behind . "See? That’s what I an..."
"I understand," he said with a smile, "but your energy tonight is over the limit. Did you eat too much sugar?"
I slapped his shoulder. "Hey—!"
I turned away and my gaze slid to the mirror on the wall.
The one hanging directly across from the dining table.
My breath stopped.
Vivian was standing inside it.
Her reflection didn’t belong to the room. It didn’t move with the candlelight. It didn’t belong to any world that should have been reachable.
Blood streaked down from her nose. Her lips were split, red staining her chin.
Her eyes locked onto mine.
"Vivian!"
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