Sera's Pov
Relief.
A flood of emotions crashed into me all at once—so strong, so overwhelming that I could barely breathe.
I was here again.
In this strange, familiar dreamscape, wrapped in soft darkness and bathed in a silver glow.
And most importantly—
He was here.
Lucian.
Not the cold, cruel Lucian from reality.
But the real Lucian.
The one who smiled at me like I was the only thing that mattered in the world.
The one who looked at me now with warmth in his golden eyes, his expression soft and full of something that made my chest ache.
I wanted to run into his arms.
To hold him.
To bury my face in his chest and finally, finally let myself feel everything I had been shoving down for weeks.
But I didn't move.
Because no matter how much I missed him, no matter how much my heart screamed for him—
I still didn't understand.
And I needed to understand.
So I forced myself to stay still.
And asked the question that had been clawing at me since I first saw him again.
"What is going on?"
Lucian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Sera—"
"No." My voice was firm, demanding. "No deflecting. No dodging. Just tell me."
Lucian hesitated.
And then, finally, he spoke.
"I'm sorry," he murmured. "For the way...he's acting."
I frowned.
He?
Lucian rarely referred to himself in the third person.
Something wasn't right.
I crossed my arms. "What do you mean, 'he'?"
Lucian exhaled heavily. "It's...complicated."
I narrowed my eyes. "Try me."
His lips twitched into a small smile, but it was sad.
"I mean," he said carefully, "that while we are both Lucian, and we are both your mate, we are not...exactly the same person."
His words made my stomach twist.
"What?" I whispered.
Lucian didn't elaborate.
Didn't explain.
Even when I pressed him, demanding more, he just gave me that same gentle, regretful smile.
"Sera," he said softly, "just...trust me, okay?"
My frustration flared, but I was tired.
Tired of pushing, of questioning, of fighting.
And even if I didn't have the answers I wanted—
I was still here.
With him.
I let out a slow breath, my shoulders relaxing as I gave in.
And then, finally, I stepped forward—
And hugged him.
The second my arms wrapped around him, he pulled me in tightly.
Like he had been waiting for this as much as I had.
Like he needed it.
I closed my eyes, inhaling his scent—something warm and familiar, something that reminded me of home, of safety, of everything I had been missing.
"You're warm," I mumbled into his chest.
Lucian chuckled, resting his chin on top of my head. "You say that like I'm not always warm."
I smiled against him. "You know what I mean."
He hummed, running a hand down my back. "You're exhausted."
I sighed. "Tell me something I don't know."
Lucian pulled back slightly, just enough to look at me. "I wish I could do more for you," he admitted. "Make things easier."
I reached up, flicking his forehead lightly. "You're already helping by just being here."
He blinked. Then his lips curled into a smirk. "Aww, so you do love me."
I rolled my eyes. "You're impossible."
His smirk widened. "You adore it."
I shoved him lightly, and he laughed.
For a moment, it was back to being just us.
The banter. The warmth. The way he looked at me like I was the most precious thing in existence.
"Tell me about your life there," he said softly.
I blinked. "You mean...you don't already know?"
Lucian's lips twitched into a rueful smile. "Not everything. I catch glimpses, feel emotions. But I can't see what goes in in his fortress the way you do." His thumb brushed lightly over my hand. "So, tell me."
I told him.
About the days that passed in a blur of exhaustion and stress. About the competition taking place tomorrow, the tension in the air thick enough to suffocate. About how everyone had trained until their bodies ached—how I had wanted to do the same, but Kael, a friend I had made, who was also training me, had refused to let me.
Lucian arched a brow. "Refused?"
I huffed a small laugh. "Yeah. He told me to take it easy today and only had me run through what we practiced before."
Lucian tilted his head slightly, expression unreadable. "And you listened?"
I scoffed. "Did I really have a choice? He was insistent."
Lucian hummed, as if storing the information away.
Then, after a beat, he tilted his head, silver eyes glinting with something mischievous.
"So. You and Kael, huh?"
I blinked. "What?"
Lucian's smirk grew. "He walks you to your room, ruffles your hair, watches over you during training..." He let out an exaggerated hum. "Are you sure he's just helping you?"
I narrowed my eyes. "Lucian."
He pressed a hand over his heart, feigning innocence. "I'm just asking. I mean, it sounds like he's quite...attentive."
I groaned. "Don't start."
Lucian chuckled, clearly enjoying my reaction. "Hey, I'm just looking out for my mate. I have to make sure no one's trying to steal you."
I shot him a flat look. "You're being ridiculous."
"Am I?" He leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a playful murmur. "I don't know, Sera. You tell me."
I swatted at him, laughing despite myself. "You're impossible."
Lucian grinned.
But then his smile dimmed—just slightly.
"And my other self?" he asked, voice quieter now. "What did he say?"
The playful air between us faded.
My stomach twisted.
After a long pause, I told him.
About the way his other self had taunted me, how his words had been cold and biting. How he had accused me of sleeping with Kael, of making him pity me.
Lucian's amusement vanished.
His golden eyes darkened, his jaw tightening.
For a long moment, he didn't say anything.
Then, finally—
"I'm sorry," he murmured.
I exhaled. "It's not your fault."
He sighed, his gaze softening. "Sera," he started carefully, "...be careful with Kael."
I frowned. "Lucian—"
"I'm not saying don't trust him," he interrupted gently. "I just...I have a bad feeling."
There was something different in his voice now. Something serious.
I hesitated.
But in the end, I just nodded.
Lucian studied me for a moment. Then, with a small smile, he cupped my cheek.
"Get some rest, Sera," he murmured.
Then he leaned down—
And kissed me.
It was soft.
Lingering.
And it made my heart ache.