I sat on the bed with my legs hugging my chest. He was fine, and we were both perfectly fine until that side of him showed up.He is probably angry at me; I never should have pretended not to know what he was going through.I know he told me to stay away, but I don't think I can. I need to talk to him. It's been over twenty minutes since he went to the bathroom, and I just can't help being worried.I summoned my last courage and went in search of him. I stood at the bathroom door without knowing what to do. Should I knock or call out for him?With how quiet it's in there, he could hear me. Wait a minute, why is it so quiet in there? He usually has the shower on whenever he is going through this, or else he passes out. My eyes widened in shock as I started banging at the door after noticing it was locked from the inside.“Eric! Eric! Please open up.” Just like I thought, there was no response. I panicked and continued banging and pushing the door with all my strength.I don't know how,
I woke to find myself in my room. I was confused and a little scared when I remembered what I saw in the bathroom. I panicked as I pushed myself up into a sitting position. My body ached all over.I was surprised to find Jess sleeping beside me. Thank goodness she was okay.“Jess,” I called out, shaking her awake slightly.“Lilly, you’re up,” she said. I could see how worried she was.“What happened?”“I found you and Eric passed out in the bathroom.”“Eric! What about Eric? Is he okay? Was he taken to the hospital?”“Hospital? What do you mean?” Jess asked, confused.“He was massively bleeding when I saw him passed out in the bathroom.”“What? He was bleeding, but his wound was just a cut. It wasn’t that much.” The expression on Jess's face was that of someone curious about something.I was surprised because I knew what I saw. Or was I hallucinating? No, this doesn’t make any sense. I know what I saw.“Lilly, are you sure you’re okay?” Jess asked.“Yeah, I'm fine. What time is it?”“
When I entered the house, I found her asleep on the couch in the living room. A wave of guilt washed over me—she must have fallen asleep waiting for me.I sat beside her, watching her peaceful expression. My heart skipped a beat as I stared at her. She looked so beautiful. I reached out, brushing a few strands of hair from her face and tucking them behind her ear.I didn’t mean to wake her, but her eyes fluttered open, locking with mine. I jumped to my feet, taking a few steps back.For a brief moment, I had forgotten how dangerous I could be to her.“You’re back,” she whispered, sitting up and hugging her knees to her chest.“Yes, I just got in,” I answered, avoiding her gaze.“I waited for you. I even made dinner. Are you hungry?” Her voice was calm, almost emotionless. She didn’t sound angry, but I couldn’t read her either.She stood and began walking toward the kitchen. I reached out, grabbing her hand to stop her. She turned slowly, her eyes drifting from my hand to my face.“I t
“Alex, where are you going?” My voice carried a sharp edge as I watched him, fully dressed and ready to leave, leaving me behind without a second thought.“To hook up with some girls,” he replied, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.I marched up to him, planting myself firmly in front of him, our faces mere inches apart. “You wish,” I said coolly, spinning around and heading back to the couch. I picked up my phone, pretending to be engrossed, even as irritation bubbled under my skin.“You don't believe me, do you?” he asked, amusement lacing his tone.“Nope, not one bit.” My gaze didn’t leave my phone.“Do you actually think I can’t get any girl I want straight into bed?” His voice grew more playful, daring me to rise to the bait.“Do you actually think any girl in her right mind would want anything to do with you?” I shot back, smirking as I caught the widening grin on his face.He approached me with deliberate steps, bending over until his hands rested on the couch on either side o
I lay in bed with Lily nestled in my arms, her soft breath steady as she slept. A sense of peace washed over me since I had shared my past with her, but there was still a heaviness in my chest. I hadn’t told her everything. I wanted to, but something held me back. Maybe it was the sadness in my eyes that she had sensed, because she wouldn’t let me say another word.“You should tell me tomorrow,” she had whispered earlier, but I couldn’t wait. This secret had been eating at me for too long.“Why aren’t you sleeping?” Her small, hoarse voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the moment. I stared at her, feeling her warmth against me, her body pressed into mine.“I just have a lot on my mind,” I replied softly, cupping her cheek and brushing my thumb over it. The simple touch felt like a lifeline, something to hold on to. “There’s something I need to tell you, Lily. If I don’t say it, I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep.”Our eyes locked, both filled with unspoken words. I co
I sat across from Alex as Dr. David and Eric appeared to be in a deep conversation. Alex seemed lost in his own thoughts, his expression heavy with worry and exhaustion. He looked so disheveled, like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Unable to bear seeing him like that, I instinctively reached out, my fingers brushing through his unruly hair.“We’re going to wait by her bedside until she wakes up,” I said softly, my voice breaking the tense silence. “And if she sees you like this, it might cause her to pass out again.”His questioning eyes locked onto mine, silently asking for clarification. I offered a small, reassuring smile.“Why don’t you go up to the third floor and take a bath? Change out of these clothes. You can borrow some of Eric’s—it’ll help. If Jess wakes up and sees her own blood on you, she might really freak out.” My words were gentle, but I hoped they carried enough conviction to make him act.For a moment, he just stared at me, his face a mask
Knowing Jess was okay brought a wave of relief, but the guilt still gnawed at me. My chest felt heavy, and my thoughts were a jumbled mess, making it hard to comprehend my emotions.I wanted a break—just one night of peace away from the chaos. It seemed like every time things started to improve, life found a way to get worse. I thought saving Dad’s company and our home would make me happy. Maybe it was because I hadn’t found Michael yet.But even as I clung to that reasoning, I knew deep down that finding my brother wasn’t the answer to the void in my heart. It was something else entirely, something I couldn’t name.I just wanted one week—one simple week—with Eric without fighting or Vivian ruining everything. But that felt as rare as diamonds in the dirt.A part of me wished Eric had followed me here, while another part was grateful for his absence. Being around him made me feel weak, like all my defenses crumbled in his presence.I wandered into the bathroom, heading straight for th
I sat at the table reserved for Mr. Sarton and me, my gaze fixed on my wristwatch. I had arrived ten minutes early, hoping to gather my thoughts before he arrived. Now, with only two minutes left until six, I felt an uneasy restlessness creep in.The restaurant was eerily empty, devoid of the usual bustle. It was only when the waiter flipped the "Open" sign to "Closed Temporarily" that I realized the entire place had been booked. Rumors about Mr. Sarton's preference for privacy were evidently true.I took a slow sip of my drink, my eyes returning to my wristwatch. The hands aligned perfectly—6:00 p.m. sharp. Yet, there was no sign of him. I thought he was a man who valued punctuality. Just as doubt began to fester, the bell above the door chimed, signaling someone’s entrance. My eyes darted to the door, and there he was—Mr. Sarton.He stood tall, exuding the composed demeanor I had seen countless times in his photographs online. But something was different—he was wearing sunglasses. O
“Lily, Lily, wake up!” A voice whispered in my ear. My eyes fluttered open, and I was met with nothing but darkness. A sharp pain throbbed at the back of my head.I couldn't understand what was happening or where I was. Looking around, I couldn't pick up a single sound or light. But the strange thing was—I was still floating. Then it hit me. I was still beneath the sea. Panic shot through me as I immediately swam up to the surface, but that only made my fear intensify.Nothing made sense. When I reached the surface, the moon that once shone brightly on the sea’s horizon was gone, leaving me and the vast body of water swallowed in total darkness.But the moon wasn’t the only thing missing—the storm had vanished too, leaving the sea eerily silent. A chilling stillness settled over me, and worst of all, I was completely lost, with no way of finding my way back to shore.I turned left, then right, but all I could see was endless water stretching around me. A shiver ran down my spine as pa
“Lily, stop! Please!” Eric’s voice was desperate as another wave slammed into me, knocking me back for the tenth time. I was exhausted, but I didn’t care. That was until Eric stepped directly into my path, blocking me.“Move out of my way,” I said, my voice laced with warning.“No, this is insane!” he shot back, but his words only stoked the fire of my anger.“Why is it insane? Let me guess—you don’t think I can make it to Terranovae, do you?” I asked, staring him down. He avoided my gaze, and that hurt more than the waves ever could. He didn’t even have a shred of faith in me.“Lily, I’m just worried about you! I don’t know what that dragon told you, but the skills he taught you? They’re useless! He’s just setting you up to get yourself killed. Let’s go back to the shore. You’re soaked, you’re freezing—please!” He reached out to touch me, but I stepped back, anger flaring.I stared at him in disbelief. How could he say that to me? “I don’t need you to worry about me, Eric! Worry abou
I walked into the sitting room and found Lily on the couch, her figure slouched as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. She seemed lost in thought, so much so that she didn’t notice me enter.It took a moment before she finally looked my way, and the exhaustion in her eyes hit me like a punch to the chest. Guilt twisted inside me, sharp and unrelenting, as I realized how much pain I might have caused her. I opened my mouth to apologize, to say something—anything—but the words refused to come out.“I see you’re ready. Let’s go. I’m sure Jess and Alex are already waiting for us,” she said, her tone flat, her eyes distant. She didn’t wait for a response as she walked past me and headed outside. All I could do was quietly follow her, the weight of her coldness pressing down on me.When we reached the car, I moved to open the front passenger door for her, hoping she’d sit beside me. But instead, she slipped into the backseat without hesitation, creating an invisible barrier
I stared at him, utterly confused. What is he talking about?“How do you usually do that?” he asked, his eyes scanning me intently.“Do what?” I replied, unsure of what he meant.“How do you always walk in without me hearing you? You did it in the bathroom, and now again. I wouldn’t even have known you were standing behind me if it weren’t for your scent calling my attention to you.” His words made me frown as I instinctively sniffed the air and glanced toward the bathroom, trying to understand what he was referring to.“You smell so good, and I can’t help but admit that your scent was the first thing that kept me grounded—especially the night we met. You know, after witnessing the death of Eric’s parents, it awakened a fierce, protective side of me. A side that always wants to keep him safe. A side that wants to keep us safe.”His confession didn’t just leave me stunned—it set a whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind.“What? Did you just say you witnessed what happened to Eric’
I stood in front of the mirror, fidgeting with the hem of my swimsuit. It felt like it exposed far too much of my body, leaving me vulnerable and self-conscious. Maybe I should’ve ordered something more modest, but it was too late to change that now. With a deep sigh, I grabbed my bathrobe and headed to the pool, knowing Eric’s dragon side was already waiting for me.A part of me wished Eric, the calm and composed version of him, was in control. But deep down, I knew this was my chance to connect with his dragon side, no matter how intimidating he could be.When I reached the pool, he was already in the water, sitting casually with his back to me. The tattoo on his back drew my attention immediately, as it always did, its intricate details glimmering in the dim light. He must have sensed my presence because he turned to face me, his glowing green eyes locking onto mine. A smirk curved his lips, an expression so different from Eric’s usual demeanor that it made my heart skip a beat.Hi
“Lily, is not going to be easy,” Jess said, but that was not what I wanted to hear.“It has never been easy, Jess, and I’m done waiting around for some miracle when we can end this. What I need right now is everyone’s support. With you, Alex, and Eric, I believe I can do it,” I said, taking her hands in mine. I needed her to see how much I wanted to get this done.“Lily, I believe you can do this, but we don’t have much time. We need to make it back to Terranovae before Eric’s second transformation. I spoke to Eric’s dragon side, and it wants us to find the heart before the second transformation, or both the dragon and Eric will be lost. If that happens, a beast shall be born. It doesn’t matter if Eric or the dragon is in control—they will both go wild because they’ve been together since birth,” Alex said, leaving Jess and me staring at him.“Okay, I’ll help you, but first, I need to heal myself. I can’t help you if I’m this weak,” Jess said, and in that moment, all I wanted was to hu
Just as I suspected, Lily was still sitting in the exact spot she had been when I left earlier. But now, she looked far worse—her face blotchy and swollen, as though she'd been crying the entire time.Eric stood silently at the doorway, his eyes fixed on her. He looked utterly heartbroken, his pain written plainly across his face as he watched Lily in her despair. She hadn’t noticed our presence yet, lost in the dark cloud of her thoughts.And then, her head lifted, her glassy eyes locking with mine for a brief moment before shifting to Eric. Recognition flared in her gaze, and in the next heartbeat, she flew into his arms.Understanding they needed this moment, I stepped out of the room, giving them the space they so desperately needed. I headed toward the sitting room in search of Jess.When I walked in, I found her curled up on the couch, her legs hugged tightly to her chest. Even in sleep, exhaustion clung to her like a heavy weight, her face taut with tension. The sight of her vu
I watched as an enraged roar tore from the dragon’s mouth, reverberating through the water like a violent storm. His massive body shifted with a rippling motion, scales shimmering ominously from his head down to his long, spiked tail. In one swift movement, he swung the deadly appendage toward me.The sharp, menacing spikes aimed my way forced me to dart aside, narrowly avoiding his weapon. He charged at me with terrifying speed as I swam deeper into the sea, frantically searching for a place to hide. My gaze landed on a large rock near the ocean floor, and I surged toward it. But before I could reach it, the dragon beat me there, cutting off my escape.His wings unfurled, creating a shadow that enveloped me, while his spiked tail lashed menacingly through the water. Those piercing green crystal eyes locked onto mine, burning with fury. The intensity of his glare was suffocating, a silent declaration of his rage. He didn’t just see me as prey—he saw me as an enemy.I had nowhere to ru
“No, no, no, we need to find him! Alex, do something!” Lily's frantic cries filled the room. Her face was a portrait of horror, her pale skin only adding to the starkness of the moment. Tears streamed down her face, and her breath came in sharp gasps, the kind that made my chest tighten with worry. I feared she might pass out if she didn't calm down.“Lily, please, look at me. I need you to calm down!” I pleaded, my voice trembling with urgency as I reached for her. But she recoiled, her body trembling violently, only intensifying my concern. I turned toward Jess, who had been standing behind me, silent and distant. The look on her face told me she was too devastated to help.Why is Eric doing this to me? Everything is spiraling, and I'm losing control. How am I supposed to handle Jess, let alone Lily?Before I could even try to speak, Jess moved toward Lily, gently approaching her before pulling her into a tight hug.“It’s okay, we’ll find him. But I need you to calm down,” Jess said