~ Lucian’s POV

As I looked at her lying there, my heart ached with an intensity I hadn’t expected. The sight of her so vulnerable and hurt struck me deeply. I had seen many faces in my life, but there was something about hers that struck me deeply. It felt like a punch to the gut, intense and sudden. Her delicate features, the way her hair fell around her face, the pain in her eyes, everything about her captivated me.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. Each moment felt like it was drawing me closer, and my heart pounded with a fierce protectiveness. I traced the outline of...