V

legs gave out. I didn't even rea

y thoughts were running faster t

rry

uc

thing. But the more I thought about what he said, th

oned before, like the day he told me

as n

member calling Seraphina "Mom".

call h

ked at him

?" I

not your parents

how quiet the

saying I could call them whatever made

s just being rude and cold.

was drawing lines on purpose... separatin

omach

ne, anyone, so I grabbed m

ut the background was loud with mus

concert right now. It's craz

tightened

I needed to hear someone'

." My voic

a pause o

Are you

ut the tears came fa

o someone," I managed.

ged immediately, so

kly. "Hold on, alright? Give me a few m

okay

ally," she added softly. "

line

e me and lay back on the b

still fe

cien said repl

ALWAYS B

my eyes w

insane," I

ng again. It

answered. This time it

ked immediately. "I

hrough me. "You

cut in. "What

wall

s Luc

im?" she asked

I ans

en? Was there an acc

I said

ssed, losing patience

mon enough courage to talk, then I

lence over the phone, t

WH

r voice burst t

me," I mut

iet again fo

ed, a full disb

ng," she said. "

not jo

e serious?" sh

Ye

rt from the

wall

I said. "In front of our paren

he repeated. "L

"Not a proposal. More

even mean?" she

" I said quietly. "He told t

rply on the other e

I was." I

it his hea

ing, I let out a

y his adopted sister?" she said, her dis

im that,"

she de

I'm not hi

Wh

e never saw

t's not norm

kn

ither," she added quick

ecause the truth was... it did

dmitted. "But I'm

how?" she a

p at the ce

rtain. He wasn't hoping I'd agree... he

d arrogance,"

it didn't feel like arr

ed to find

inished softly. "Like I do

ore under

do have a choice. He doesn't get to decide y

way because Lucien's voic

ree to say no..

he sees it that

do yo

I've always been his. Like

out a frustr

bsession,

ted that,"

ted it?" s

Ye

worse," she s

ghed w

now what to

d. "First," she s

aled s

ed," she continued. "You're an adult. Y

t made my c

ea

ust gott

now if I want to

ot?" sh

ed to think,"

ent, then she spoke again,

n't let him pressure

wo

g back." Sh

nked.

ort Elam," she repeate

upposed to come back yet. You said you and M

ly. "My best friend needs me. I'

guys," she

e her shrugging

serious?"

und shaken, Ava. I'm not staying mile

ve to do that,

corrected. "Two da

you." I

she said and e

e for a moment, then

a ca

art sk