Lucian instantly pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly as if shielding me from the world itself. He leaned close, his breath brushing against my ear.
"Seraphina," he whispered urgently, "hide your flames. No one should know about yours."
I started to panic. "How?" The question slipped out without much thought. How was I supposed to suppress them? I didn't even know how they had appeared in the first place. I looked straight into Lucian's eyes, fear clouding my vision. "Help me… I don't know how…"
Lucian's arms tightened around me, the chill of his skin grounding against the heat radiating from mine. His eyes flickered with emotions—fear, control, desperation all at once.
"Look at me," he said softly but firmly. "Don't think about the fire. Think about me."
"I'm trying," I whispered, my voice shaking. "But it's not listening…it won't stop!"
