Chapter 8: Secrets Revealed
Avelyn's hands trembled as she clutched the
feather Lucien had left behind. Its touch was
soft, yet it carried a cold weight she couldn't
shake. Every shadow in the room seemed deeper
tonight, every sound sharper.
She thought she understood him. She thought
she knevw the rules. But now.. doubts clawed at
her mind. Why did he stare at her like that last
night? What had he meant when he whispered, "7
know more than you realize"?
Her curiosity battled with fear. She had signed
the contract. There was no going back. And yet,
she couldn't stop herself from wondering about
the secrets he was keeping. Secrets that could
destroy her... or save her.
Footsteps echoed outside her door. She froze.
Lucien? No... she prayed it wasn't. But the
doorknob turned slowly, deliberately.
"Miss Avelyn," a calm, measured voice said,
sending shivers down her spine. She looked up
to see him leaning against the doorframe,
his dark eyes unreadable, a smirk playing on his lips.
"You should knoWw.." he began, his voice low and
dangerous, "..everything I do has a purpose. And
soon, you'll understand why."
Avelyn's heart pounded. She wanted to retreat, to
hide, to scream-but she couldn't. Something in
his gaze rooted her in place, a magnetic pull she
couldn't resist.
And then, as quickly as he appeared, he was
gone.
Avelyn's chest tightened. Questions swirled like a
storm inside her. What does he know? What does
he want? And how far is he willing to go to get it?
She didn't know the answers. But one thing was
clear her life had changed forever.
Avelyn's heart skipped a beat as she realized--
Lucien knew everything... and he wasn't finished
yet.