SERAPHINA'S POV
Despite agreeing with Kamilla's logic about keeping my distance now that I've regained some semblance of freedom, I can't shake the heavy feeling that suddenly envelops my chest.
I manage to trudge my way back to my dorm-not the one I shared with Artemis in the boys' dormitory, though. The thought of facing the countless objects that would only etch his face deeper into my memory is unbearable right now.
Instead of wallowing in the past, I should be focusing on moving forward, trusting that he will be just fine.
Lost in thoughts that are still a jumbled mess, I don't even realize when I've arrived at my room.
Pushing the door open, I step inside. I expect to be greeted by dust that has settled on the walls and sheets, the byproducts of days of neglect.
However, as I walk in, a sweaty Olivia pulls away from the wall, duster in hand, and looks in my direction with eyes full of curiosity.
"Olivia?" I freeze in place, not expecting to see her back so soon. A whirlwind of emotions churns inside me.
She offers a small smile, her teeth barely visible.
"The nurse said I was okay to move back into the dorm," she explains.
I can barely register her words. The dam holding back my emotions bursts open, and I literally sprint forward to envelop her in a hug.
"Olivia!" I squeeze tighter, and she returns the hug with equal fervor.
A bit of the emotion I've been suppressing for days surfaces, and a tear slides down my face. I've missed her so much, and here she is, right in front of me, almost like a dream.
"Sorry I was away for a while," she mutters amidst our hug.
I pause the moment I hear those words, pulling away from the hug to look her squarely in the eye.
"No, I'm sorry you were in a coma in the first place, but I kept my promise. I got revenge for you," I tell her, recalling the pact Kamilla and I had made.
It was more of a favor than a deal, really. Kamilla would essentially ruin the bastard, using all the connections she could muster.
She'd make sure he could never hurt anyone or have anything for himself ever again. In a way, we'd both benefit from it.
Instead of joy, her face turns solemn, her eyes filling with a mix of sadness and pity. I quickly realize why, even before the words can leave her lips.
"I heard." Two simple words that confirm my suspicions.
My expression falters momentarily before I harden it again, smiling a little too brightly.
"Are you okay?" She asks.
"I should be the one asking you that. Even with the nurse clearing you, you could still be experiencing some discomfort."
"I'm okay, Sera, and this isn't about me right now," she insists, seeing right through my attempt to deflect the conversation.
How do I even begin to explain the complex emotions I'm grappling with, without sounding unhinged?
Opting for brevity over depth, I settle for a watered-down version. "I'm fine."
"You need to remind yourself that you're human sometimes. Don't go rushing into situations you can't handle on your own."
"Yeah," I reply automatically, moving in for another hug, my face hidden from her view.
In this moment, nothing else matters.
Olivia's back, Morgan's finally out of our lives for good, and my era with Artemis is drawing to a close. The contract will end in a few days, conveniently coinciding with his treatment schedule. No goodbyes needed.
And I'm fine-I really am.
A knock at the door interrupts our embrace. When I open it, instead of a person, there's a large basket of beautiful, vibrant flowers in colors and breeds I've never seen before.
A note sticks out from the side. Scanning both ends of the hallway, I find no one, so I bring the basket inside.
Olivia gasps when she sees the bouquet, her eyes widening like saucers.
"Who are they from?" She eyes me as if I've been hiding a secret boyfriend.
"I'm sure it's a mistake. They probably left it outside the wrong door." I pull out the note and begin to read it.
*
Hello Sera,
I wish I could be there by your side, holding your hand through this moment, but I've been called to duty in the Alpha Prince's absence. There's a lot to cover concerning the case with Morgan. Regardless, I hope you're doing okay. You're never too far from my mind.
-Lucian
*
The note is brief, the sentences simple, yet they carry the weight of his concern. The fact that he took the time to write and send flowers, even while buried in responsibilities, warms me in a way that momentarily distracts me from my worries.
A small smile lights up my face.
"It's from Lucian," I share.
"The Beta?" Olivia asks, arching an eyebrow as she takes the note from my hand to read it. When she looks back up, her eyes hold a sly, knowing glint.
"What?" I prompt.
"Oh, nothing," she shrugs, clearly harboring some unspoken thoughts on the matter, but deciding to keep them to herself.
Rolling my eyes, I figure it's probably for the best.
***
Deep into the night, when it feels like everyone else is lost in the depths of sleep, I'm suddenly yanked back to consciousness. The force of it jerks me upright, and I scream at the top of my lungs.
For those gut-wrenching seconds, the nightmare clings to me-the haunting black wolf with red eyes and the mysterious woman who's been calling out to me for months.
Olivia jumps up almost as fast as I do, startled awake by my scream. She's in full fight mode, fists at the ready, before she realizes it's just me, terrified and screaming at 3 a.m.
Finally, it sinks in that it was all a dream, and I'm not being chased by a deathly creature.
But even that realization brings no comfort. My mind's still a dark pit of chaos and fear, putting the idea of going back to sleep off the table.
"Sera, what happened?" Olivia asks, her voice filled with sleepiness as she climbs out of her bed. Rubbing the remnants of sleep from her eyes, she flicks on the bedside light.
I can't find the words, just stare at my hands, questioning the lines and creases as if they might reveal whether this is reality or another layer of illusion.
I could be hallucinating-hell, this might all be another terrible dream.
My sanity feels like a thread, stretched out and fraying quickly. I bury my face in my hands, the weight of it all too much to bear.
I feel the mattress dip beside me as Olivia sits down. A gentle hand lands on my shoulder.
"Sera?"
I can hear the worry in her tone, can almost visualize the expression of concern that's likely etched onto her face.
None of this is easily explained, but it was easier to hide when she wasn't here. Now that she's back and everything's gotten so much worse, hiding doesn't seem like an option anymore.
My silence pushes her to the edge.
"I knew it! You weren't really okay, were you? Why didn't you say anything?"
"No, it's not that," I finally manage to say, lifting my face from my hands after an exhausted sigh. I look up to find her still wearing that doubtful expression.
"I don't know how to explain this to you, or to anyone, actually," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper but loud enough for her to hear.
Even thinking about it, I realize how ridiculous it would sound to anyone else. But what I know for sure is that I'm tired-exhausted, really-of carrying this immense weight on my shoulders, struggling to figure it all out by myself without any help.
"Tell me what?" Olivia urges.
"You wouldn't believe me if I did. I'm losing my shit," I say as I pull my knees up to my chest.
Then Olivia grips both my shoulders, forcing me to meet her eyes.
What I find there isn't skepticism but a burning determination to understand, to help. In that moment, warmth pierces through all my fears and all this madness.
"Sera," she says, maintaining that intense gaze.
Sighing, I finally relent.
"Okay, fine," I respond. Her face breaks into a satisfied smile.
I take deep breaths to calm my racing heart, rubbing my clammy hands on my nightgown.
Finally, I speak, unable to meet her eyes.
"The truth is, I've been having strange dreams and visions, hearing voices, and thinking thoughts that aren't my own. I suspect it's connected to this ancient tribe of devil-worshipping witches-the Astria tribe."
And just like that, I've said it.
There's no going back now.