Outside, Lucien savored the sweet petrichor and fresh dew grass. The storm had passed, leaving a cold chill in its wake. Lucien tugged his coat closer as he shivered, and Castor's warm hand found his as he summoned his broom. Mrs. Vale had already summoned her own and mounted, levitating in the air before soaring off across the neighborhood.

"You ready?" Castor asked as he swung one leg over his broom handle, fiery embers dancing around their bodies as he eased them higher off the ground.

Lucien settled himself behind Castor, arms tightening around his waist as he buried his face against his back. "Yeah, let's go."

Pink clouds floated through the azure sky like tufts of cotton candy, and Lucien shivered at the icy claws that scraped his rosy cheeks. Although it was only Harvest, the weather had gotten so much colder the past few days. Once inside the emporium, Mrs. Vale lit some candles and furnished the store with her fire magic, until the chills faded at the warmth of her magic.

Lucien was in the back room with Castor helping him load up those boxes of elixirs that needed to be restocked when he heard the entrance bell chime. Chills raked down his back at the sound of his own mother's stentorian voice, but before he had a chance to move, Castor waved his wand and sealed the door shut behind them.

"What are you doing?" Lucien rasped.

"Keeping you safe." Castor leaned against the door. "Stay quiet and she won't know you're back here."

"She's not stupid." Lucien shook his head. "We can't just hide in here."

"Why not?" Castor asked. "Look what happened last time I let you go. She tried recruiting you to join the Silverblood Hunters, but you turned her down and now she's here to drag you away. I won't let that happen."

"Come on now, Castor."

"What if she hurts you?" Castor croaked. "I can't... No, I won't let you walk out there and make yourself suffer all because she has some warped ideals about your family's legacy."

"I need you to trust me. It'll be okay." Lucien reached out for Castor's hand, giving it a gentle and reassuring squeeze. "She won't leave unless she sees me, and I don't want her to do anything to your mother or your shop."

"Mom can handle herself out there, I promise." Castor's warm calloused fingers tightened around his own. "If Mrs. Cromwell dares to break anything, it can be replaced. But you can't be replaced, Lucien."

"I know that."

"Then you understand why I can't let you go out there." Fear swam in the dark depths of Castor's onyx eyes, as if trying to silently plead with Lucien to stay. But he couldn't.

"Please, trust me, Castor."

"It's not that I don't trust you." Castor groaned. "I don't trust her."

"You can't just lock me away forever like some sort of precious princess. I'm not going to live in fear of them anymore. They can't force me to anything," Lucien said, and more softly added, "Legally, they can't."

Verdant embers sparked on Lucien's fingertips as he hesitated, hoping Castor would change his mind. However, Castor remained firm, his back pressed against the door, his eyes pleading for Lucien to let this one go. But Lucien couldn't.

With a steady breath, he channeled his magic into the door. The green embers curled along the edges of the wood, shimmering softly as they sank into the frame. The lock released with a click, and the door gave a low groan as it creaked open, pushing steadily against Castor's weight.

"Lucien, stop!" Castor braced himself, his boots digging into the floor, but he couldn't force his magic to stop. "Let us protect you."

"I have to do this," Lucien said, his voice barely above a whisper. The embers on his fingertips flared brighter, and with one final pulse of energy, the door swung open fully, forcing Castor to stumble aside.

Lucien stepped forward, pausing only to glance at Castor. "I promise, I'll be okay. You have to trust me."

Before Castor could argue, Lucien squared his shoulders and entered the main room of the emporium, where the air was heavy with the strong yet familiar lavender-vanilla scent of his mother's perfume. She wore one of her usual pantsuits with the Cromwell crest proudly presented just above her chest like a badge of honor.

"Good morning, mother."

"Lucien, I've been looking for you. We have things to discuss. In private." His mother cut a glare at Mrs. Vale, who made no indication to cower in her presence, and it was so refreshing for Lucien to see.

Lucien felt Castor approach behind him, warm embers caressing his skin protectively. "Anything you have to say to me can be said in front of them. If this has to do with the Silverblood Hunters, then you can leave. Because I'm not joining."

"These are family matters. You need to remember where you belong-"

"I consider the Vales' like family, so it's fine." Lucien desperately tried not to shrink back at the murderous glint in his mother's eyes when he said that to her, but it was the truth.

Mrs. Vale stepped between them, as if shielding him from her. "Really now, what's so important that you can't say in front of us? Lucien doesn't seem to mind if you tell us."

The room fell silent, enough that a pin drop could've been heard. "With Charlotte gone, you're all we have left, Lucien. If you won't join the Silverbloods, then that's fine." She gritted her teeth in a way that Lucien knew meant it certainly was not fine. "But you have to continue the Cromwell lineage. Things fell through on our deal with the Gravemares' daughter, but the Silverfrosts' have a daughter a bit older than you who's ready to settle down and start a family."

"You cannot be serious." Mrs. Vale shook her head incredulously. "We don't force our kids into arranged marriages anymore, you know that. You can't make Lucien marry anyone he doesn't want."

Lucien's mind spun until he swore he'd faint on the spot trying to understand how his mother's devious mind even worked. She truly wished for him to have children solely for the purpose of inheriting his blood and magic so they could continue slaughtering vampires. Gods, she would probably make them train the moment they wielded their magic and turn them into murderous vampire hunters

A heavy weight settled in his chest as tried to imagine a life where he returned to being just friends with Castor. He couldn't marry a woman and cheat on her with another man. That was too cruel. Lucien wouldn't force some innocent woman into such a hideous affair.

All he could think about was Castor, and his heart ached to even try picturing himself with someone else.

Yesterday's passion still lingered in the back of his mind too, and he couldn't even bear the thought of laying in bed with someone else. He only wanted Castor. He didn't care if the Cromwell bloodline died out with him. His family didn't deserve grandchildren with how horribly they'd treated him and Charlotte.

Lucien knew he couldn't let her control him forever, but he had to tread carefully. His mother's wrath was like a volatile storm. Despite how composed Mrs. Vale appeared during their conversation, the tension in the air was undeniable, and Lucien knew his mother's wicked ways too well. If she believed the Vales had "corrupted" him or stolen him away, she'd have no qualms about unleashing unspeakable harm on them.

The thought made his stomach churn. Perhaps it would be for the best if he sacrificed his own happiness to preserve the peace his mother demanded for her perfect family portrait.

A flicker of fiery warmth coiled around his waist like a protective snake. Castor's magic was ready to strike. The faint, low growl that followed sent a shiver down Lucien's spine.

Castor wouldn't let him be a sacrifice. That much he knew. He just hoped Castor wouldn't be too upset with what he was about to do.

Tension rolled off his shoulders as his magic protectively snaked around his fingers. With trembling hands, he withdrew them from his coat pocket. His heart pounded like a drum, loud and uneven, as he forced himself to meet his mother's piercing gaze.

"I... I can't marry her," he said, his voice wavering. He wished the words came out stronger, more confident, but even speaking them aloud took every ounce of courage he could muster.

His mother's eyes narrowed. "You can't? Or you won't?"

"Listen, lady," Castor interrupted, stepping to Lucien's side. His hand rested firmly on Lucien's shoulder, the comforting weight grounding him. Castor squeezed gently, his presence like a shield itself against the storm brewing in the room. "Lucien's not marrying some random woman for your family namesake."

Lucien inhaled a sharp, shaky breath, his magic instinctively flowing into Castor's hand. As if his power alone could protect them both. He glanced down, then looked back at his mother with trembling resolve.

"I can't marry her... because I'm already engaged to Castor." His voice cracked at the end, but the words rang out clear enough. The magic-weaved rings on both his and Castor's fingers shimmered faintly, catching the light.

Heat rushed to Lucien's face as Castor's wide-eyed stare locked onto the ring on his own finger, its delicate design woven from Lucien's plant magic. For a moment, Castor seemed stunned, his gaze flicking from the ring back to Lucien.

Lucien's heartbeat quickened and his hands trembled slightly as he raised his own hand, displaying the matching band for his mother to see. He didn't dare look at Castor, too flustered to even face him.

Instead, he focused on his mother, forcing himself to stand tall as he silently prayed to the Gods above that the Vales' wards would hold strong. If she dared to curse them all, he'd protect them with every ounce of magic he had left, even if it meant facing her wrath head-on.