The wind stung her cheeks as Luka carried her through the dark, snow-laced streets. Talia could feel each breath he drew… slow, controlled, too calm for someone who had just ripped monsters apart. His arms were solid around her, one beneath her knees, the other securing her against his chest as though she weighed nothing.
Her fingers clutched his coat involuntarily. She didn't want to hold him. She didn't trust him. She didn't even fully believe he was real. But the alternative was falling into the snow, and her legs weren't ready to remember how to function.
Luka didn't look down at her, but she felt him shift closer every time the wind cut too sharply across her face. Like instinct told him she needed shielding.
"You're cold," he murmured, voice deep and quiet.
Talia swallowed. "I'm… terrified."
He paused mid-step.
Then resumed walking, slower this time, like he was thinking too carefully.
"I know," he said softly. "And I'm sorry."
His words hit something in her chest , something she wasn't ready to acknowledge.
"Just tell me the truth," she whispered. "What are you?"
He exhaled. The warm breath hit her forehead.
"For tonight," he said, with a calm that didn't match the truth she'd seen in the snow, "let's pretend it was all still role-play. Halloween-in-December. Bad costumes. Staged theatrics."
"Luka"
"I didn't want to scare you."
"You think I didn't see your eyes?" she snapped. "Your… claws? You didn't pretend that! You can't pretend that!"
His jaw clenched for the briefest moment…but he said nothing.
Because he couldn't lie about that part.
His silence was the confirmation she didn't want.
***
They left the main road and headed toward a thick line of pines, their branches heavy with snow. A tall iron gate stood between the trees, silvered with frost. Luka nudged it with his shoulder.
The gate opened by itself.
Talia's breath hitched.
"What kind of place?"
"My home," he said.
Home was an understatement.
As he stepped through the gate, a sprawling lodge emerged from the darkness like something out of a Christmas gothic movie. Snow-dusted roofs. Warm golden lights glowing from tall windows. Smoke curling from a stone chimney. A long wraparound balcony with lanterns flickering in the wind.
It wasn't a cabin.
It was a mansion dressed as a cabin.
Expensive. Private. Hidden.
And Talia realized something with a flicker of dread:
Luka wasn't just dangerous.
He was wealthy-dangerous.
Of course he was.
He carried her up the steps and pushed the heavy front door open with one boot. The warmth inside hit her instantly, scenting the air with cedar, firewood, and something darker …something sharp and masculine that sank into her skin.
He set her down gently on the plush rug by the entrance.
Talia staggered, grabbing the wall to steady herself. The room spun for a second before her vision cleared.
A fire crackled in a massive stone fireplace. Velvet armchairs faced it. Shelves lined the walls, filled with old books and glass bottles that glimmered like things not meant for human hands.
She swallowed hard.
"This isn't normal," she whispered.
Luka shrugged off his coat, revealing the torn shirt beneath. Claw marks. Blood stains. Not all his.
"Neither am I," he said.
***
She backed away instinctively.
He froze.
"Talia," he said softly. "You're safe here. I won't let anything touch you."
"Except you," she whispered.
He flinched like she'd slapped him.
"I didn't touch you," he said quietly. "Not even when I wanted to."
Her breath caught. "You… wanted to?"
He dragged a hand through his hair, pacing once, twice, like the wolf inside him fought for space.
"I'm trying," he said slowly, "to give you calm. To give you space. To not overwhelm you. But you keep looking at me like I'm a monster, and I"
"You tore them apart!" she cried.
"They would have taken you."
"I don't even know what that means!"
He stopped pacing. Turned to her. Eyes dark, intense, human…almost.
"It means," he said, "you're special in ways you don't understand. And they smelled it."
Her knees nearly gave out.
"Don't say things like that," she whispered.
"I don't say things I don't mean."
Her heartbeat kicked against her ribs again.
Luka's gaze flicked downward for one second.
"One of these days," he murmured, "your heartbeat is going to be the death of me."
Heat rushed through her belly, confusing and unwanted and very real.
"Stop," she breathed.
"I'm trying."
He wasn't trying very hard.
***
He walked to a small glass cabinet by the wall and poured her warm water into a mug. His hands were steady, movements controlled, expression carefully neutral.
"Drink."
She didn't move.
"Talia," he said gently, "if I wanted to hurt you, I wouldn't be offering you hot water."
It was a joke.
A soft one.
A weak attempt to loosen her fear.
And damn it… it worked a little.
She took the mug but kept her distance.
He leaned against the counter, arms crossed… too broad, too calm, too collected after what just happened. His posture screamed danger, yet his eyes kept tracking her movements with worry.
She sipped the water. Warmth spread down her throat.
Luka exhaled, relieved. "Good."
"Don't pretend this is normal," she whispered.
He tilted his head. "What do you want me to say?"
"The truth."
He looked away.
Looked at the fire.
Looked anywhere but her.
"I can't give you the truth tonight."
"Why not?"
"Because you're shaking," he said softly. "And the truth would break you."
Her breath stalled.
Luka stepped closer not touching, not even reaching, just moving slow enough for her to stop him if she wanted.
She didn't move.
"I scared you," he murmured. "I know. But what you saw…"
He shook his head.
"You weren't supposed to see any of it."
"So the vampires?" she whispered. "They were real?"
Luka hesitated.
His jaw tightened.
"They were cosplayers," he lied smoothly.
Talia stared at him.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"Is it easier to believe than the alternative?"
She opened her mouth.
Closed it.
He stepped closer.
"Talia," he whispered, "tonight was too much. Tomorrow I'll tell you everything. But right now? You need a warm bath, a blanket, and sleep. Not blood and fangs and wars."
Her chest tightened.
He wasn't wrong.
But he was lying.
Recklessly.
Boldly.
And she hated that she could see the lie on his face.
***
Luka moved to the fireplace and lit another lantern. His muscles flexed under his torn shirt, and she caught herself staring before she could stop.
He noticed.
Of course he noticed.
A slow grin curved across his mouth.
"Little bunny," he murmured, "if you look at me like that after what you just saw… you're braver than I thought."
She turned away instantly. "I'm not looking at you."
"Mm." His footsteps approached… unhurried, confident. "Then why are you blushing?"
"I'm traumatized!"
"You're adorable."
"Luka!"
He chuckled, low and warm. "What? I can't compliment the girl I almost died protecting?"
She froze.
He stepped so close behind her she felt his breath on her neck.
"Do you know how terrified I was when that thing grabbed your ankle?"
His voice deepened, softening dangerously.
"I thought I'd lose my mind."
Her pulse raced.
He smiled against her hair.
"There it is," he murmured. "That heartbeat again."
She stepped away quickly.
Luka let her go.
But she felt his eyes on her, soaking up every reaction.
***
"Come," he said, nodding toward a hallway. "I'll show you your room."
"My… room?"
"You're staying here tonight."
"Are you ordering me?"
"No," he said softly. "I'm begging you."
Her breath hitched.
He led her down a warm hallway lined with dark wood and candles. Every step reminded her how surreal this was…running from monsters, hiding in a mansion with a man who wasn't human, pretending she was still sane.
Luka opened a door to a gorgeous guest room:
Soft lights, fur blankets, a fireplace, huge windows overlooking snowy forest.
She gasped.
"This is…this is like a resort!"
Luka's mouth curved. "I like comfort."
"You're rich."
He shrugged casually. "Moderately."
"Luka. This is a mansion."
"It's one house," he corrected. "There are others."
Her jaw dropped.
He smirked. "Does that scare you too?"
"A little."
"Good."
He stepped closer.
"I want you cautious around me," he murmured. "But not afraid."
"How am I supposed to separate those?" she whispered.
Luka looked at her for a long, quiet moment.
Then
He lifted his hand and brushed a strand of hair from her face, fingertips barely grazing her cheek.
"Let me earn it," he said softly. "One night at a time."
Her breath faltered.
He stepped back immediately, giving her space.
"There's a bathroom through that door. Towels. Warm water. Use anything you want."
She nodded.
He turned to leave.
Paused at the door.
Looked back.
And with a voice that slid through her like velvet and danger, he said:
"If you need anything… anything at all… call me."
Then he added, lower:
"Even if you're just scared of the dark."
The door closed.
And Talia sank onto the bed, shaking.
Not from fear.
Not anymore.
From the realization she was trapped in a house with a monster
and she had never felt more drawn to anything in her life.