POV: Lucian
The alarm shrieked through the building, but I barely heard it.
Five years. I'd waited five years for Celeste to stand in my office. Five years of searching, planning, watching from the shadows.
And now Adrian Cortez was going to ruin everything.
Stay behind me, I ordered, moving toward the door.
What's happening? Celeste's voice was sharp with fear.
I pulled out my phone and texted Iris: Status?
Her reply came instantly: Adrian Cortez in lobby. Demanding to see Celeste. Security attempting removal. He's unstable.
Of course he was. I'd destroyed his life systematically over the past week. His business, his reputation, his money all gone. He had nothing left to lose.
Which made him dangerous.
I should've seen this coming. Should've had him arrested, deported, something. But I'd been so focused on bringing Celeste here that I'd underestimated how desperate he'd become.
Lucian! Celeste grabbed my arm. Tell me what's going on!
I looked down at her hand on my sleeve. Such a simple touch. But it sent electricity through my entire body.
For five years, she'd been a vision. A face in a mirror. A woman I couldn't reach.
Now she was real. Solid. Here.
And I'd die before I let Adrian take her.
Adrian's downstairs, I said. He's looking for you.
Her face went pale. How did he know I was here?
I don't know. But it doesn't matter. I moved to my desk and pressed a button. A panel in the wall slid open, revealing a private elevator. This goes directly to my car in the underground garage. Iris will meet you there. She'll take you somewhere safe.
What? No! Celeste didn't move toward the elevator. I'm not running!
Yes, you are.
He already destroyed my life once! I won't let him chase me away again!
Her fury was magnificent. Even terrified, even surrounded by chaos, she stood her ground.
God, she was perfect.
This isn't about pride, I said. It's about survival. Adrian's dangerous
You think I don't know that? She stepped closer, eyes blazing. You think I haven't figured out that he wanted to kill me? You just admitted you orchestrated my destruction to 'save' me from him!
She was right. Of course she was right.
My phone buzzed. Iris: He's broken through first security checkpoint. Moving to elevators.
We were out of time.
POV: Celeste
Lucian's expression changed. The controlled mask fell away, replaced by something dark and furious.
Go, he said. Now.
Not without answers! I stood my ground even though my knees were shaking. You manipulated my entire life! You admitted it! Why should I trust anything you say?
Because I'm the only thing standing between you and a man who wants you dead!
Maybe I should take my chances!
He'll kill you! Lucian roared. The sound echoed off the walls. Is that what you want? To prove a point? To die just to spite me?
I want the truth! My voice cracked. You said the mirror showed you my face five years ago. You said you've been searching for me. But you also said you orchestrated everything with Adrian. So which is it? Are you my savior or my destroyer?
Lucian stared at me. For a long moment, neither of us moved.
Then he walked to his desk, picked up his mirror, and thrust it toward me.
Look, he demanded.
I took it with shaking hands. The frame was identical to mine silver, covered in symbols. But the glass was dark.
I don't see anything
Focus on me, Lucian said. Think about me. The mirror shows what you need to see.
I looked at his reflection in the glass. Gray eyes. Strong jaw. The face from my vision.
The mirror rippled.
Suddenly I was seeing through Lucian's eyes. I was him, five years ago, younger and harder, standing in an empty office late at night.
Vision Lucian unwrapped a mirror that had just been delivered. A gift from someone, though I couldn't tell who.
He looked into it.
And saw me.
My face appeared in the glass younger, happier, standing in an art gallery I didn't recognize. I was laughing at something someone said. My hair was longer. I looked... free.
Vision Lucian touched the glass. Who are you? He whispered.
The vision shifted. Now he was in a different office, older, harder. He'd hired investigators. They'd found me. Found my gallery. Found Adrian.
And they'd discovered Adrian's plan.
I saw documents. Text messages. Adrian and Vivienne plotting to steal everything from me. And at the bottom of one message: Once I have her gallery and money, I'll get the mirror. Kill her if I have to.
Vision Lucian's hands clenched into fists.
The vision fast forwarded. Lucian watching me from a distance. Following my movements. Learning my routine. And then making calls. Sending information to Adrian. Feeding him exactly what he needed to destroy me faster.
Not to hurt me.
To save me.
The vision ended. I gasped and dropped the mirror.
Lucian caught it before it hit the floor. Now do you understand? His voice was rough. I didn't destroy you for fun, Celeste. I destroyed you because it was the only way to get you away from a man planning to murder you.
My legs gave out. I sat down hard in the nearest chair.
You saw all that? I whispered.
Every night for five years. Lucian set the mirror on his desk. I saw you. Your smile. Your talent. Everything you built. And I saw Adrian planning to take it all including your life. So I helped him destroy you faster, cleaner, so you'd have a reason to accept my help.
That's insane.
That's love.
The word hung in the air between us.
You don't know me, I said. You've never even met me until today.
I've known you for five years. Lucian moved closer. I've watched you work. Seen you laugh. Watched you cry when you thought no one was looking. The mirror showed me everything, Celeste. I know you better than you know yourself.
It should've been creepy. Stalker level creepy.
But the way he said it with such raw honesty made my heart skip.
An explosion rocked the building.
The windows rattled. Alarms screamed louder.
Lucian's phone lit up with messages.
He's on the fortieth floor, he said grimly. Security can't stop him.
How is that possible?
Magic. Lucian looked at me. Adrian made a deal with someone. Something in the supernatural black market. He's been enhanced.
My blood turned cold. Enhanced how?
Stronger. Faster. Harder to kill. Lucian grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the private elevator. Which is why you're leaving. Right now.
What about you?
I'll handle Adrian.
He'll kill you!
He'll try. Lucian's smile was cold and dangerous. But I've been preparing for this for five years. I know exactly what he wants. And I'm going to make sure he never gets it.
He pushed me into the elevator.
Wait! I grabbed the door. The vision! In the mirror! You died saving me from a knife! What if this is that moment?
Lucian's expression softened. He reached out and touched my face the same gentle touch from before.
Then I die knowing I kept you alive, he said simply. That's enough.
No it's not!
Celeste
Another explosion. Closer this time.
He's coming, Lucian said. He pressed the elevator button. Go. Live. That's all I need.
The doors started to close.
I won't let you die! I screamed.
Lucian smiled a real smile, warm and sad. You don't have a choice, sweetheart. Fate already decided.
The doors closed.
The elevator dropped.
And I realized with absolute terror that the vision might be coming true right now. Lucian was about to face Adrian. About to sacrifice himself.
About to die.
I slammed my hand on the emergency stop button.
The elevator jerked to a halt between floors.
I grabbed my purse and pulled out my mirror. My hands were shaking so hard I almost dropped it.
Show me! I demanded. Show me what happens! Show me if he dies!
The glass rippled.
A vision exploded across the surface:
Lucian fighting Adrian in the office. Blood. Broken glass. Adrian had a knife the same knife from my vision.
He was winning.
Lucian was on his knees, wounded, bleeding.
Adrian raised the knife.
And then
The vision changed.
I saw myself burst through the elevator doors. Saw myself run toward them.
Saw Adrian turn the knife toward me instead.
Saw Lucian throw himself in front of me.
Saw the blade pierce his chest.
But this time, the vision kept going.
This time, I didn't just watch him die.
This time, I touched him.
And silver light exploded from my hands.
The vision ended abruptly.
I stared at the mirror, heart pounding.
I had power. Real power. The mirror wasn't just showing me death it was showing me I could stop it.
But only if I went back.
Only if I chose to save him.
The elevator hummed quietly around me. Waiting for my decision.
Up or down.
Save the man who'd ruined my life to protect it.
Or run and let fate take him.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror.
And I knew there was only one choice.
I pressed the button.
The elevator shot upward.