Chapter 11: The Monster Unleashed

Lucien’s chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths. Serena held him tightly, her body trembling as she rocked back and forth, her fingers tangled in his bloodied hair. His skin was cold, his lips tinged blue, and the bond — though faint — still pulsed weakly between them. But he wasn’t waking up. “Lucien, please,” she whispered, her voice raw. “Please come back.” Her tears dripped onto his face, streaking through the dirt and blood smeared across his skin. She pressed her forehead to his, her body shaking so violently it hurt. “I need you,” she sobbed, her voice breaking. “I don’t care what you did. I don’t care about any of it. Just stay with me.” Lucien’s fingers twitched. Serena froze, her breath hitching. “Lucien?” she whispered, pulling back to look at him. “Can you hear me?” His eyelids fluttered, and he let out a ragged, painful breath. “Serena,” he rasped, voice barely a ghost of itself. “You... shouldn’t be here.” Serena let out a broken laugh, pressing a shakin