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“Thank you,” I say. “For the tea. For talking to me like a person, not a prisoner or a pet or a weird demon lady.”

“Of course,” he says gently, chuckling. “You deserve that much. More than that.”

He meets my eyes and smiles. A reserved smile. Something shifts between us, a current of understanding that feels both comforting and dangerous. I find myself leaning closer, drawn by the kindness in his eyes, the gentle way he listens, the warmth of his skin.

When our lips meet, it’s soft, tentative. Nothing like Lucien’s hungry, possessive kisses. Kim’s hand comes up to cup my face with such tenderness it almost hurts.

The shadows in the room seem to sigh, swirling lazily around us like a protective cocoon.

We pull apart, both a little breathless. Kim looks as surprised as I feel.

“I shouldn’t have—” he begins.

“No, I’m the one who—” I say at the same time.

We both stop.

“This is complicated,” I whisper, stating the obvious.

Kim glances at the door, then back at me. “Very complicated.”

8

Lucien

The sun has been down for less than an hour, but already Cambridge is shrouded in mist. I make my way across the city, avoiding the main streets, keeping to shadows.

Making my way through the grounds of St John’s, I arrive at the Bridge of Sighs. A place where, according to legend, time can stand still.

I pause at the centre of the bridge, waiting.

I wasn’t certain our old way of reaching one another would work; I have spent so long trying to drown out the blood bond between us that tuning back into it felt like trying to see through pitch black fog. But then there he was. And now here he is.

“Hello, brother.”

His voice hasn’t changed in a century. I keep my back to him, watching his reflection appear in the gothic windows of the enclosed bridge. After all these years, the sight of him still tugs at something primal within me.

“You’ve been in my city for weeks,” I say, turning to face him. “Why didn’t I sense you?”

Nix looks the same – of course he does – but different too. His hair is shorter than when I last saw him, styled in a way that makes him look deceptively human. He’s dressed in a black suit that probably cost more than most people make in a month.

“Because I didn’t want you to know I was here.”

A group of students passes by on the path below, their voices echoing up to us. We both fall silent until they’re gone.

“You’re here because of The Covenant.” I don’t look at him as I speak.

Nix moves to stand beside me at the window. His shoulder almost touches mine, and the proximity sends electricity down my spine. “And the queen who can unlock it. The queen you’re keeping from me.”

“Luna isn’t part of this.” My voice drops to a growl.

“Oh, but she is.” Nix turns to me, and I can’t not look at him. His eyes flash crimson for a moment before returning to their usual darkness. “She’s been part of this since before she was born. Her destiny was written before either of us walked this earth. She’s made of something that existed before either of us walked this earth.”

“She’s under my protection,” I say simply because he cannot know I am in love with her.

Nix sighs almost theatrically. “After all these years, I thought you might have finally embraced what you truly are.”

“And what is that, exactly?”