Evelyn's eyelids fluttered open, adjusting to the dim morning light filtering through the curtains. She let out a small sigh, stretching her arms—only to freeze completely.
Lucien was sitting right in front of her.
Her heartbeat spiked. His expression was unreadable, those sharp golden eyes watching her with unsettling calmness.
"Wake up. We're going out," he said flatly.
Evelyn's brain short-circuited for a second. Was he serious?
"You can't just sit there and stare at me until I wake up!" she protested, her voice still hoarse from sleep.
Lucien simply tilted his head. "You woke up, didn't you?"
Evelyn grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. He caught it effortlessly.
"Tch."
Lucien stood up, tossing the pillow back onto the bed. "I'll be outside. Get ready."
He walked out, leaving Evelyn sitting on her bed, completely flustered.
She buried her face in her hands. "Damn it. That was unfair."
---
The small town they arrived in had a quiet charm, with narrow streets lined with local shops and cafés. Evelyn walked beside Lucien, hands in her coat pockets, observing how people subtly turned their heads as they passed.
She smirked. "People are staring at you."
Lucien didn't react. "Ignore them."
Evelyn, however, was intrigued. Even in a casual setting, he stood out. His presence was sharp, his movements precise yet effortless. The contrast between his deadly skills and his current mundane surroundings made him even more fascinating.
Then, an idea struck her.
"You need new clothes."
Lucien raised a brow. "For what?"
Evelyn grabbed his wrist. "Come on."
Lucien didn't resist. He simply followed.
---
Inside a boutique, Evelyn rummaged through racks of clothing, picking out a few items she thought would suit him. Lucien, on the other hand, looked completely uninterested.
"You wear the same thing every day," she pointed out. "Let's change that."
Lucien sighed but went along with it. When he stepped out of the dressing room, Evelyn forgot how to breathe.
The outfit was simple—a fitted black dress shirt, sleeves rolled up slightly, paired with well-tailored dark slacks. But somehow, it made all the difference.
Lucien adjusted his collar absentmindedly. "What?"
Evelyn quickly turned away, pretending to check her phone. "Nothing. You just… clean up well."
Lucien gave her a look, but said nothing.
For the rest of their time in the boutique, Evelyn couldn't quite shake the strange warmth creeping into her chest.
---
As they walked through town, the air between them felt… different.
Evelyn was hyper-aware of Lucien now. She noticed the effortless way he moved, the quiet confidence in his steps. He had always been attractive, but today, something about him felt dangerously captivating.
She frowned slightly. What the hell is wrong with me?
Lucien glanced at her. "Something on your mind?"
Evelyn forced a smirk. "Nothing that concerns you."
He narrowed his eyes slightly but let it go.
Evelyn, on the other hand, was starting to wonder if she was playing with fire.
---
Just as they were heading back, a chill ran down Evelyn's spine.
Lucien suddenly stopped walking. His entire posture shifted, muscles subtly tensing.
Evelyn followed his gaze.
A group of men stood in the distance, half-hidden by the alley shadows. They weren't just ordinary strangers.
Evelyn's stomach dropped. Daggerbone.
One of the men smirked, stepping forward. "You've been found."
Lucien said nothing.
But Evelyn saw it—the instant shift in his aura. The relaxed presence he had all day was completely gone.
The killer had returned.
Her pulse quickened. And just like that, their peaceful day was over.
To be continued...
---
End of Chapter 33