Lucien sat on the edge of his bed, staring at her. Yvaine was curled up where he had laid her and covered her up with his blanket. He had carried her here without thinking. His dorm was empty, everyone else was still outside, trying to pull the seers and dusk wolves out of that strange trance.
She shivered suddenly, her body began burning up.
He muttered a curse under his breath, got up, and went into the bathroom. He returned with a wet napkin and pressed it gently to her forehead. She didn't stir.
Inside, his wolf wouldn't stop.
Mate.
The voice pulsed through him, over and over, dancing, shouting, clawing at the walls of his chest.
"Shut up," he hissed at himself, but it didn't help. The more he tried to push it down, the louder it got.
Mate. Mate. Mate.
He clenched his jaw so hard it ached. This wasn't possible. It couldn't be her. Not her.
He dragged himself to the mirror, lifted his shirt, and froze.
The curse mark below his waist… it was glowing.
He let out a harsh breath. "No… no, no, no. This has got to be bad."
His fangs pushed through without warning, sharp and aching, itching for release. The need slammed into him—raw, violent. He wanted to mark her. Right there.
"Oh, damn it," he growled, shoving himself back. His reflection looked wild, eyes bright, teeth bared.
Her scent clung to him—sweet, soft, and pulling him under. He couldn't breathe around it. Couldn't think.
The scent wasn't fucking there days ago, or even when they'd done the tree lighting dance.
He stumbled into the bathroom, slammed the door, and locked it. Pressed his back to the cold wood, chest heaving.
"No. Not her. Anyone but her." His voice shook.
The wolf inside snarled back, furious. Ours.
Lucien gripped his head, pressing his palms into his skull like he could force the voice out. "Shut up! You don't get it. I'm cursed. I can't have a mate. I can't give in. I can't touch her."
He gripped the sink tighter.
The thought kept pounding in his head.
Her?
Of all people.
He'd made her life hell. He'd mocked her, pushed her, called her weak.
And now the bond was pulling at him, screaming at him.
No. This wasn't right. The Moon Goddess must have gotten it wrong.
She had to.
Because how could his mate be the very girl he swore to break down?
He pressed his forehead to the glass, chest heaving.
The glow on his skin burned like truth he didn't want to hear.
_____
Yvaine stirred slowly. Her head felt heavy. Something cold pressed against her forehead. She reached up and pulled it away. A wet cloth.
Her eyes blinked open. Everything ached. Her body, her chest, even her fingers.
Where was she?
The walls around her looked white, too white, almost glowing. Or maybe it was just her vision playing tricks. Either way, the air here felt strange. She couldn't explain it. Like something in the room was feeding her, charging her.
She sat up a little, scanning. The bed beneath her was huge, easily big enough for three people. Books sat neatly on a shelf. The whole place was very neat too. And the smell—something about it—it was oddly familiar, though she couldn't place why.
Then she looked down.
Her eyes widened.
What the hell? Where was her dress? She was in a sweatshirt now. Not hers.
Her stomach dropped.
She pushed herself up slowly. "Where the hell am I?"
Just then, a door opened.
Lucien walked out.
Yvaine's jaw clenched. "You've got to be kidding me."
He smirked, leaning on the doorframe like he'd been expecting that reaction. "You're finally awake."
She glared. "Yeah. What happened? And where is this place?"
"You're in my dorm room," he said. "You passed out after…" He paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "Wait. You don't remember, do you?"
Her throat tightened. "…No. Where are my clothes? Did you—did you change me?"
Her face burned. Had he seen—
"You're so ungrateful," Lucien said flatly. "You should be thanking me."
Yvaine scoffed. "Thanking you? For what? For letting me sleep in your dorm so you can finish me off later? No thanks."
Her words snapped out sharper than she expected.
Lucien didn't answer. He just stared at her. But something strange flickered in his eyes, and she saw his jaw tighten. He shifted slightly, like he was trying to steady himself.
Inside, his wolf stirred again. The pull came back strong. Then stopped, just as fast.
"She's beautiful," the wolf said quietly. "But she doesn't recognize me."
Lucien's mind snapped back. Recognize you? What do you mean?
"She doesn't recognize us," his wolf answered. "Not as mate."
Something heavy dropped in Lucien's chest at that. He didn't know why disappointment cut through him so sharply.
Yvaine broke the silence. "Look, I don't know what is going on, but I'd like to leave now."
Her voice was calm, almost flat. Like she felt nothing.
Lucien's brow furrowed. "How do you feel?"
"I feel irritated at the sight of you," Yvaine said plainly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, my friends are probably worried."
She moved past him, brushing his shoulder as she did.
Her scent hit him like a punch. His hand shot out before he could stop himself, fingers wrapping around her wrist.
Yvaine froze. Then turned her head slowly to look at him. Her glare was sharp, cold.
She yanked her hand free. "Don't you ever touch me again."
Her voice didn't shake.
Yvaine didn't even know where that surge of confidence came from. But she held it, steady.
Without another word, she pulled the door open and walked out of his room.
Lucien stood there, heart hammering, hand still tingling where he'd touched her.
He didn't understand. Why didn't she recognize him as her mate?
Worse. Why does he feel this anger that she didn't. He wanted to go after her and tell her that she'd shifted and they were mates.
No. This is totally a mistake.
_____
Yvaine soon arrived at her dorm. She was surprised that everyone was in and it wasn't that late, or was it? The sky had a silver glow to it.
She knocked on the door and Zully opened immediately.
"Oh goddess! Yvaine. Where have you been? We've been looking everywhere for you."
Yvaine entered the room, shutting the door.
Zully came to her. " What happened to your dress. Whose shirt is this? Calean looked for you too."
Yvaine sighed. " It's uh...it's Lucien's."
Zully's eyes widened. " Lucien's? What in the actual world? You were with him since? Your brother was mad."
Let Zayne be mad. He was the reason she'd left the ceremony anyway. She didn't care if he was mad.
"Zully," Yvaine says, " I don't know what happened, okay? All I remember was running off from Zayne to the garden and then now, I wake up in Lucien's dorm room."
"I swear if he did anything to you, I'll curse him with my grandmother's spell."
Yvaine gave a weak smile. " He didn't. I just don't remember anything."
Zully gives Yvaine a box. " Your brother asked to give you this."
"Thanks."
"And for your memory, we'll do a spell tomorrow. Strange things are really happening tonight. I guess I did underestimate the power of the tree lighting ceremony."
"What strange things?"
"Seers and dusk wolves went into a trance at the same time... students and teachers alike. You disappear and reappear, not remembering anything."
"The moon goddess must be at work." Yvaine says with a shrug.
Zully yawns, " Go to sleep now. I'm sure principal Myrrin will have us waking early tomorrow, to explain whatever the hell happened."
"Yeah." Yvaine replies.
She took off the sweatshirt and tossed it to a corner with disgust. She goes to her bag and picks out her pajamas and puts it on before laying down to sleep.