Lucien's fury boiled over. He charged forward at the Professor, their clash echoing through the hall. Blows landed, the air thick with power and rage. Dorian joined in, his blade flashing as he kept the Professor from striking back too hard.
The others stood frozen, watching the storm unfold - Lucien's protective wrath against the professor's cold arrogance.
Suddenly, the door at the end of the hall burst open. A doctor rushed in, breathless. "She's awake!" he announced. "Iman has woken up!"
Lucien froze mid-strike, his chest heaving, his eyes wide. The words cut through his rage like lightening.
Without hesitation, he broke away from the fight, sprinting down the corridor toward his room.
Dorian stepped forward, blocking the Professor's path. His blade gleamed as he raised it. "You'll deal with me now," he said firmly, his voice steady.
The Professor's smile was thin, mocking. "Do you think you can stop me, boy?"
Dorian's grip tightened. "I don't need to stop you. I just need to keep you away from her."
Lucien burst into his room, his heart pounding. There she was - Iman, awake, sitting weakly against the pillows, clutching the blanket as if it was her shield. Tears shimmered in her eyes, and she saw him, her lips trembled.
"Lucien..." she whispered, voice breaking.
He rushed to her side, kneeling beside the bed, his hand finding hers. Relief washed over him like a tide. "You're safe now," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
But her tears spilled faster. "No... I'm not safe. It's my fault. I let him get close. I thought it was you. I should have known."
Lucien shook his head firmly, squeezing her hand. "Iman, listen to me. This is not your fault. He deceived you. He crossed a line. You did nothing wrong."
She turned away, burying her face in the pillow. "But I let it happen. I didn't fight back soon enough. I froze. If I had been stronger-"
Lucien cupped her face gently, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Stop. You are strong. Freezing doesn't make you weak. It makes you human. He tricked you, Iman. That's on him, not you."
Tears streamed down her cheeks. "But if I hadn't gone to balcony alone... if I hadn't needed space... none of this would have happened."
Lucien leaned closer, his forehead resting against hers. "You needed peace. That's not a crime. Wanting quiet doesn't make you guilty. He invaded your space. He violated your trust. That is his sin, not yours."
She shook her head again, voice trembling. "It feels like I invited it. Like I opened the door for him."
Lucien's voice grew sharper, protective. "No. You opened the door for me, not him. You whispered my name because you thought it was me. That shows your heart belongs to me. He stole that moment. He forced himself into it. You cannot blame yourself for his corruption."
Her sobs grew heavier. "But what if it happens again? What if I'm not strong enough to stop him next time?"
Lucien pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest. His hand caressed her waist, grounding her. "Then I will be there. I will stand between you and him. You don't have to carry this alone. You are not weak, Iman. You are mine - and I will protect you."
She clung to him, whispering through tears, "But I feel so guilty... so ashamed..."
Lucien kissed her forehead, then her lips, silencing her words with tenderness. "No shame. No guilt. Only love. I will tell you a thousand times if I must: it is not your fault."
Her sobs softened, her trembling eased, and slowly, she let herself believe him.
Outside, the clash of steel echoed faintly - Dorian holding Professor Alaric at bay. But inside the room, Lucien's vow wrapped around her like a shield.
The storm raged beyond the door, yet in his arms, she found calm.