Page 21 of Sins of Winter

“If that’s what bothers you the most out of all the things I’ve done tonight, I’m going to fall even more in madness with you.”

.” He reached down and took hold of my face. “And that isn’t your best friend. I am.”

“Friendship isn’t declared, Lucian.”

“We’ve been more than that for a long time, Winny. And that wasn’t the point,” he retorted casually. “You won't need her anymore. I'm going to be your everything. I allowed the friendship to continue only so you weren't alone. That’s over now.”

His words could easily sever the ties to my old life with surgical precision.

I knew that defiance would only draw us deeper into this quicksand. I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I looked up into his masked face.

“I know what I have to do.”

It wasn't agreement or acceptance, but a recognition of the reality I had to face.

CHAPTER SIX

The echo of Lucian's assurance that he would be watching clung to me as I exited the library. The priority was clear: find something, anything, that could serve as a weapon in this perverse game of survival.

The once merry Christmas tunes now served as a haunting accompaniment through the deserted corridors, the lights extinguished save for the mocking twinkle of holiday decorations. If I could find the source, I’d shut them off. I’d never hear these tunes the same ever again.

As I came to terms with what was happening, I banished thoughts of my parents, of home, of anything beyond these ancient walls. Now was not the time for sentimentality. I needed to focus on finding the one thing that would be both my salvation and damnation.

I entered the commons area and allowed myself a moment's pause.

Mara might still be alive, if I could believe what Lucian had said. I was choosing to do so for the time being. I didn’t have the mental fortitude to do otherwise. Hearing a noise behind me, I spun around with my heart in my throat.

Liam.

His familiar presence was a momentary relief in the chaos. My composure crumbled at the sight of him, and tears spilled forth, a display of fear that masked my deeper calculations. He rushed forward and wrapped me in a firm embrace, whispering reassurances.

“Everything's going to be okay. I’m so glad I found you again. I found a way out that’s not blocked off.”

“You found a way out? Why the hell are you still here then?” I asked, voice muffled against his chest.

He pulled back, his green eyes locking onto mine.

“I couldn't leave without you.”

The sincerity and earnestness in his voice tugged at me, despite the circumstances.

I untangled myself from him, cognizant that Lucian was around somewhere.

“How do we get out?”

“This way.” He took hold of my hand and led me from the room.

“Why were you still on campus so late?” I asked as we made our way to a rear hall on the first floor.

“Uh . . . I forgot something.”

That didn’t sound very convincing, but I wasn’t going to push the issue. “What about Mara? Have you seen her since we got separated?”

“I don't think she's in the building anymore,” he muttered.

Something in his tone set off an alarm in my mind.

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say we might have varying definitions of the word alive. We sidestepped the janitor's closet where an ominous amount of blood seeped out from underneath the door, heading towards the east stairwell that had a sole door that led outside.

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