Page 30 of A Touch of Madness

I hesitate, the knot in my chest tightening. “I actually talked to her earlier,” I admit. “I had a shift at Potions and Petals this morning, and we worked on spells a bit in our downtime. We’re meeting with the Guild tomorrow, and I’d love for you guys to be there if you can make it work with your schedules.”

“Good,” Nicole says, folding her arms across her chest. “Because we’re running out of time, Sylvie. If Lara keeps spiraling like this, the Solstice Society will use her for whatever twisted agenda they have, and there won’t be anything left of her to save.”

The words settle like a stone in my stomach. I look down at my hands, clenched tightly into fists at my sides. They’re right. And as much as I want to scream, cry, and curse the universe for everything it’s taken from me, I know there’s no room for that now.

I just need to trust that I’m moving in the right direction.

Easier said than done.

The moment Sylvie crosses the threshold of my estate, I feel her presence like a shift in the tide—an electric undercurrent rippling through the air. Her heartbeat, once a steady rhythm that seemed to anchor the chaos around her, now wavers, tired and uneven. The book in my hands is all but forgotten, the words blurring on the page, and I find myself moving toward her presence without conscious thought.

I find her standing in the entryway, her silhouette framed by the soft glow of the chandelier above. There’s something fragile about her tonight, something I haven’t seen from her since she first arrived at Blackthorne with her sister. It’s as though the weight of her world has finally pressed too hard against her shoulders. Her eyes are shadowed, lips pale, and she looks utterly drained. But still, she carries herself with that quiet strength that draws me to her like gravity.

“Sylvie,” I say, her name rolling off my tongue like a vow. I close the space between us, taking her hands in mine. Her fingers are cold, trembling slightly. “You look like you’ve been through war, love. Come, sit with me.” I am still nervous about being around her, but at the same time, I can’t stay away.

Her lips quirk in the ghost of a smile, but there’s no fight left in her to deflect my concern. She lets me guide her down the dim corridor and to the sitting room, where the firelight dances against the wallpaper on the walls and the air whirrs with warmth.

Sylvie sinks into one of the chairs, folding in on herself like a wilted flower. I take the seat beside her instead of across, wanting to be closer. Her exhaustion is palpable, tugging at something primal within me.

“What’s happened?” I ask gently, though I already sense the answer.

Her voice is barely a whisper, as fragile as the breath that carries it. “I’ve been suspended. Indefinitely, apparently. They think I broke into the administration office to steal records.” She shakes her head, and her hands twist in her lap—her movements jerky with pent-up frustration. “But it wasn’t me. Obviously. It was Lara—pretending to be me. She’s sabotaging everything, and they won’t believe me. She also impersonating me to get a memory-enhancing spell from Rebecca and Nicole. I just don’t get it.”

I feel the familiar burn of anger coil in my chest, slow and smoldering, threatening to consume me. How dare they?

“What fools,” I say, the words cutting like steel. “They cling to their shallow reasoning because it’s easier than acknowledging the extraordinary truth. If anyone should recognize the possibility of deception, it’s Blackthorne. And the administration wants to punish you because they lack the imagination to see beyond their rigid rules.”

She lets out a hollow laugh, her gaze dropping to the floor. “It doesn’t matter what they should recognize, Lucian. What matters is they’ve already made their decision. And now, I’m stuck. I’ve lost my classes, my reputation, and… God, I’m just so tired.”

There’s a crack in her voice that splinters straight through me. I reach out, tilting her chin up so she’s forced to meet my eyes. “You’ve lost nothing that cannot be reclaimed. Do you hear me, Sylvie? Nothing. We’re going to fix this.”

Her lips tremble as she whispers, “It doesn’t feel that way.”

I cup her face gently, brushing my thumb along her cheek. Her skin is warm beneath my touch, but it’s the flicker of vulnerability in her eyes that holds me captive. “I know you’ve given so much—too much—in such a short time. You shouldn’t have to do any of it. I despise everything you’re dealing with.” My voice drops to something softer, something meant only for her. “Let me carry some of that weight. Please.”

Her breath hitches, and for a moment, the air between us is heavy with unspoken words. Finally, she leans into my touch, her forehead pressing lightly against my hand as she clenches her eyes shut.

“I don’t know how much more I can take, Lucian. I feel like I’m drowning, and every time I come up for air, every time I think things are about to go in my favor, something else pulls me under.”

I don’t give her a chance to say more. Instead, I rise from my chair and sweep her into my arms, the motion smooth and effortless. She doesn’t protest, simply curling into me like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“You don’t have to say anything else,” I murmur, my voice low. “Let me take care of you.”

I carry her to the chaise lounge, where she can be more comfortable, as the fire crackles softly in the hearth. The glow casts golden light across the dark leather furniture and the richly patterned rug. I settle onto the warm furniture, cradling her against my chest, and drape a soft blanket over her shoulders.

Sylvie sighs, her body melting into mine as though she’s been holding herself together for far too long. Her head rests against my shoulder, her breath warm against my neck. “You’re too good to me,” she whispers, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

“Never,” I reply, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. “You deserve far more than I could ever give you.”

Her fingers clutch lightly at the fabric of my shirt, and I feel her relax further, the tension leaving her in waves. For a moment, we simply sit in silence, the world outside this room forgotten.

“You said Lara asked Rebecca and Nicole for a memory-enhancement spell,” I say finally, my voice a quiet rumble. “Perhaps she’s trying to piece together something important—or erase something she can’t bear to face.”

Sylvie nods faintly against me as she watches the flames dance, entwining together, embers popping from the flames. “I just don’t understand why she’s doing any of this. She’s not… she’s not the sister I grew up with anymore.” Her voice cracks, and I feel her tears dampen my shirt. “I’m not an idiot. I knew her humanity being erased wouldn’t be easy for any of us, but I never expected her to come for me like this.”

I tighten my hold on her, my jaw clenching as anger and sorrow twist within me. “The Society is using her, Sylvie. They’ve twisted her humanity into something unrecognizable. She’d never do this to you without their influence, and you know that. We’ll get her back. I promise you that.”

She tilts her face up to look at me, her eyes shimmering with tears. “Do you really think we can? Because I’m starting to lose faith that it’s going to happen. There’s so much stacked against us.”

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