Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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~ Genoa ~

My eyes snapped open when I sensed a presence next to me.

I nearly screamed when I saw Calista's red eyes directed at me. Why is she lying on the bed next to me?

"You are a heavy sleeper.", Calista said while observing my face carefully.

"Why are you here?"

"I have questions and Aldi told me to keep them for the morning and not to wake you up. Morning passed so I'm here, waiting for you to wake up."

I blinked and glanced at the clock. It was nearly noon. How long was she here?

I let out a long exhale and pulled the cover up to my chin. I needed the warmth.

"What questions you have for me?", I asked when I got cozy.

"Will you tell me the whole story about last night?"

"The whole story?"

"Some parts don't add up."

"Like?", I asked cautiously.

"Like… why were you alone on the terrace?"

I groaned. I didn't want to talk about it, but I knew that Calista will not let it go. Besides, she doesn't have bad intentions.

"I had an argument with Graike and I needed some air so I stepped out. It was only for a few minutes before…"

"An argument?", Calista cut me off.

Damn it! I thought she will let me skim over that part.

"How close are you with the Dragon Lord so that you can argue with him and leave without a scratch?"

I laughed weakly at Calista's question. I knew that she will keep on drilling until she gets to the meat, so I decided to cut down my useless struggles.

"He thinks that we are married."

Calista's eyes opened wide until they formed nearly perfect circles. "Say that again, but slowly because I think I misheard you."

"You didn't mishear. It was about three years ago…", and I told her the story of me riding a dragon and ending up kind of married.

"Wow! Aldi was right. You need constant protection.", Calista said in disbelief. "So, why did you argue last night? Marital problems?"

Calista snickered and I rolled my eyes.

"I didn't want to dance with him, but then he said how he will shout that I'm his wife. And during the dance, he made some remarks that made me uncomfortable, so I left him on the dancefloor and went to catch some air."

"That explains why he looked guilty."

I didn't get it. "Guilty?"

Calista nodded. "He looked at you like it was his fault and in a way it was. If he didn't upset you, you wouldn't go out."

I shook my head while remembering his expression from last night. He didn't rub it in that he saved me, so maybe that's why. Anyway, that was done.

"How does a werewolf fit into that story?", Calista asked.

"Lazarus?", I wanted to clarify and when Calista nodded I told her that Lazarus found me in the forest, and he kept me warm. "I passed out and the next thing I knew, I was on the bed with all of you around me."

"When I got into the room, he was apologizing to you."

The image of Lazarus kissing me flashed in front of my eyes. I swallowed softly and quickly came up with something. "Maybe because I passed out even though he was holding me."

Calista narrowed her eyes at me. "I would believe that if you are not blushing. And your heart rate increased. What are you hiding?"

I groaned. Damn it! Can't a person have any secrets in this house?

"Just before I passed out…", I hesitated. "He kissed me."

Calista's frozen expression was comical. Eventually, she spoke, "You passed out because he kissed you? Was it the dog's breath?"

I expected various reactions, but this was not one of them. "No, no. I passed out because of the cold. It had nothing to do with the kiss."

Calista burst into giggles. "I thought that I'm having fun while traveling, yet here you are… married to a dragon, getting attacked, and kissing a werewolf in one night."

I glared at her. Why is she making fun of my misery?

Eventually, Calista stopped laughing and she asked, "So, did you kiss him back?"

"I… I don't remember."

"Was the kiss any good?", Calista continued probing.

"I don't remember."

"Then, it was not good."

I didn't get it. "What?"

"If it was good, you would remember it.", Calista said with a knowing look. "So… do you like him?"

"Laz is a nice guy, he treats me well, and I'm having fun with him and he makes me feel safe…", I was unable to finish this for some reason, so Calista did it for me.

"But, you don't like him."

"Not in the way he wants me to.", I admitted and looked at Calista. "I'm not able to push him away. Am I a bad person?"

Instead of answering my question, Calista asked, "Between Lazarus and Duke, who would you pick?"

I bit my lip and closed my eyes. Lazarus is interested in me, and he proved more than once that he is there for me, while Duke left me many years ago, and I hate that he is plaguing my dreams and his name is etched into my heart.

"You got your answer, Serina.", Calista's words made me look at her in confusion.

"I did?"

Calista nodded. "You are thinking between a guy who is hovering around you and another one you didn't see in years. I think your choice is obvious."

I understood that she was saying how my choice is Duke, and she was not wrong, but… "He left me many years ago."

"And yet you can't get him out of your head, and he sent you a note that he wants to talk to you."

"He is human."

"So?"

"He will change and die, and I will not."

Calista shrugged. "Isn't that more of a reason that you don't delay going to him? One day or ten years, enjoy them while you can."

"You make it sound simple."

"What's your problem? And don't give me the different species nonsense because last night you kissed a half-dog and you danced with a dragon."

Dancing and dating are two different things, and Lazarus kissed me, not the other way around. But Calista was right that Duke being human was just an excuse.

"What if he doesn't want me?"

Calista flicked my forehead harshly. "Stupid. Why would he send you a note if he doesn't want you? Besides… I see that you are not interested in guys, yet that note made you all flustered. Even if he doesn't want you, maybe that rejection is what you need to cut the ties that are holding you back and you start looking for someone who can make you happy…"

Somehow, Calista's words made sense.

As long as Duke's ghost is haunting me, I won't be able to let go. A rejection. Face-to-face. It will be harsh, but I will survive and be stronger and… I will be able to move on. Just how he did.

I didn't know if I can actually go through it, but there was no point in arguing with Calista now. I will think about it. I have nine days.

I saw Calista getting cozy in the bed next to me.

"Alright, now that we got that out of the way, I'm waiting to hear a story.", she said.

I was confused. "What story?"

"About Duke, silly. When you got the invitation, I remember a promise that you will tell me about you and him after the party, and this is after the party, so… I want to hear everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. Don't you dare skip on the juicy parts."

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