Ch. The Lucan Marked me 25 The Lucan Marked me 25

Chapter 25 

Sienna 

378 

I knew something was wrong the second Mara stepped inside. 

Her shoulders were tense and her lips were pressed into a tight line. She usually didn’t speak 

right away when she got back from picking Elias up at the academy, but this time it was 

different. There was something solemn about her silence. I ruffled Elias’s hair as he hugged 

me tightly before dashing to change into his house clothes. I kept an eye on Mara as she 

slowly set down her basket on the table. I couldn’t help but feel like she was stalling. 

I wiped my hands on a wash cloth, the scent of herbs still clinging to my fingers from the tea I’d just made. “Mara?” I asked carefully. “What is it?” 

She glanced at me, then over her shoulder, like she was making sure Elias wasn’t around before her eyes finally settled on mine. “His teacher… spoke to me today.” 

My heart skipped. “Elias’s teacher?” My pulse immediately began racing. The instructor? She could have spoken to Mara about a thousand things, a thousand positive things but somehow I 

knew that wasn’t the case. 

Mara gave a slow nod. “She said he had a bit of an…outburst.” 

A cold weight sank in my stomach. Oh, goddess no. “What kind of outburst?” 

“She didn’t say much,” she replied, trying to keep her voice even. “Just that thing in the room rattled for a moment, and his eyes…glowed.” 

No. 

I pressed my palm against the edge of the table to steady myself. It might have been easier for her to just wonder about the things in the room shaking. But his eyes… “She’d seen them 

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Chapter 25 

glowing?” 

78 

Mara didn’t answer right away. And that silence said enough. “I-” My voice cracked. I paused 

before trying again. “I knew she was watching him closely. She’s been looking at me 

differently these past few days whenever I come to drop Elias.” 

Mara nodded slowly. “She hasn’t said anything outright. Just concern, maybe some curiosity,” Mara said gently, but there was something in her eyes that told me she was toning things down for my sake. “I’ll speak to her. Ask her to keep what she saw to herself.” 

I combed my hair anxiously with my fingers. “And what if she doesn’t?” I bit out before I could stop myself. “What if she already suspects what he is? What if she tells someone?” 

“We don’t know that,” Mara said firmly, reaching for my hand. I slowly pulled away and began pacing. My thoughts were a blur of worst-case scenarios. “We’ve kept him safe for this long-” 

“Because no one saw anything.” My voice rose, sharp and panicked. “But now…Mara, if word 

gets out…if someone finds out…” 

“They won’t,” she interrupted. “Not if I can help it. I’ll talk to her, Sienna. I’ll explain that he’s just…gifted. Special, but in a way that doesn’t need to be feared.” 

“Will that be enough?” I whispered. 

Mara paused for a second, and that was all the answer I needed. She gave a look. The one that said she hoped it would be. Elias. Suddenly, I needed to be close to him. I found Elias in his room a few minutes later, sitting cross-legged on his bed with one of his books open but clearly forgotten. He looked up the second I stepped in. “Hi, Mama,” he said softly. 

“Hey, baby,” I said, crossing over to him and sitting at the edge of the bed. “Mara told me what happened at the academy today.” 

He dropped his gaze immediately. “I didn’t mean to, Mama. I got really mad. Nolan kept saying I was weird, and he tried to take my pencil, and I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I promise 

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Chapter 25 

I didn’t.” 

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“I know,” I murmured, reaching out to run my fingers through his curls. “I know, sweetheart.” 

His eyes welled up, and he blinked fast. “Are you mad at me?” 

“No,” I said, my voice thick. “No, Elias. I could never be mad at you for that.” 

He leaned into me, small and warm and entirely mine. I kissed the top of his head, breathing 

him in. “You’re not in trouble. But you have to remember what we talked about, okay? You can’t let anyone see your powers. Not yet.” 

“I know,” he mumbled. “I forgot. I’m sorry.” 

“It’s okay.” I cupped his cheek, making sure he was looking at me. “Everything’s going to be fine. Mara’s going to talk to your teacher and make sure she keeps your secret. But you have 

to be more careful now. Promise me?” 

“I promise.” 

“Good boy,” I whispered, pulling him into a hug, even as fear coiled tight in my chest. I held him like that for a long moment, trying to make peace with the truth; the world outside our little home was dangerous. And I couldn’t protect him from all of it. No matter how hard I tried. Maybe it was time I pulled him from the academy. I watched him settle back with his book, the ache in my chest sharpening further. All of this…hiding, worrying, second- guessing…it had started with Logan. 

With the man who was supposed to be by my side, shielding me from harm. 

Maybe it made me a terrible person, but once again, a part of me hoped he was burning with regret so deeply it kept him up at night. A part of me, the part that still hurt from his callous rejection, hoped the goddess was showing him what it felt like to want something… 

And know he might never have it again. 

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12:07 Wed, Sep 30 

The Lycan Marked Me and Walked Away