The following day, Lucian insisted on walking Daniel to campus. Daniel had tried to protest — half-heartedly — but Lucian wouldn't hear of it. He hovered like a shadow, an unwavering, protective force at Daniel's side.
As they made their way down the cracked sidewalks toward the university, Daniel couldn't help but laugh under his breath.
Lucian looked absolutely ridiculous.
Not because he wasn't handsome— he was, almost painfully so — but because he looked like he belonged on a stage, not among worn-out students with messy backpacks and scuffed sneakers.
Dark, tailored clothes clung to him like a second skin, and even the way he moved was too graceful, too poised. In spite of being over a thousand years old, he looked like an entrepreneur in his late twenties, visiting his alma mater.
"You're going to get stared at," Daniel said, grinning sideways at him.
Lucian raised an eyebrow in a way that was both amused and vaguely predatory. "Let them stare," he said, unbothered. He extended his hand, palm open in quiet invitation.
Daniel's chest squeezed. He hesitated only for a heartbeat — but it was enough to feel it — that tremor of fear, of wanting too much. Then he slipped his hand into Lucian's and held on tightly.
Together, they walked across campus, drawing more than a few curious glances. Daniel tried not to care. With Lucian beside him, it felt like nothing could touch him. Like he was wrapped in something unbreakable.
At least, until a voice called out across the quad, sharp and familiar.
"Daniel!"
He froze, the illusion shattering. His stomach knotted painfully.
Mia.
Of course. Of all people — it had to be Mia, his childhood friend and best friend.
She jogged up, her long dark hair swinging over her shoulder, her face bright with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Those eyes darted between him and Lucian, wide with surprise — and something harder, colder.
"Who's this?" she asked, her voice too sweet. Too sharp around the edges.
Daniel opened his mouth — he had no idea what he was about to say — but Lucian spoke first, his tone as smooth as glass.
"Lucian," he said. His blue eyes were cool, unreadable. "Daniel's... friend."
Friend.
The word sliced through Daniel before he could catch his breath. He smiled anyway. Reflexively. Automatically. It felt brittle on his face, but he nodded along.
"Yeah," he said, forcing a lightness he didn't feel. "Lucian's... a friend."
Mia's smile tightened into something sharper.
"You've been acting weird lately," she said, arms folding across her chest. "Is this why?"
Daniel shrugged, his backpack shifting awkwardly on his shoulders.
"Maybe," he said, the word feeling small in his mouth. "I've just been... distracted, I guess."
Mia didn't look convinced. She took a step closer, eyes narrowing, scanning Lucian with something like suspicion.
"You're not human," she said bluntly, voice pitched low but deadly clear.
Lucian smiled, but it wasn't kind. It was a flash of teeth — a warning dressed up as charm.
"Sharp girl," he said softly.
Daniel wanted to sink into the ground. He opened his mouth to smooth things over, to say anything, but Mia was already speaking again.
"Be careful, Daniel," she said. Her voice was shaking slightly now, not with fear — but anger. "Vampires don't care about humans. They use them. And when they're done, they throw them away. Am I right, mister bloodsucker?" she asked mockingly.
"Mia, please…don't talk like that to Lucian?" Daniel said, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment and anger.
"Why? Is he going to snap my neck?" she scoffed, holding Lucian's gaze. "Listen up, sharp teeth, if anything happens to my friend I'm going to seek you out and pour liquid silver down your throat." Mia said threateningly.
Lucian smiled again, but this time his smile was not as cold or fake. "Got it!"
"I'm not stupid, Mia," Daniel intervened, keeping his voice steady by sheer force of will. "I know what I'm doing."
"I hope so," Mia said, almost too softly to hear. "Anyways, us two need to have a serious conversation later, Daniel. I gotta go now. I'm late for my part time job," she said, staring at Lucian for one last time. "Bye." She turned around and rushed away.
"You're as red as cherries," Lucian murmured.
Daniel blinked and realized he was feeling extremely hot and kind of lightheaded. "I'm fine," he lied, the words scraping his throat raw. I apologize about my friend. She—"
"There's no need for apologies. She's your friend. Of course she worries about you," Lucian said, tugging at his hand. "Let's go. I'll walk you all the way to class."
Daniel nodded and they started moving ahead.
Daniel's mind was aflame with so many thoughts. He couldn't believe how rude and hostile Mia had been towards Lucian, but he also couldn't believe that Lucian had said they were just…friends. But then again, what was Lucian supposed to say? That they were sleeping together? Feeding on each other's blood? That Lucian had saved his life?
Even though, Daniel had been content with not putting a label on their relationship, not knowing what he actually meant for Lucian made him feel restless and insecure. Well, it was pretty obvious he was important to him considering how fiercely he had protected him the other night.
But how important? And why? Was it just because of his blood as Jeremiah had hinted? Daniel felt that he and Lucian needed to have a serious discussion too. He wanted to know what kind of place he had in Lucian's heart and life. Not knowing made Daniel feel like hell.