Beyond the Living

er after she finally cried herself to sleep in his arms. Only when he was certain she was deeply asleep did he g

ucas grinned, catching his

here's Abigail?" Nicholas asked, knowing

on something... or someone," he mut

ve if you weren't constantly a

rother's sage advice. He found littl

s tucked in his pockets. He had been far less bored since A

us glint entered his eyes. He slipped out of the mansion and scaled the wall, heading towards Abigail's balcony. Wit

*

each the mansion undetected. She cursed under her breath as the gates creaked open. Even the slig

the balcony door into her room. As she

that you had to resort to such drastic me

f rest before sunrise. "Don't you have your own

l smile. "I find yours

" Abigail asked, h

s replied, enjoying

eep, Lucas

tretching out on her bed. "I'm tired too. We could both s

. She knew arguing would be futile

ed him on the bed, but his smile fal

mumbled, sensin

*

hen he noticed the change in her h

ly well," s

he of

ook he

and dressed, only leaving when she pleade

frustrated expression. Like the other servants, he had observed Lucas's persistent attachment to Abigail. But unlike a bloo

. "Could you please bring me some more f

" Lucas interjected. "We we

es, exasperated by hi

mself, eager to avoid any further en

*

xhaustion the previous night, she was certain Nicholas had

she rose, bathed, and dressed in on

er guests fell silent, their gazes fixed on her. She to

you," Lucas said from across

glancing at Nicholas, who was enga

holas, she found Lucas starin

urself?" she

though his voice was easily heard by everyone present. "I

ponytail. Her pink lips were set in a thin line, and she glared a

," she intro

ack and told

r from him, but he shamelessly abandoned his spot and shooed another guest away to sit beside her. She noticed the raised

w he delighted in provoking her. The chain rattled with every attempt to escape, so she eventually gave up, resigned to the envious glar

grasp, her eyes widened. She braced herself for the clatter, but it never came. She opened her eyes to find

she noticed the gleaming chain binding Lucas's and Ab