Chapter 88

**ARIA**

The library was quiet, the kind of stillness that wrapped around me like a cocoon. A fire crackled in the hearth, filling the vast room with a golden glow, and outside the tall windows, the moon bathed the world in silver light. I curled deeper into the armchair by the window, absently pulling the soft white fabric of my dress over my legs as I turned another page of my novel.

I was completely absorbed, the words on the page drawing me into another world. The scent of aged parchment and leather bindings filled the air, and I relished the solitude. It was rare to be truly alone these days.

Or so I thought.

The shift in the atmosphere was subtle at first. A prickle along my spine. A whisper of something—someone—moving just beyond my line of sight. I lowered my book slightly, my eyes scanning the dimly lit shelves.

Then, out of the shadows, he emerged.

Caedmon stepped from behind a bookcase, his movements fluid, unhurried. He was dressed simply, his dark clothing blending seamlessly with the shadows, but there was nothing simple about the way he carried himself. The flickering firelight cast sharp angles across his face, making his features seem even more striking. His mouth curved into a slow, knowing smile.

"I apologize," he said, his voice smooth as velvet. "I didn’t mean to startle you."

I closed the book in my lap, tilting my head slightly. "Then why were you lurking in the shadows?"

He placed a hand over his chest, mock offense dancing in his pale eyes. "Lurking? You wound me, dear Aria. I was merely admiring the scene before me."

I huffed a soft laugh, shaking my head. "You’re very dramatic, you know that?"

He smirked, stepping closer. "Perhaps. But I do appreciate beauty when I see it."

There was a strange cadence to his voice, something that made the air feel heavier. I should have said something—deflected, brushed off his words—but the warmth of the fire, the comfort of the chair, and the quiet intimacy of the moment dulled my instincts.

"You intrigue me," he continued, his gaze sharp yet unreadable. "Not just your looks—though those, of course, are undeniable—but your mind. Your heart.
There’s something… different about you."

I swallowed, shifting in my seat. "I think you overestimate me."

He chuckled, low and rich, before taking another slow step toward me. I hadn't realized how close he’d gotten. The scent of him—something old, dark, and almost intoxicating—brushed against my senses.

"On the contrary," he murmured. "I don’t think I overestimate you at all."

The air between us was charged, a tension I couldn’t quite understand. My pulse quickened, though whether it was from unease or something else, I couldn’t tell. Caedmon tilted his head, watching me as though he could hear the rhythm of my heartbeat, as though he already knew the effect he had on me before I did.

Then he reached out, brushing his fingers against the sleeve of my dress, the touch so light it was barely there.

My breath hitched.

His eyes flicked to my lips.

He leaned in—

And I jolted awake.

A sharp inhale. My heart slammed against my ribs, my breath coming in short, shaky bursts. The room was dark, the only light spilling in through a crack in the curtains. Reality settled around me in slow, disorienting waves.

I wasn’t in the library. I was in bed. In our bed.

Warmth pressed against my back—solid, steady. A strong arm was wrapped loosely around my waist, the familiar weight grounding me. Adam.

For a moment, I just lay there, forcing my breathing to slow, listening to the steady rhythm of his own. He was deep in sleep, his face tucked close to my shoulder, his breath warm against my skin. I reached up, absently running my fingers along his forearm, needing the connection.

It had only been a dream.

Hadn’t it?

A shiver ran through me, not from cold but from unease. I had read about vampires influencing dreams, weaving illusions so lifelike they were indistinguishable
from reality. Could Caedmon have done that?

I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening over Adam’s arm. If he had, if this was some sort of game to him…

No. I wouldn’t let him inside my head.

From now on, I would avoid Caedmon like the plague.

***

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the apartment. The scent of coffee filled the air, rich and comforting, but I could barely focus on it.

Adam leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest, watching me as I set the table. His piercing blue eyes never left me, his dark hair still tousled from sleep. His instincts were already on high alert.

"You never turn down breakfast with Cassius and Leila," he said, his voice calm but firm. "What’s going on?"

I kept my hands busy, pouring coffee into our mugs. "Nothing. I just wanted to have a quiet morning with you."

His silence stretched between us. I could feel his gaze burning into me, seeing straight through my flimsy excuse.

"Aria," he finally said, stepping closer. "I know you. Something’s wrong."

I exhaled, setting down the coffee pot. There was no avoiding this—not with Adam. He would press until he got the truth.

"It was just a dream," I admitted, wrapping my hands around my mug. "Nothing more."

His expression darkened slightly. "A dream?"

I nodded, hesitant. "About Caedmon."

Instantly, his entire body tensed. His hands curled into fists, his jaw locking as his breathing deepened.

I pushed forward before he could react. "I don’t think it was just a dream, Adam. It felt... real. Too real. He was in the library with me, talking, getting closer. I—"
I hesitated, then forced myself to continue. "I woke up just before he could—"

I didn’t finish. I didn’t have to.

Adam’s entire demeanor shifted. A muscle ticked in his jaw, his blue eyes flashing with something raw and dangerous. For a long moment, he said nothing.

The air in the room felt heavier, charged.

Then, without a word, he turned on his heel and stormed toward the door.

"Adam—"

The door slammed shut behind him before I could stop him.