My Sister Stole My Mate And I Let Her (Seraphina) novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Chapter 36 PRETTY FUCKING AMAZING

SERAPHINA’S POV

I woke with my mouth dry and my limbs heavy, like I’d been asleep for a thousand years, and barely managed to claw my way back into the world.

The faint scent of saffron and eucalyptus filled the air—soothing, grounding.

Not my apartment.

I blinked against the soft morning light streaming in through parted drapes and slowly sat up, clutching the edge of the couch. I recognized that scent, associated with my new friend and formidable trainer.

I was on Maya’s couch.

Relief hit first. No unfamiliar sheets. No morning-after regrets. I was fully clothed, my shoes were neatly placed by the door, and a blanket had been tucked over me.

No smeared lipstick, no taste of another’s mouth on mine. Nothing to indicate I’d done anything reckless.

"Oh, thank fuck," I whispered.

I rarely let myself indulge in alcohol as much as I did last night. After what happened with Kieran ten years ago, I rarely let myself get inebriated, wary of making yet another devastating mistake.

But then, inexplicably, underneath the relief was... disappointment?

I couldn’t understand the feeling. I guess with everything that had passed between Lucian and me, a part of me had wanted... something to happen.

Lucian had looked at me last night like he saw me—really saw me. Not as Kieran’s ex. Not as the tragic, estranged daughter of the Lockwood family.

But as a woman. One who was changing. Growing. Becoming.

And I liked it—I fucking loved it.

I leaned back against the couch cushions and exhaled. Maybe I’d let Maya get too into my head and imagined the whole thing. Maybe the warmth in Lucian’s gaze was just his kindness, his steady loyalty.

Maybe I was projecting hopes onto the only man in my life who hadn’t treated me like an afterthought.

I mean, how desperate did I have to be that I was wishing I had a drunken one-night stand with him?

The front door creaked open before I could spiral too far.

Maya stepped in, balancing two cups of coffee and a paper bag. The bag carried the same logo as the restaurant we were at last night. I guess she really was a regular there.

"She lives," she teased, setting the bag on the coffee table and offering me a cup.

I accepted it with grateful hands. "What time is it?"

"Late," she answered, plopping down beside me. "But I’ll say you’ve earned the indulgence."

I raised a brow. "Really?"

She smirked, shrugging. "Enjoy it while it lasts. Suicide drills first thing tomorrow morning."

I groaned, leaning back into the chair. "I hate you."

She blew me a kiss.

I took a sip of the coffee, letting the warmth and caffeine flood my sluggish system. "How did I get here?" I asked softly.

"Lucian brought you," she answered. "Carried you in himself like a goddamn knight in pressed slacks. Laid you down, made sure you were comfortable. Wouldn’t leave until I promised to call if you threw up or so much as breathed wrong."

My heart thudded. "Right."

She raised a brow, those sharp eyes of hers seeing too much. "What’s with the long face?"

I shook my head and instantly regretted it when it throbbed.

"Ah, I see," Maya mused, smirking. "You hoped to wake up in a different place." She winked. "Say, maybe, Lucian Reed’s bed?"

My cheeks instantly flamed. "No, Maya. Jeez."

She snorted. "Yeah, okay. I’m convinced."

I sighed. "I just—you said a bunch of things and... I thought maybe..." I stared down at my coffee. "Did I misread it?"

Maya tilted her head, scrutinizing me like she could see right through to the truth lodged in my chest. "No, babe. You didn’t. But I’m guessing you’re wondering why he didn’t do more."

I nodded.

"Because you were drunk," she said simply. "And Lucian is a lot of things—strategist, visionary, charming devil—but he’s not the kind of man who’d take advantage of someone not fully in control of their choices."

That... made sense.

And it made me feel something else entirely. It quadrupled the respect I had for Lucian.

Maya leaned in. "What happened to ’we’re just friends’? Do you want something more, Sera?"

I chewed my bottom lip, at a loss for an answer. "I... don’t know. What if I do want to pursue something with him? What if I regret not saying something last night?"

Maya leaned back and grinned, looking particularly proud of herself. "Then say something today. Tomorrow. Whenever. Just... don’t let it fester."

I let out a breathy laugh. "You make it sound easy."

"Because it is. You don’t need to make it harder than it really is."

"In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly dripping in feminine allure," I said. "He’s an Alpha—polished and powerful. I’m..." I shrugged, familiar self-deprecation settling over me. "Me."

Maya frowned. "Okay, first of all, ew. Don’t ever talk about yourself like that again. Second, Lucian isn’t some shallow prick looking for arm candy. If he wanted pretty and empty, he could find it tenfold. But he’s stuck to you like gum on a shoe, even though—no offense, babe—you’ve hardly been receptive."

That made me laugh, and she nudged me with her elbow.

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