Fated reborn - Chapter 252: Chapter 252

Trini's Pov.
I was still half-talking to Dorian, words coming out all tangled with the way my heart was thumping, when the front door creaked open. My mouth snapped shut on whatever I was about to say, and my head whipped around so fast I almost gave myself whiplash. But then I saw them—Luciano and Victor, all broad shoulders and dark eyes, stepping through like they owned the place, which, I guess they kinda did.
Luciano’s gaze flickered over to me first, his eyes softening just a bit around the edges when they met mine. It made my cheeks warm up, that stupid fluttery feeling coming back with a vengeance. Victor was right behind him, eyebrows raised like he’d already figured out half the situation just from the way we were standing, and I had to resist the urge to fidget under that look.
Dorian cleared his throat beside me, straightening up, and his hand slipped from my shoulder real slow, almost reluctant. “Luciano,” he greeted, voice all smooth and polite, but there was something tight under it, something careful. “Victor.”
Luciano’s lips twitched, something almost like a smile ghosting across them for half a second. “Dorian,” he returned, nodding once, and his eyes flicked to me again, just for a breath. “Didn’t know you’d be coming this early.”
Dorian shrugged, but his posture was still that same careful, straight-backed kind of thing, like he wasn’t sure if he was supposed to relax or not. “Wanted to get a head start,” he said, tone even, and I bit the inside of my cheek, fingers twisting in the hem of my sleeve.
There was a moment where nobody said anything, just kinda shifted around, and I could feel my face getting warmer by the second. Luciano’s eyes were on me, steady and unreadable, and I had to look away, stare at the floorboards like they were the most interesting thing in the world just to get my pulse to calm down a bit.
Victor was the one to break the silence, stepping forward with that easy sort of confidence he always had, hands in his pockets and a little smirk tugging at his mouth. “Trini,” he said, and I blinked up at him, trying not to look like I’d just been caught doing something I shouldn’t. “Why don’t you go freshen up? We’ll handle things down here for a bit.”
My mouth opened, closed, then opened again, and for a second, I wasn’t sure if I should argue or just do what he said. But Dorian nodded all slow and encouraging beside me, something warm in his eyes, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, bobbing my head quick. “Right,” I mumbled, voice a bit higher than I wanted, and I took a step back, fingers twisting together. “I-I’ll be back soon, then.”
Luciano’s eyes followed me as I turned, something soft but heavy in his gaze that made my chest do that stupid fluttery thing again, and I bit down on my lip to keep from smiling too much. My feet carried me down the hall without me really thinking about it, that familiar path winding past portraits and doorways till I was standing outside Lunawyn’s room without really meaning to be.
I hesitated for half a second, fingers hovering by the wood, and then I knocked real soft, teeth worrying at the inside of my cheek. It took a bit, the muffled sound of sheets rustling and footsteps shuffling, and then the door cracked open, Lunawyn’s eyes all squinty and hair a bit mussed like she’d only just gotten up.
Her face lit up soon as she saw me, though, eyes going all warm and bright. “Trini?” she asked, voice soft and still kinda raspy with sleep. “Everything okay?”
I huffed out a breath, trying for a smile, but it came out a bit wobbly around the edges. “Can you—um, would you come with me?” I blurted, fingers twisting in the hem of my shirt again. “To my room? While I get ready?” My face went warm again, words rushing out all fast and embarrassed. “I just—I don’t wanna—”
Lunawyn’s expression softened even more, and she reached out without a word, fingers curling around my wrist real gentle, like she already knew what I was trying to say without me having to fumble through it. “Of course,” she said, tone all warm and understanding, and something tight in my chest eased a bit at that.
We made our way down the hall, her arm brushing mine every now and then, and the warmth in her eyes was enough to settle that nervous buzzing under my skin, at least a bit. My room was still a bit of a mess from this morning, blankets half-tossed off the bed and clothes draped over the back of the chair, but Lunawyn didn’t say anything, just perched herself at the edge of the mattress with a smile, legs tucked up under her.
I shuffled around, gathering clean clothes and trying not to look as flustered as I felt. “I—I’ll be quick,” I mumbled, half to her and half to myself, and she just hummed, that same soft, knowing smile tugging at her lips.
The bathroom was warm and a bit steamy, mirror still fogged around the edges from earlier, and I tried to keep my hands from shaking too much as I turned the water on. The sound of it rushing into the tub was almost enough to drown out the way my heart was still going a mile a minute, that mix of nerves and excitement making it hard to think straight.
I sank into the water with a sigh, letting the heat soak in, and for a second, I just sat there, eyes shut and breathing slow. But then there was a soft knock at the door, and Lunawyn’s voice came through, muffled but warm. “Trini? You good in there?”
“Y-Yeah!” I called back, voice a bit too loud, and I winced, cheeks warming up again. “Just—um, just give me a sec!”
She chuckled, soft and sweet, and I could hear the smile in it even through the door. “Take your time,” she said, and that tight feeling in my chest eased a bit more.
The rest of the bath was quick, my hands still fumbling a bit as I scrubbed at my hair and tried not to think too much. But when I stepped out, towel wrapped tight and face warm, Lunawyn was still there, eyes soft and understanding, and the smile she gave me was enough to make that jittery feeling settle, at least for a bit.
We talked a bit while I dried off, her voice soft and steady, telling me little things about her morning, how the garden looked with the sun coming up and the way one of the maids had nearly dropped a tray of dishes trying to carry too much at once. I couldn’t help but laugh at that, the sound coming out a bit breathless but real, and the way her eyes crinkled at the corners was enough to make the nerves settle, at least for now.
But when I finally pulled on my clothes, fingers still a bit shaky, and caught sight of myself in the mirror, that tight feeling came back full force, heart thumping loud and fast in my ears. Lunawyn’s hand found mine, fingers lacing together warm and sure, and she squeezed once, smile soft and eyes warm.
“You’ll be okay,” she said, voice all steady and sure, and I swallowed hard, nodding quick, trying to believe it.
“I’m really gonna miss you,” I mumbled, voice small and a bit wobbly, and her eyes softened even more, that warm, safe kind of look that made my chest ache a bit.
“I’ll miss you too,” she said, and her hand squeezed mine again, warm and steady. “But I’ll see you soon.”
And even though that tight, twisty feeling was still there, I couldn’t help but smile back, just a bit.