Chapter 93: Delirious Charms

For a moment…

Lia didn’t understand what had just happened.

Her mind wandered over the brief, fractured instant—over the strange sensation, like something unnatural and weird had happened to her, along with the faint sound of something cracking—but it slipped through her thoughts like water.

Confusion clouded her expression.

But before she could even think about it further—

Her gaze shifted again, landing fully on Lucian, and everything else… disappeared.

Her face turned pale, colour draining in horror, her pupils shrinking as she saw his bloodied silhouette—as the sight before her finally sank in.

She moved abruptly, rushing forward before dropping beside him.

“B–b–brother?” she stammered uncontrollably, her tone trembling with fear pouring into every word of her voice.

The moment she dropped before him, her hands hovered, suspended in the air—unsure where to touch, what to do, afraid that even the slightest movement might hurt him more.

Because everywhere she looked—

There was blood.

His entire body was bathed in blood. She didn’t even know if it was his or someone else’s, but the thought that it might be his made her terrified.

Her eyes shook violently, and her breathing grew ragged.

Lucian’s gaze—heavy and unfocused—broke from Seraphina’s and slowly shifted toward her.

“W–What happened t–to you?”

Lia’s voice dropped, getting quieter, yet shaken, trembling under the weight of everything she was feeling but couldn’t express.

Lucian’s lips parted slightly, trying to say something trying to form words.

But before anything could come out—

“Lia, stay here. I’ll go bring the first aid box.”

Seraphina said suddenly, her voice controlled, almost emotionless, but faintly trembling in restraint, as if she were barely holding herself from breaking apart.

Lia froze, but seeing his entire bloodied state, she nodded slowly.

Seraphina’s hand moved away from Lucian’s head, gently lowered him back down onto the ground, her movements soft despite the urgency rushing inside her.

But just as she was about to get up—

“Stop,” Lucian muttered, holding onto her hand that had been smeared with blood after she touched him.

His grip tightened slightly, holding her from walking away.

Seraphina froze.

Slowly, with visible effort, he pushed himself up slightly, lifting his other hand weakly in the air, in a gesture, signalling Lia not to stop him.

Both of their gazes flickered—tight in tension, fear, and disbelief—as they watched him force himself upright, his body shaking as he managed to sit.

“Ha… Outside isn’t safe,” he said in a hoarse voice, his mouth dry.

“I… I’ll come with you.”

Saying that, he lifted himself, pushing his body up with his trembling hands, wincing at the wound on his left arm and his thigh.

Seraphina gritted her teeth, wanting to refuse, to force him to stay.

But she didn’t argue.

Because she knew.

She knew there might be a chance—however small it was—that she might get attacked by monsters.

And more than that, she also knew her son wouldn’t let her go alone, no matter how much she insisted.

No matter what she said.

Lucian’s legs wobbled as he stood, and his knees trembled visibly.

His entire body shook, barely holding itself together through sheer force of will alone.

Just as he was about to take a step forward, his leg tripped, and his balance gave out.

Before he could hit the ground—

Both Lia and Seraphina rushed at him, catching him from both sides, their hands grabbing onto his arms, holding him upright before he could collapse again.

“Can’t you just sit in one place for a moment?” Lia asked, her voice sharp and trembling, seeing her brother like this, as he had almost escaped from the mouth of death.

Lucian didn’t answer.

Both of them grabbed him from either side, holding him as he slowly dragged himself up the stairs under their guidance.

The ascent was slow, with each movement a struggle for him.

He would’ve fallen multiple times if not for them.

Reaching the door at the top, Seraphina carefully removed Lucian’s hand from her arm.

Then, she pushed the door open.

She didn’t even notice how easily she had opened the heavy metal door.

Her mind barely noticed the change, as it was elsewhere, entirely focused on only one thing.

Lucian.

Together, they guided him out of the basement, moving slowly—carefully—from the gym room as they reached the living room above, before setting him on the couch as gently as they could manage.

Lia went forward and switched the lights on, while Seraphina helped him sit down.

The couch had been dragged over to the side and turned, blocking the window.

Lucian’s body gave in the moment they lowered him, dropping onto the couch, staining its bright fabric in blood.

Lia didn’t waste a single second.

The moment his body sank into the couch, she turned away sharply and abruptly, almost frantically rushing as she made her way toward where the first aid box was kept.

Each of her steps was driven by urgency.

At the same time, Seraphina moved in the opposite direction, heading toward the bathroom, grabbing a bucket and filling it with water before grabbing multiple clean towels with hands that trembled despite her effort to steady them.

The bucket almost slipped from her quivering hold. She instantly gripped it tightly.

Neither of them spoke.

There was no need to, since words would only slow them down.

Within moments, they returned.

Lia went forward, dropping down beside the couch, as she began to carefully remove his shirt, which was clinging to his body due to sweat and blood.

Lucian’s half-lidded eyes lifted to her, who was so close to him that he could clearly see the way her lips were pressed together, as she was biting them.

Lucian let out a small, quiet exhale.

“Sorry,” he said softly.

Lia’s hands paused for a brief second.

“Shut up,” Lia said sharply, her voice breaking as her eyes turned watery, refusing to look at him directly.

Lucian didn’t say anything, as he just sighed again, moving his body to help her remove his shirt.

After pulling it off his body, trying her best not to disturb him too much, both Lia and Seraphina froze, their breaths hitching again the moment the fabric came off.

His entire upper body was glistening with sweat and dry blood.

But more than that—

On his left arm, there was a slash wound stretched across his skin, with two claw marks, tearing into his skin, as blood still spilled from there, trailing down his arm in thin, dark lines.

Seraphina’s gaze lowered as she noticed the tear in the fabric on his pants, right at his thigh.

Her heart dropped.

Without hesitation, she reached quickly yet precisely, removing it, as Lucian helped her, lifting himself sluggishly, not even complaining.

He was barely keeping himself awake right now, and his mind was currently clouded, the same as a drunk man’s.

If not for his high will, he would’ve fainted long ago, right after the fight with the wolves themselves.

Seraphina’s fingers trembled as they traced along the edge of the wound, near the sharp claw mark, along with the flesh split open.

Her stomach twisted.

“Who… who did this?” Her voice came out trembling, as tears began to spill down her cheeks.

Her gaze lifted slowly, looking into Lucian’s half-lidded eyes that were barely open.

They were dull, slightly unfocused.

Yet he still looked at her.

“Wolfie…” He muttered weakly, his brain barely forming words.

Both Lia and Seraphina paused.

Their brows furrowed slightly at his words, as he sounded like he was talking about some friend of his.

But they didn’t dwell on it.

Seraphina could see that he was barely holding on.

His eyes threatened to close at any moment.

His breathing had begun stabilising.

Both of them moved.

Lia’s hands moved along his top half, cleaning the blood over his body with the dipped wet towel, while Seraphina did the same with his lower half.

Both of them had to be careful while cleaning him, so as not to brush over his wound.

After that, they disinfected the area of his wound.

“Ssss~~”

Lucian hissed sharply, his body tensing slightly as the sting spread through his thigh.

Lia froze instantly.

Her hands stiffened mid-motion as she raised her head.

“Does it hurt…?” she asked uncertainly.

Lucian opened his eyes slowly.

Seeing her nervous look, he smiled softly before lowering his head slightly toward her.

“No… my dear sister is taking care of me,” he muttered softly, his voice weak, almost dizzy, yet carrying a gentle smile.

“How could it hurt then?”

He raised his right hand weakly, patting her head gently.

“It doesn’t hurt, don’t worry.”

Time seemed to stop for a moment.

Seraphina—who was bandaging the wound on his arm—froze mid-motion, along with Lia, who stiffened completely.

Seraphina looked at him for a second as if he had lost his mind.

He was so hurt right now, coming entirely covered in blood.

Barely conscious.

With wounds that would make anyone scream in pain.

And yet—

He was flirting over here?

With his sister?!

Seraphina’s fingers twitched.

Without thinking, she pulled the bandage a bit too tightly, making Lucian wince again.

Her eyes widened faintly.

Instantly realising her mistake, she quickly adjusted the bandage, moving more carefully.

It wasn’t that Lucian was trying to flirt or anything like that.

He just wasn’t currently in the right state of mind.

His thoughts were muddled, and even he barely knew what he was saying.

Meanwhile—

Lia lowered her head, her face hidden from view.

Her hands resumed again, continuing to clean the wound more before carefully wrapping it with a bandage.

Lucian shifted slightly, as if trying to move again.

But Seraphina immediately stopped him, gently pressing him down.

“Stay here for now,” she said softly, though her tone carried a firm edge beneath it.

“Let the wound clot itself… before we go down.”

Lucian went silent for a moment before his lips parted softly.

“Then both of you can go—”

“No.”

Lia’s response came instantly.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

There was no way she was leaving him over here, alone.

Not like this.

Not when he looked like he might collapse again at any moment.

Lucian’s sluggish gaze lifted toward her.

Just as he was about to say something—

“We’ll stay here,” Seraphina said, her tone cold and final.

Lucian tried to retort, to deny it.

“Lucian,” Seraphina interjected again.

“We’ll stay here.”

Lucian’s eyes lingered on her for a long moment.

Finally, he let out a small exhale.

There was no changing her mind.

He couldn’t do anything other than comply with her words.