Lily’s POV

Morning light was already filtering through the curtains when Lucian stirred.

Nora had gone back to her room sometime after we finished the calls. We had barely slept the night had been too full of plans and quiet tension. Now the apartment was still, except for the soft sound of Lucian shifting on the sofa.

He opened his eyes and looked at me for a long second, almost disoriented.

“Lily… is that you?”

“Yes,” I answered quietly. “I was here the whole night.”

He sat up slowly, rubbing a hand over his face. The leftover haze of last night’s drinking still clung to him. I was about to...