Aria sipped her coffee, watching the steam curl into the air. The morning sunlight fell lazily across her laptop screen, but she couldn’t focus. Her phone buzzed. Lucas. She groaned but answered.

“Hey… my queen,” Lucas said, voice warm and teasing.

“Lucas, what is it?” she asked, trying to sound calm but failing.

“I’m good… just missing you, baby,” he said, a slow grin audible in his tone.

“Lucas, please… I don’t have time for this,” she snapped, putting her coffee down.

“Oh? So you’re telling me I can’t tease my queen again?” he chuckled. “But seriously, Aria… you’re really lagging behind. What’s going on over there at Cross Empire?”...