The woods behind the Valeblood estate were quieter than usual. A soft mist clung to the ground like a veil, and the trees stood tall and still, holding secrets in their shadowy branches. Lucien moved quickly, his boots crunching softly against the forest floor, following the faintest scent of wild lavender—*Aria.*

He had scoured every inch of the territory, checking the gardens, the courtyard, even her aunt Selene’s house—but something in his gut told him she needed to be alone. And if he knew his mate, the woods were the one place she went when she needed to breathe.

Finally, near the old willow tree where they once shared a...