Lucien returned just past midnight. The room was dark, save for the pale moonlight seeping through the window, casting long, soft shadows across the walls.

He closed the door quietly behind him, his footsteps barely making a sound on the tiled floor. Aria was fast asleep, curled on her side, her breathing soft and steady. One arm was tucked beneath her head, the other resting lightly on the blanket that barely covered her.

Lucien’s eyes softened.

He walked over slowly and sat at the edge of the bed. For a moment, he just looked at her—like he was studying her face, memorizing the gentle curve of her cheek, the relaxed...