mmanding and smooth as the man inside it. Sunlight danced across its polished surface lik

apped in fabric. A black overcoat draped loosely over his shoulders, billowing slightly with the breeze, making him look like a monarch return

afternoon sun, and his storm-grey eyes swept across the e

towering

f cedar and cit

ill hummed with power and pol

with precision, the glint of his

s me, huh?" a voice call

rt, his older brother, descended the stairs with the air of a man who

ressed sibling," Cassian replied coolly, his

kind of hug that spoke of shared bl

see you

through the grand double doors and into the mansion. The warmth inside st

y skylines. Silent s

fferent. Almost dang

esh herbs, cinnamon-and faint traces of

gold light like a slow sunrise, illuminating aged portraits and polished staircases that

ssi

sound of his sist

, descended the stairs like a queen in her cou

tly cupping his face like she was still t

d her cheek, smirking. "Sti

a playful nudge. "And y

er, a voice-loud and unfilte

le C

Alaric barreled into him like a pup

urmured, barely flinching as Al

eryone to bow at your return," Alaric teased, pulling back

ed a brow. "

aric said with a wink. "How

his tone cool and dry. "Q

ed under his breath as they w

ered quietly with a tray of wine and hors d'oeuvres. Cassian took a glass, his fingers elegan

rossed, posture as poised as ever

back with a knowing smile. "Elai

d, eyes fixed on his wine

ina added, tilting her head with

en't d

f the pack is buzzing. You disappear like a ghost, an

aint, but present. "I

with a certain weight in his tone.

d stilled aro

ri

ent. She's lovely. Elegant. Polite. E

didn't

ually, "Her name

hat followed

arkened for the

ughts r

swept

arp

ike wi

ng but wit and fury-who looked him d

le

Sel

ft a mark with

ss down with q

he reme

... would she

he forgotten h

, dangerously, as he l

ing," he

inted. "Yo

was razor-shar

t her

Cassia

ll like it had personally wronged me. My j

ne A

hew? My barely-housebroke

usly?

. Because the name Selene Alder wasn't just a name. It was a memory-a scar, really. A beautiful,

the sam

wed. Thought. Tried not to sc

ng after that street brawl years ago, in a back alley where fists and fury weren't enough to save me. And she-God, she was

idiots with egos and bones that break. Then she

find out that same gir

baby, ar

again, nearly draine

at night. Just soft eyes, quick hands,

it b

Maybe thousands. But paired with that

That w

face like he hadn't just turned my entire

irling the last drops of wine like

s great. You'll love her. Su

Oh, I reme

y chair like I wasn't planning a c

ool coo

me up then disappeared without a trace

Fantastic.

nto my mouth, chewed hard, and

under my breath,