TO CHR

ian must have brought them here after she had passed out asleep in the fore

rests one arm behind his head, eyes on the ce

. His face is relaxed, not the unr

he turns slightly. "You've

o decide if you

faintly.

et up to her chest. "You don't l

w, still rough from sleep. "

her cheeks warm, but she doesn't

r quietly. "B

und her shoulders. "What happens now?

vement easy, deliberate. "You

unds dan

same quiet smile a

d of silence that doesn't need to be filled. Then Lucian reaches for the ph

head. "I can w

ck will be waiting. They'll want

ens. "You mean th

soon as they se

own a tray on the small table by the window, coffee, fruit, eggs, and som

sy. "Are they all like t

's what keep

atching him. "And you'

That's not alway

or complaint. She sets her cup dow

for a long moment.

lling on his shirt, and glances back at her. "Eat somethin

his cuffs. "And if I sa

to convince y

"You think t

you'd let

certain, before heading for the door.

ntouched food, the sunlight spilling across the floor. Everythin

a room for meals. The table stretches almost the length of the floor, covere

eady speaking quietly with Marco and Dr. Ro

ne loo

find her first

serious. "I didn't realize t

is cup. Lucian's mouth curv

ard the seat be

d two other lieutenants she doesn't know follow her with poli

n front of her again, this time smaller, eggs, frui

cian says

"Are you always this

hen it

arco. "The Alpha's charming thi

away from Eve. "It

in. Eve focuses on her pl

ng numbers are stable. No injuries reported. Th

t way. I want eyes on the n

business and military rolled together. Orders, reports, c

toward her. "You'll get used to

plaining," sh

ave to. I ca

says it isn't possessive, it's matter-of-fact, a

and brushes hers under the table, a small, fleeting

e quicke

The smell mixes with the scent of warm bread and pine from the open win

en the do

black coat and dark red heels. Her hair is a pale gold that c

is slightly l

f smile meant to unsettle. "Good mornin

t moving from his seat. "T

ng closer. "But since when do I need

looks directly at Eve. "And

cally, unsure what

How lovely. I'm Lyra D'Amato.

in, his tone

amused. "Relax. I'

voice. Lyra's presence fills the room, confident and

at. "Perhaps we shoul

move. "That w

e, then back to Eve. "We'll sp

and walks out, leaving the faint sound of

t her stomach twists. Lucian watc

really?" Eve