*Claire*

“Well, you look like you’ve had an exciting morning,” I said.

Ivan walked into the kitchen, eyebrow raised, and his intense gaze burning holes in my soul as usual.

“I see your brush with death didn’t help you develop a sense of humor,” I mumbled under my breath.

Valen and Ethan both choked back laughter, as they had both heard me.

Misha broke the tension in the room by asking Ivan what happened. He started to respond in Russian, ...