ARYA

The laughter and chatter from the celebration faded into a muffled hum behind the closed door of the kitchen. I leaned over the counter, wiping chocolate crumbs from the plate, still smiling at the memory of Daxton's stunned face when he saw the cake.

He'd looked like a little boy all of a sudden. I didn't hear the door open.

But I felt him.

"Lucien?" I turned, my spine prickling.

He didn't answer at first. He just stood there, his breath ...