I held the dagger close, my steps slow and steady as I moved past him.

Lucan leaned on the wall, arms crossed, staring at me. He didn’t speak. He didn’t move. Just watched

The silence felt worse than words. My chest tightened. Every sound of my boots on the marble felt too loud.

He looked once at Aurora’s door, then back at me. Still silent. Still watching. His eyes made me shiver.

I forced myself forward, careful with every step. I didn’t know what he wanted. I didn’t know ...