Auren POV

“I was starting to think you wouldn’t show up,” Evric said as soon as I stepped in. He reached across the table for a basket of rolls and lowered his voice conspiratorially. “Take one from this basket. Mirabel made these fresh this morning, just for me. The rest are from yesterday.”

Lorien’s smile widened as she placed a hand on his back. “They look incredible,” she said warmly.

Evric gestured to the seat beside him, and Lorien slid gracefully into it. It wasn’t ...