NOAH'S POV

"Can you help with this, little Leister?"

His cold, seductive voice slithered into my ears like silk on skin, and I froze. That scent...snowy mint and something darker, more primal...wrapped around me before his presence even settled. I could barely breathe. It was like he walked out of a dream laced with danger and temptation.

I swallowed hard, staring at his broad shoulders as he turned toward the stairs.

"I thought as much," he murmured, almost to himself. "You should go home, ...