Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMMHH16WTFGE2M4AE7J5B0A

Aurora Carter stood in the narrow hallway of Eva's flat, her fingers brushing the small crescent-shaped scar on her left wrist. The air was thick with the scent of curry from the restaurant below, mingling with the musty aroma of old books and parchment. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her bright blue eyes fixed on the door in front of her. Three deadbolts. She knew them well, had locked and unlocked them countless times during her late-night visits to Eva's place. She raised her hand to knock, hesitated, then let it fall back to her side. What was she doing here? She had fled to London to escape her past, to start anew. Yet here she was, standing at the threshold of a place that held too many memories, too many ghosts. Before she could second-guess herself further, the door swung open. Lucien Moreau stood in the doorway, his heterochromatic eyes — one amber, one black — locking onto hers. He was impeccably dressed, as always, in a tailored charcoal suit. His platinum blond hair was slicked back, and he leaned casually on his ivory-handled cane. "Rory," he said, his voice smooth and tinged with a French accent. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" Aurora's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't seen Lucien in months, not since their last encounter had ended in a heated argument. She had stormed out, vowing never to see him again. But here he was, standing in front of her, looking as composed and unruffled as ever. "I need to talk to Eva," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. Lucien's gaze flickered with something she couldn't quite place. Amusement? Annoyance? "Eva's not here," he said. "She's out of town for a few days. But you knew that, didn't you?" Aurora's cheeks flushed. She had known. Eva had mentioned it in passing the last time they spoke. But she hadn't expected Lucien to be here, hadn't anticipated the rush of emotions that seeing him again would bring. "I didn't come here to see you," she said, her tone sharper than she intended. Lucien raised an eyebrow. "Clearly. But since you're here, why don't you come in? We can catch up." Aurora hesitated. The last thing she wanted was to be alone with Lucien, to dredge up old wounds. But she couldn't very well stand in the hallway all night. With a reluctant nod, she stepped inside. The flat was as cramped and cluttered as ever. Every surface was covered with books, scrolls, and research notes. Ptolemy, Eva's tabby cat, lounged on a stack of papers, eyeing Aurora with lazy curiosity. Lucien closed the door behind her, the sound of the deadbolts clicking into place echoing in the small space. He gestured to the worn sofa. "Sit. Can I get you something to drink? Tea? Whiskey?" "Tea's fine," Aurora said, perching on the edge of the sofa. She watched as Lucien moved to the tiny kitchenette, his movements graceful and unhurried. He filled the kettle and set it on the stove, then turned to face her, leaning against the counter. "So," he said, folding his arms across his chest. "What brings you here, really?" Aurora took a deep breath. She had rehearsed this conversation in her head a hundred times, but now that she was here, the words seemed to elude her. "I need information," she said finally. "About Evan." Lucien's expression darkened. "Evan? Your ex?" Aurora nodded. "He's been... causing trouble. I thought I was done with him, but he keeps showing up, making threats. I need to know what he's planning." Lucien's eyes narrowed. "And you think I can help?" "You always seem to know things," Aurora said, her voice softening. "I thought maybe you could find out something I can't." Lucien studied her for a moment, then pushed off the counter and walked over to the sofa, sitting down beside her. "Rory," he said, his voice low. "You know I would do anything to help you. But this... it's dangerous." "I know," Aurora said, meeting his gaze. "But I don't have a choice." The kettle whistled, breaking the tension. Lucien stood and poured the hot water into two mugs, handing one to Aurora. She wrapped her hands around the warm ceramic, taking comfort in the simple act. "Why didn't you come to me sooner?" Lucien asked, sitting back down. Aurora looked down at her tea. "I didn't think you'd want to see me. Not after everything that happened." Lucien sighed. "Rory, what happened between us... it was complicated. But that doesn't mean I stopped caring about you." Aurora's heart ached at his words. She had missed him, more than she cared to admit. But there was so much hurt, so much left unsaid. "I didn't want to drag you into my mess," she said quietly. Lucien reached out, his hand covering hers. "You're not dragging me into anything. I'm offering to help. Let me." Aurora looked up, meeting his gaze. There was sincerity in his eyes, a vulnerability she hadn't seen before. She nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Thank you, Lucien." He squeezed her hand gently. "We'll figure this out. Together." For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of their shared history hanging between them. Aurora took a sip of her tea, the warmth spreading through her, easing some of the tension. "Tell me everything you know about Evan," Lucien said, his tone all business now. Aurora took a deep breath and began to recount the recent encounters with her ex, the threats, the fear that had driven her to seek out Lucien. As she spoke, she felt a sense of relief, a burden lifting from her shoulders. She wasn't alone in this anymore. Lucien listened intently, his heterochromatic eyes never leaving her face. When she finished, he nodded. "I'll start looking into it. But you need to be careful, Rory. Evan's dangerous." "I know," she said. "But I trust you." Lucien's expression softened. "And I trust you. We'll get through this." Aurora felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to mend the rift between them, to move forward. For now, she was grateful for his support, for the promise of help. As they sat together in the cluttered flat, the past seemed to fade away, leaving only the present and the possibility of a future. Aurora knew it wouldn't be easy, but with Lucien by her side, she felt ready to face whatever came next.