Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMPADVXNBEP507W8NPAC2D8

The door to Eva's flat swung open with a creak, revealing Aurora Carter standing on the threshold, her bright blue eyes wide with surprise. She hadn't expected to see him here, not after all this time. Lucien Moreau leaned casually against the doorframe, his heterochromatic eyes — one amber, one black — studying her with a mixture of amusement and something else she couldn't quite place. "Rory," he said, his voice smooth and accented, a hint of France lingering in the vowels. "It's been a while." She swallowed, her heart doing an involuntary flip at the sound of her name on his lips. "Lucien," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "What are you doing here?" He straightened, the ivory-handled cane in his hand tapping lightly against the floor. "I could ask you the same thing. But I suppose we both have our reasons for seeking refuge in Eva's little sanctuary." Aurora stepped inside, closing the door behind her with a soft click. The familiar scent of curry from the restaurant below mingled with the musty aroma of old books, creating a comforting, if slightly overwhelming, atmosphere. Ptolemy, Eva's tabby cat, regarded her with disinterest from his perch atop a stack of dusty tomes. "I didn't know you were back in London," she said, moving past him to set her bag down on the cluttered table. Her fingers brushed against a pile of scrolls, sending a few fluttering to the floor. Lucien bent to retrieve them, his movements graceful despite the cane. "I returned a few weeks ago. Business, you know." "Business," she echoed, a hint of skepticism in her tone. With Lucien, business could mean anything from negotiating with supernatural entities to orchestrating elaborate schemes that danced on the edge of legality. He handed her the scrolls, his fingers brushing against hers for a brief moment. The contact sent a jolt up her arm, and she pulled back, focusing on the papers as if they held the secrets of the universe. "Eva's not here," she said, more to fill the silence than anything else. "She's at some conference in Edinburgh." "I know," Lucien replied, a small smile playing on his lips. "She mentioned it when I saw her last." Aurora nodded, unsure of what to say next. The last time they'd seen each other, things had ended on a note of unresolved tension, words left hanging in the air like unfinished melodies. She'd thought about him often since then, wondering if she'd ever see him again, and what she would say if she did. "How have you been?" he asked, breaking the silence that had settled between them. "Busy," she replied, tucking a strand of black hair behind her ear. "Work, mostly. Deliveries for Yu-Fei." "Ah, the Golden Empress," Lucien said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I hear their dumplings are quite the delicacy." "They are," she agreed, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "And you? Still playing the role of the enigmatic Frenchman?" He chuckled, a low, rich sound that sent a shiver down her spine. "Always. It's a role I was born to play, after all." They stood there for a moment, the weight of their shared history hanging between them like a tangible presence. Aurora could feel the pull of it, the way it tugged at her heart, reminding her of all the things they'd left unsaid. "Why are you really here, Lucien?" she asked, her voice softening. "It's not just business, is it?" He hesitated, his gaze flickering to the window where the late afternoon light cast long shadows across the room. "No," he admitted finally, his voice quieter now. "It's not just business." She waited, sensing that he was on the verge of saying something important, something that might change everything. "I've been thinking about you," he said, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. "About us." Aurora's heart skipped a beat, a mix of hope and fear swirling within her. "Lucien, I—" He held up a hand, stopping her. "Let me finish, Rory. Please." She nodded, her throat tight with emotion. "I know things ended... abruptly between us," he continued, his gaze never leaving hers. "And I take responsibility for that. I was... afraid, I suppose. Of what it meant to feel something so strong, so real." She listened, her heart aching at the vulnerability in his voice. Lucien, the man who always seemed so composed, so in control, was opening up to her in a way she hadn't expected. "I've spent a long time running from my past, from who I am," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But being away from you made me realize that I can't keep running. Not if it means losing you." Aurora felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, and she blinked them away, determined to stay composed. "Lucien, I—" He stepped closer, his presence warm and reassuring. "I don't expect you to forgive me, or to forget what happened. But I want you to know that I'm here, and I'm willing to try. If you'll have me." She looked at him, really looked at him, and saw the sincerity in his mismatched eyes. The fear, the hope, the longing. It mirrored her own. "I've missed you," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "More than I can say." He reached for her hand, his touch gentle and tentative. "Then let's not waste any more time." Aurora nodded, a smile breaking through the tears that threatened to spill over. "Okay," she said, her voice steady now. "Let's try." Lucien's smile was radiant, and he pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapping around her with a warmth that chased away the lingering shadows of doubt. She leaned into him, feeling the steady beat of his heart against her cheek, and knew that whatever happened next, they would face it together. Ptolemy, sensing the shift in the room, leapt down from his perch and padded over to them, weaving between their legs with a contented purr. Aurora laughed, the sound bright and clear, and Lucien joined in, his laughter mingling with hers in a melody that felt like coming home. For the first time in a long time, Aurora felt at peace. And as she stood there, wrapped in Lucien's embrace, she knew that this was only the beginning of their story.