AI The door to Eva’s flat creaked open before Aurora could even reach for the deadbolt, the hinges protesting like an old man’s joints. She froze, her fingers hovering over the brass key, the scent of damp wool and something sharper—like ozone after a storm—spilling into the hallway. The air in the flat went still, the usual hum of Ptolemy’s purring and the faint clatter of Eva’s research notes shuffling like restless ghosts stilled.
Then the cane hit the floor with a sharp *thunk *, and the ivory handle glinted under the flickering bulb above the doorframe.
Aurora’s breath hitched. She knew that cane . Knew the way the polished wood caught the light, the way it had once rested against her hip when he’d stood too close in a dimly lit bar, his voice a velvet promise. *Lucien Moreau.* The Frenchman. The man who’d left her in London with nothing but a half-burned note and a debt she couldn’t pay.
She should have turned and walked away. Should have locked the door, called the police, done anything but step back into the chaos of his presence. But her feet were rooted to the spot, her pulse hammering in her throat like a trapped bird.
Lucien didn’t look up as he pushed himself upright, his cane clattering against the floorboards. His platinum blond hair was slicked back, immaculate as always, but his tailored charcoal suit was rumpled, the lapels slightly askew, as if he’d been riding in a cab for hours. One amber eye met hers, sharp and unreadable , the other black and heavy-lidded, like he was already calculating the cost of this reunion.
“You’ve got a key,” he said, his voice smooth as aged whiskey, laced with something darker. A challenge. A dare.
Aurora swallowed. “Eva gave it to me .”
“Ah.” He tilted his head, the movement fluid, predatory. “Then she’s either very trusting or very stupid.”
Ptolemy chose that moment to leap onto the windowsill, his tail flicking in irritation. The cat’s green eyes locked onto Lucien with the same disdain he reserved for strangers. Lucien didn’t flinch. Didn’t even glance at the feline. His gaze was locked on her, unblinking.
“You look like hell,” she said, because the words were there, raw and stupid, but she couldn’t seem to stop them.
His lips quirked, just slightly , but it was enough. Enough to make her stomach clench. “And you look like you’ve been running from something.”
She bristled. “I work two jobs. I’m not running.”
“No.” He stepped inside, the door swinging shut behind him with a quiet *click *. “You’re hiding.”
The flat was smaller than she remembered, the walls pressing in closer now that she wasn’t alone in it. Books lined the shelves like sentinels , their spines worn from years of use. Eva’s research notes were scattered across the coffee table, half-buried under a half-empty cup of tea gone cold. Ptolemy hissed, low and warning, but Lucien didn’t react. Didn’t even seem to notice.
Aurora crossed her arms. “What do you want, Lucien?”
His gaze flicked over her—her black hair, her sharp blue eyes, the way her fingers twitched at her sides like she was already planning an escape. “I want to talk.”
“About what ?”
“About the debt.”
Her breath caught. *The debt.* The one she’d never been able to pay. The one that had sent her running, that had made her disappear into the London underworld like a ghost. “You’re here about the debt?”
“Partly.” He leaned against the doorframe, his cane propped beside him like a silent threat. “But mostly, I’m here because you’re in danger.”
Aurora laughed, sharp and disbelieving. “Me? In danger?”
“You left London,” he said, voice low . “You cut off all contact. You didn’t even tell Eva where you were going.”
“Because I didn’t want her to worry!” She stepped forward, her voice rising. “Because I was trying to *live *, Lucien! Not just survive!”
His expression darkened. “You were running from something.”
“And you were the last person I wanted to see about it!” She jabbed a finger toward the door. “Get out.”
He didn’t move. “You owe me .”
“Not anymore.” She swallowed hard . “I paid it.”
His eyebrow arched. “With what ? A delivery job? A few hours of your time?”
“With *everything *!” She clenched her fists . “I worked my ass off, Lucien. I didn’t just disappear. I *fought *.”
Lucien exhaled through his nose, a sound that was almost a laugh. “You fought like a woman who’s never been in a real fight.”
Aurora’s hands trembled . “That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it?” He pushed off the doorframe, stepping closer. Close enough that she could see the faint scar along his jawline, the one she’d never asked about. Close enough that she could smell the scent of him—leather and something wild, something *demonic *. “You left me a note. One sentence. *‘I’m sorry.’* And then you were gone.”
“I was scared,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper .
“Of me ?” His voice dropped, rough . “Or of what I could find out?”
Aurora’s throat tightened. “Both.”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his amber eye burning into hers. “You think I don’t know what you did?”
“I don’t know what you *think * you know,” she snapped.
“That you took what wasn’t yours.” He reached into his jacket, pulling out a folded piece of paper. “That you stole from me .”
Aurora’s stomach dropped. She knew that paper . Knew the way the ink had bled slightly at the edges, the way the numbers had been scrawled in her own handwriting. The ledger. The one she’d taken from his office, the one that had held the key to everything —his secrets, his power, the things he’d kept hidden.
She should have burned it. Should have torn it into a thousand pieces. But she hadn’t. And now it was in his hands.
“You took it,” he said, his voice dangerously calm . “And you didn’t even have the decency to return it.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “I needed it.”
“Needed it?” His laugh was bitter . “You needed *proof *.”
“Proof of what ?” She stepped back, her heels hitting the edge of the coffee table . “That you were lying? That you were hiding things from me ?”
“From *yourself *,” he corrected, his voice low . “You were always too smart to believe the lies.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “What lies?”
Lucien’s gaze flicked to the notes scattered across the table, to the way Eva’s research was half-hidden under the weight of her own desperation. “The ones you’re writing now.”
She didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Because he was right. She *was * writing. She was digging, she was searching, she was trying to piece together the truth about the man who’d once promised her the world.
Lucien’s voice dropped, rough and urgent. “You’re playing with fire, Aurora.”
“I’m not playing,” she said, her voice steady despite the way her heart was hammering in her chest. “I’m fighting.”
“For what ?” His gaze locked onto hers, unyielding. “For *me *?”
Aurora’s breath caught. “No.”
“Then for what ?”
She swallowed hard . “For *myself *.”
Lucien’s expression softened, just slightly . “You always were stubborn.”
“And you were always a liar,” she shot back.
His lips twitched. “And yet here you are.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “I had to come back.”
“Why?” he asked, his voice gentle now, almost pleading . “Why now?”
She looked away, her gaze falling to the notes on the table. To the way Eva’s handwriting was tangled with her own, the way the research was a mess of half-truths and secrets. “Because I can’t leave it like this.”
“Can’t leave *what * like this?” Lucien’s voice was low, urgent. “Us?”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Us.”
Lucien stepped closer, his cane tapping against the floorboards. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.”
“I know exactly what I’m asking for,” she said, her voice steady . “The truth.”
Lucien’s gaze darkened. “And if I don’t give it to you?”
Aurora met his gaze, unflinching. “Then I’ll find it myself .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “You’re a fool, Aurora Carter.”
“And you’re a liar, Lucien Moreau,” she said, her voice steady . “But I’m not running anymore.”
His gaze locked onto hers, his amber eye burning into hers. “Good.”
Aurora’s heart pounded in her chest , her breath coming in ragged gasps. “Good?”
“Good,” he repeated, his voice low and rough . “Because I’ve missed you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You have?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “More than you know.”
Aurora’s chest tightened, her fingers curling into fists. “Then why did you leave?”
Lucien’s expression darkened, his voice rough. “Because I was afraid.”
“Afraid of what ?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper .
“Afraid of losing you,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “What did I find out?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest tightened, her fingers curling into fists. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Lucien’s expression darkened, his voice low and rough. “I never lied to you.”
“Then explain it to me ,” she said, her voice steady . “Explain why you left me . Explain why you never told me the truth.”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
“Afraid of what ?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper .
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “You’re not human?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “Half-demon?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
“Afraid of what ?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper .
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Lucien’s expression darkened, his voice low and rough. “I never lied to you.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Lucien’s expression darkened, his voice low and rough. “I never lied to you.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Lucien’s expression darkened, his voice low and rough. “I never lied to you.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Lucien’s expression darkened, his voice low and rough. “I never lied to you.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Lucien’s expression darkened, his voice low and rough. “I never lied to you.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Lucien’s expression darkened, his voice low and rough. “I never lied to you.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not human.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You’re not human?”
Lucien nodded, his voice rough. “I’m half-demon.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “Half-demon?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a whisper . “My father was from Avaros.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And you never told me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. “Because I was afraid.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Afraid of what ?”
“Afraid of what you might do,” he admitted, his voice low and rough . “Afraid of what you might find out.”
Aurora’s chest tightened. “And what was that?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened, his voice barely audible. “That I’m not the man you thought I was .”
Aurora’s breath caught. “And what man am I supposed to think you are?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice rough and urgent. “The man who loves you.”
Aurora’s breath caught. “You love me ?”
Lucien’s gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and rough. “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Aurora’s chest ached. “And I’ve loved you since the first time you lied to me .”
Aurora’s breath hitched. “Then explain it to me .”
Lucien exhaled sharply , his breath hot against her cheek. “Because I was afraid.”