The door clicked shut behind me, louder than I meant it to.
Both Alaric and Tyler looked up.
Heat flooded my cheeks, and I ducked my head, hurrying toward the chair positioned squarely between them. Tyler leaned casually against the bar overlooking the living room, arms folded like nothing in the world could rattle him. Alaric lounged on the couch, one arm draped over the backrest, relaxed and unaware.
“Sorry,” I said, settling quickly into the chair. “Just needed some fresh air. It was starting to feel… stuffy in here.”
Alaric shrugged, smirking faintly. “Hardly noticed you were gone.”
The words hit harder than they should have. I glanced toward Tyler. He wasn’t looking at me—his gaze was fixed firmly on the carpet, as if the swirling pattern there was more important than anything el
