Sophies pov
The city was quiet when I returned to my apartment, the streets dim except for scattered pools of amber light reflecting off wet pavement. I stood by the window, letting the night air brush against my skin as I tried to untangle the events of the evening.
The gala had been a test — of confidence, of poise, of my ability to navigate the invisible currents between the brothers. And yet, even now, alone, I could feel the echoes of their presence lingering in my chest.
Reflections on the Gala
Cassian had been my anchor — patient, gentle, steady. He hadn’t overstepped, hadn’t demanded attention, but his quiet support had allowed me to breathe when Lucian’s intensity threatened to suffocate me.
Lucian had been a storm, deliberate in his pursuit, in his provocations, in the subtl
