Valerie’s POV
The moment I opened the door, I knew something was off.
The energy in the room? Suffocating.
Alaric was standing by the window, his back to me, broad shoulders tense, jaw sharp in profile. His hands were clenched at his sides like he was fighting the urge to rip something apart. Or someone.
“Alaric?” I said, testing the waters, voice dipped in flirt.
He didn’t turn around.
“Hey,” I tried again, stepping in and closing the door behind me, slower this time. “Rough morning?”
He turned.
Gods.
His face looked like war. Stormy eyes. Jaw locked. A darkness in his stare that made the confident smirk on my lips die instantly.
“I don’t remember summoning you,” he said coldly.
The breath caught in my throat. “I—was just checking on you.”
His eyes dragged over me like knives.
