The mountain road gradually gave way to a narrow stone path that wound through towering pine trees. The air grew warmer as the group descended from the higher peaks, and patches of green began to appear beneath the melting snow.
Aria let out a quiet sigh of relief.
“I never thought I’d be happy to see grass again.”
Lucas chuckled.
“I’ll admit, I was beginning to miss normal weather too.”
Damien glanced at Aria and smiled.
“I was wondering how long it would take before you complained.”
She looked at him with mock surprise.
“I wasn’t complaining.”
“No?”
“I was making an observation.”
“There’s a difference.”
Damien laughed softly.
“I’ll remember that.”
It was the first genuine laugh Aria had heard from him since they left Blackwood Estate. Seeing him smile made her realize how m
