Dawn broke over the French Alps not with sunlight, but with a cold, bruised-gray light that seeped through the pine branches. The howling wind had finally died down to a low, mournful whistle.
Elara woke to the deep, steady rhythm of Lucian’s heartbeat against her cheek. She was completely cocooned in the oversized parka and his massive arms. Despite the freezing air outside their small cave, she was incredibly warm.
Then, she felt it. A low, vibrating growl rumbling deep in Lucian’s chest.
His eyes were open, fixed on the white expanse beyond their shelter. The amber in his irises was burning bright, tracking a sound her human ears couldn’t yet pick up.
"Lucian?" she whispered, her voice rough with sleep.
"They're here," he murmured. He didn't sound panicked. He sounded like a king w
