When Lucas summoned me, hesitation wasn’t an option. I went straight away. This wasn’t about choice. It was about understanding my place in this world. Despite the bond Elijah and I shared, which felt deeper than the usual caregiver-child relationship, I knew my role here. I was just another worker, much like I had been back at the bar, but now my responsibilities stretched beyond basic labor.
Lucas’s presence was something entirely different. There was an air around him that was both commanding and intimidating, a quality that seemed to seep into every word and glance he directed at me. When he told me my place wasn’t in the kitchen, his arrogance was palpable. I wasn’t sure if his demeanor was his way with everyone or just me, but I didn’t argue. I merely nodded and left, feeling the we
