Maeve’s POV…
Lucian’s words hung in the air between us… “And that’s why I’m here.”
I didn’t know what to do with them. I didn’t know what to do with him.
He stayed standing at the other end of the room, framed by the low light from the window. His shadow stretched across the floorboards, reaching almost to where I sat on the edge of the bed. He looked… conflicted, maybe even tired — though his posture still held that quiet dominance I was slowly learning was part of who he was.
I fiddled with my fingers, feeling a strange pull of tension that wasn’t entirely uncomfortable. “What happened earlier today?” I asked quietly, my voice breaking the silence. “Everyone seemed to be in a frenzy.”
For a moment, I thought he wasn’t going to answer. He looked away, jaw tightening slightly, eyes un
