Mara
Lucian was still tense about the attack, and honestly, so was I. I couldn’t believe we survived. The goddess must be preserving us for a reason, because those men had every opportunity to end us. They didn’t. That alone felt like a miracle.
Lucian’s anger was justified. I knew using a cab was his way of staying unpredictable—his quiet attempt to keep us safe. Still, the weight of what could’ve happened lingered.
When Darian came to see me, I was cautious. Not because I feared him, but because I knew Lucian didn’t like it when I got too close to his brother. Even though he had let him in, I knew boundaries mattered. And Darian... he made it hard to keep those lines clear.
He approached slowly, the usual confidence gone from his step. His eyes were red, his expression strained.
“Ma
