Aria’s POV
“If he doesn’t want you… maybe I do.”
I turned slowly, my breath catching in my throat. The voice was smooth, deep, and taunting. The kind that sent shivers down your spine before you even saw the person speaking.
And when I did see him, I felt the air in my lungs leave me.
He stood there like he belonged to the darkness itself—tall, draped in black, and utterly breathtaking. His posture was relaxed, almost lazy, yet his presence filled the entire room like a storm about to break. His dark hair was slightly messy, falling over sharp, defined features that made my heart stutter.
Then there were his eyes.
Piercing, knowing, filled with an amusement that sent my pulse racing.
I didn’t know who he was. But the way Kian tensed beside me, the way Danielle’s smug expression flickered with uncertainty—I could tell he wasn’t just anyone.
Still, I wasn’t about to stand around and let another man play with my emotions. Not after what had just happened.
I swallowed, tearing my gaze away. “I don’t know who you are, but I have no interest in being mocked again tonight.” My voice came out steadier than I expected, but I refused to let him see how much his presence affected me.
He chuckled—a deep, velvety sound that did things to my already frayed nerves. “Mocked?” His head tilted slightly as if he found my words amusing. “Who said I was mocking you?”
I stepped sideways, ready to escape, but in the blink of an eye, he was in front of me again, blocking my path. My heart jumped. I hadn’t even seen him move.
“Where are you running off to, little one?” he murmured, his voice dripping with amusement.
I stiffened. Little one?
I met his gaze again, ignoring the way my stomach twisted under his scrutiny. “I need to get back to work,” I said firmly, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. “Just please, get out of my way.”
He didn’t.
Instead, his smirk deepened. “You’re shaking.”
That was it. I was done playing games. I stepped to the side again, determined to get the hell out of there. This time, he let me go. I didn’t wait around to see his reaction—I bolted toward the exit, my heart slamming against my ribs.
Lila was right behind me, her breath coming fast. We didn’t stop until we were safely inside our shared room, the door slamming shut behind us.
Silence stretched between us.
I turned to Lila, expecting her to say something—anything—but she just stared at me. Mouth open. Eyes wide.
Then, without warning, she smacked my arm.
“OW!” I yelped, rubbing the spot she’d hit. “What the hell was that for?!”
“Do you even know who that was?” she hissed, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me slightly.
I blinked. “No. And I don’t care.”
Lila’s jaw dropped. “Girk, that was Lucian.”
The name didn’t ring a bell. I frowned. “Yeah. And?”
Lila groaned, like she couldn’t believe I was this clueless. “Lucian. Kian’s half-brother.”
My stomach dropped. I stared at her, waiting for her to say she was joking. But the look in her eyes told me everything I needed to know.