The grand chandelier above the gallery sparkled like a constellation, casting golden light over a room filled with whispered conversations and soft laughter. Ava Bishop stood near the edge of the crowd, her fingers curled tightly around a delicate glass of champagne. Her eyes, sharp and searching, scanned the room—not for art, but for him.
Julian Kade.
He was impossible to miss. Tall, effortlessly commanding attention with his dark, tousled hair and eyes that held both danger and a wild promise. He leaned against the marble pillar with that signature smirk—like a secret waiting to be unraveled.
For a moment, Ava's breath caught. Memories surged—electric and raw—of nights when his touch set her skin on fire, and days when his absence tore at her soul. Here he was, standing inches from her, yet worlds apart.
Their eyes met.
Time slowed.
Julian's gaze softened just a fraction as he stepped forward, closing the space between them. The hum of the party dimmed, the world narrowing to the heat between their bodies.
"Ava," he breathed, voice thick with something like regret and longing.
Her heart thundered, but she stood tall. "Julian. I didn't think you'd come."
"Wouldn't miss it." His fingers brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear—a gentle touch that sparked a wildfire in her veins.
She swallowed hard. "After everything... why?"
He searched her eyes, vulnerability flickering beneath his usual bravado. "Because some things are worth risking everything for."
The tension was electric, palpable—a dance of two souls dangerously close to breaking apart or coming together.
Ava's lips parted, but before she could answer, the room shifted. A sharp voice sliced through the air, followed by the sudden arrival of menacing figures pushing through the crowd.
Chaos erupted.
Julian's hand slid from her hair to her waist, pulling her protectively close. "Stay with me."
Her head rested against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart—a steady she could cling to amid the storm.
In that moment, amid danger and uncertainty, Ava knew one truth: the darkness they both carried was entwined, and no force could sever the thread that bound them.