Lucian stared at the woman standing before him, his brows tightening as he tried… desperately to piece together what was happening. Her posture, her tone, the cold amusement in her eyes… none of it belonged to Seraphina.
"Miss me?" she teased with a smirk, her head tilting even further.
"Ah… it's been a hell of a century…" She inhaled deeply, as if savoring the air she hadn't breathed in ages.
Something snapped inside Lucian.
Before she could exhale, Lucian moved. The world blurred for a heartbeat as he surged forward, his hand closing around her throat and slamming her back against the icy wall.
"Who are you?!"
The impact echoed sharply in the cold chamber. Frost rippled along the wall behind her. His grip trembled, pure instinct and panic but even as he held her, even as anger flared in his veins…
He felt the warmth of her skin.
Seraphina's skin.
And the strength in his fingers faltered.
