Aria had almost reached the door when courage reckless and uninvited rose in her chest.
"My king," she said softly.
Lucien paused and stared at her.
She swallowed. "How did you know something was wrong in the palace?" Her fingers tightened in her sleeves. "And how did you know I… saw something?"
Silence followed.
Then Lucien turned slowly, his expression unreadable.
"You are either very brave," he said calmly, "or very foolish."
Aria lowered her gaze immediately. "I meant no disrespect."
"No," Lucien replied. "You meant curiosity."
He studied her for a moment longer, then gestured toward the far side of the chamber. "Come."
Her heart skipped, but she obeyed.
Lucien crossed to a tall arched window veiled by dark velvet curtains. With a flick of his fingers, the fabric drew back.
Outside, the sky was pale with approaching dawn.
He spoke without looking at her.
"When I am away," Lucien said, "my palace does not sleep."
He extended his hand.
At first, Aria saw nothing.
Then the shadows near the ceiling shifted.
Something detached itself from the darkness and glided down silently.
Aria gasped before she could stop herself.
It was a creature of night—part bat, part raven, its wings vast and leathery, feathers black as ink along its spine. Its eyes glowed a soft, intelligent crimson. It landed gracefully on Lucien's arm, folding its wings with regal precision.
"This," Lucien said, "is Noctis."
The creature tilted its head, regarding Aria with unsettling awareness.
"He sees what guards overlook," Lucien continued. "Hears what servants whisper. He is bound to me."
Aria's pulse quickened. "He… told you?"
Lucien's mouth curved faintly. "He showed me."
He lifted his arm slightly, and the creature emitted a low, resonant sound not a cry, but something closer to a memory. For a brief moment, Aria's vision blurred.
She saw flashes.
Carriages. Chains. Guards shifting positions. A small figure watching from above.
Herself.
Aria staggered back, breath shallow.
Lucien steadied her without thinking—his hand briefly gripping her arm before he released her as though burned.
"Noctis saw you," Lucien said quietly. "Not interfering. Not running. Watching."
The creature leapt back into the shadows, vanishing as though it had never existed.
"I knew then," Lucien continued, "that something was wrong. And that you were in the middle of it."
Aria's voice trembled despite her effort to control it. "I didn't mean to be."
"I know," Lucien said.
That answer surprised her.
He stepped closer, his tone sharpening slightly. "You are careful. Quiet. You avoid attention. Which means when you do draw it, it is never by accident."
Aria pressed her lips together.
Lucien studied her face—her fear, her restraint, the way she stood as though bracing for impact even now.
"You ask how I knew," he said. "The better question is why you risked being seen at all."
She hesitated, then answered honestly. "Because someone had to notice."
For a long moment, Lucien said nothing.
Then, faint amusement touched his eyes.
"Do you know what that makes you?" he asked.
Aria shook her head.
"A liability," Lucien said smoothly. "And an asset."
Her heart sank and lifted all at once.
"You will not investigate further," he continued. "That is my command."
"Yes, my king," she said quickly.
"But," he added, watching her closely, "you will tell me if you see anything. Even if you think it insignificant."
She nodded.
Lucien turned away, signaling the end of the conversation. "You may go."
Aria bowed deeply and left the chamber, her thoughts racing.
Behind her, Lucien glanced up toward the shadows once more.
"Noctis," he murmured.
Red eyes flickered briefly above.
"She's closer to the truth than she realizes."
The creature's wings rustled softly almost like laughter.