Ava barely slept that night.
Lucien's presence still lingered in the room long after he left—like a shadow she couldn't escape. Every time she closed her eyes, she remembered the way his fingers brushed her waist, the low growl of his voice when he said he would protect her.
It made her heart race.
And it terrified her.
Morning light spilled through the curtains when a knock sounded on the door.
Ava froze.
Her pulse jumped into her throat.
Lucien had warned her. Do not open the door for anyone.
But the knock came again.
Slow. Patient.
Her hand trembled as she approached the door.
"Who is it?" she called.
Silence.
Then a deep voice spoke from the other side.
"Room service."
Her stomach twisted.
She hadn't ordered anything.
Before she could react, her phone buzzed in her hand.
A message.
Lucien:
Don't open it.
Ava stepped back immediately.
Her heart hammered violently.
"How—how does he always know?" she whispered.
The knocking stopped.
Silence swallowed the hallway.
Then footsteps slowly walked away.
Ava sank onto the couch, breathing hard.
Minutes later, the door unlocked.
Lucien stepped inside.
He looked different today—darker somehow. His black shirt clung to his muscular frame, sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal strong forearms. His jaw was tight, eyes sharp with anger.
"You almost opened the door," he said.
It wasn't a question.
Ava crossed her arms defensively. "I didn't."
His gaze softened slightly, but the tension in his body didn't fade.
"That man wasn't room service," Lucien said quietly.
"Then who was he?"
Lucien walked closer.
Too close.
The air between them grew thick with heat.
"He was sent to confirm whether you were alive," Lucien said. "And if necessary…"
He stopped.
Ava swallowed.
"To finish the job."
A chill ran down her spine.
"Why are they after me?" she whispered.
Lucien studied her face carefully, as if searching for something.
"You found something," he said. "Something powerful people would kill to keep buried."
"But I don't remember anything!"
His eyes darkened.
"I know."
A moment of silence stretched between them.
Then Lucien's hand lifted slowly.
His fingers brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
The gentle touch made Ava's breath catch.
"You will remember eventually," he murmured.
His thumb lightly traced the curve of her cheek.
"And when you do…"
His voice lowered.
"Everything will change."