When I opened it, he was there-impossibly put-together in dark jeans and a black shirt, his hair just slightly mussed like he’d run his hands through it on the way over.
“You’re ready?” he asked, his voice clipped but not unfriendly.
I swung my bag over my shoulder, tugging my suitcase behind me. “Almost.”
He took the bag from me without asking, slinging it over his own shoulder as though it weighed nothing, then he reached down and snatched the suitcase out of my hand too.
He pulled my luggage behind him as I locked up.
“We’ll be flying straight to Nassau on the jet,” he said calmly, like trips to tropical islands on billion-dollar private jets made for normal conversation. “The trip will take five and a half, six hours, tops. From there, we’ll take the yacht instead of the seaplane. There are too many variables…”
My head was ducked as he continued rattling off logistics, staring at Lucian’s name in my phone.
He hadn’t called me back or replied to my texts, and I didn’t know if the churning feeling in my stomach was worry for him or anger that I was being ignored.
But he wouldn’t do that, right? Lucian wasn’t that type of??/p>
“Hey!” My eyes widened, and indignation ran through me as Kieran snatched my phone out of my hand.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Kieran’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly as his eyes darted across my screen, reading the unanswered texts, no doubt.
When he was done, he snorted and tossed my phone back at me. “What a dick.”
I caught the phone and threw a glare at Kieran. “He’s not a dick.”
He folded his arms against the trunk of his Escalade, a brow arched. “Yet, he’s ignoring your messages and calls. What kind of boyf-” The rest of the words seemed to hook in his throat, and his jaw clenched.
“First, I had to be the one to save you from the rogue attack, and now this. Maybe Lucian
Reed’s not as reliable as you think.”
“He’s reliable!” I snapped. “Have you forgotten that he was fighting rogues of his own?”
He shrugged, one brow lifting. “Okay. What’s your excuse for now? Maybe he’s not as reliable as you think.”
“It’s not like it’s a life-or-death situation,” I said sharply. “And I don’t measure people’s worth by whether they drop everything the moment I call.”
His lips curved-not in amusement, but in something closer to irritation. “You defend him like he’s some paragon of loyalty.”
“Because he’s been good to me,” I said, my voice steady. “And that’s more than I can say for some people.”
The subtext didn’t go unnoticed, and the air between us grew taut, the kind of tension that didn’t need raised voices to make itself known.
Kieran’s hand flexed on the strap of my bag, his gaze cutting away as though to keep from saying something he might regret.
I scrambled for something to say to ease the tension. We hadn’t even started the trip, and we were already bumping heads.
But whatever I would have said was drowned out by the deep, throaty rumble of an engine reaching us.
Kieran and I both snapped our heads in its direction, and my relief escaped as a breathy laugh.
A sleek red car rolled up the drive, its glossy surface catching the morning light.
Lucian’s car.
SERAPHINA’S POV
A mix of relief and nervous anticipation lifted my chest as Lucian stepped out of his car and moved towards me with that effortless stride of his, all measured precision and calm confidence.
“Sera,” he said, and the familiar warmth of his voice made me momentarily forget the tension that had been looming between me and Kieran.
I barely had time to respond before he closed the distance, and I could see the apology already there in his eyes.
“I’m sorry I didn’t reach you sooner,” Lucian said quickly, almost stumbling over the words. “
I had to take an out-of-town trip for pack business the past couple of days, and just got back this morning. I-“
He stopped, clearing his throat. “I should have let you know. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
Relief flooded through me so fast it felt dizzying. “Lucian… It’s okay,” I said, my voice soft. “
Really. I was just worried because I hadn’t heard from you, that’s all. I understand you’re busy.”
I gave him a reassuring smile as his gaze lingered on me, steady with the weight of his concern and sincerity.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, almost an answering smile, but not quite. He ran a hand over his jaw and nodded. “I just…I should have told you. I know that doesn’t excuse the silence.”
I shook my head. “You’re forgiven,” I said. “I was worried, yes, but I understand that you’re busy.”
“Not too busy for you,” he countered.
Kieran’s low scoff cut through the moment like a scythe.
I turned my head sharply to see him still leaning against his car, arms folded, looking every bit as infuriating as ever.
“Sorry,” he said, not sounding he least bit apologetic. “I’m just having a hard time understanding your excuse.” His dark eyes were trained on Lucian. “Were you on a business trip in another dimension? In space? Under the sea? Some distant floating island with no cell service?”
I gritted my teeth, forcing calm to cool the anger only Kieran Blackthorne could ignite in
“Kieran,” I said carefully, “can you wait for me in the car? I’ll be just a minute.”
He raised a disbelieving brow, and he looked like he was about to argue, but I didn’t give him the chance.
I turned my back to him and gave Lucian my attention. This was the last time I would see him in a while, and I wasn’t about to let Kieran ruin the moment.
Lucian shifted slightly, his eyes flicking over my shoulder before drawing back to me.
“Uhm…” He cleared his throat and took my hand, pulling me gently towards his car.
I flinched slightly at the thunderous sound of Kieran slamming his door.
I took a deep breath, exhaling through my nose as Lucian opened the back door of his car to reveal a large, neatly wrapped package taking up his backseat.
“I got you something,” he said, voice low. “A parting gift. It’s for you and Daniel, actually.
Something to help you two bond.”
“Oh, Lucian,” I whispered, drawing my gaze away from the present to look at him. “This is lovely, thank you, but,”-I didn’t miss the way he stiffened at the conjunction-“Kieran asked that I travel light.”
When he arched a brow, I rushed to explain. “It’s all part of the security protocols to avoid exposing Daniel’s location.”
“Right,” Lucian drew out, closing the car door.
“But thank you, really,” I said, feeling awful. “Maybe we can use it when Daniel comes back”
“Yeah,” he exhaled, nodding. “Sure.”
Then his gaze softened, searching my face. “Look, Sera, Kieran was right. I didn’t go anywhere without cell reception.”
My breath stilled. “Then why didn’t you answer my calls or text me back?”
He exhaled heavily. “I was in my.head a lot this trip, berating myself.”
I frowned. “Why?”
He answered my question with another question. “Sera, did I let you down last time? With the rogues, I mean?”
“No,” I answered immediately, reaching for him. “Why would you think that?”
He shook his head. “I should have been the one to save you-“
“You did save me,” I said. “You took on all those rogues at the restaurant. You saved me back at my father’s funeral, and you’ve been saving me ever since. You gave me OTS, new friends…” I drew closer. “You.”
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