hing tones of a live orchestra blended with the murmur of affluent patrons sharing pleasantries and laughing. With a big bouquet of hydrangeas and white lilies

ell-dressed guests' sporadic sidelong glances. She didn't think she belonged here, and this wasn't her world. Her attentio

interrupted her thoug

ulately clothed in a black suit that seemed to accentuate his broad shoulders and authoritative prese

lection of their last meeting came flooding back to her, causing her heart to pound

oses in her arms, he questione

angement a bit. "At work. Not everyone has the opp

ips. "I wouldn't exact

out before she could reply. "

s curled into a smile that stopped short of her eyes, and her dark hair was swept up in an intricate

ase, but Tessa couldn't help but n

en about me," in a light voice that had a harsh edge. Her

" in a steady voice. "She is

ike her teeth were showing. "How beautiful. Don'

ed aside before the discussion could proceed, saying, "Pardon me." She could s

a as she was setting up the last centerpiece. Tessa nearly

ne, "You have quite the talent." "The

as her fingers went back to work. "This

ing on the flowers. Seeing someone so devoted to their

rection of this, Tessa

ion is commendable. However, commitment can occasionally result i

s she straightened. "What y

s managed to draw attention to himself. However, not everyone is able to cope with the fallout from being

taining her composure in spite of the uneasiness that was

, of course. However, I would advise you not to become overly co

bloody path in her wake. With a tight chest from a mix of fear and ra

Tessa close to the bouquets. He didn't need to, but the commotion of the crowd drowned out th

, resisting the impulse to charge Gabrielle across the room right then. She

d him glanced at him as he walked across the room in great steps. As he came closer,

for only she to hear him

in her eyes. "I'm all right. Gab

enched. "What wa

oom. Nothing significant. Just a fri

now laughing with a group of customers, her expression as composed as ever. His tone was stern

reciatively. "Thank you. However,

physical stiffness persisted. "I'm sure you can. Howev

trifying mood. Still reeling from Gabrielle's previous warning, Tessa hovered around one of the flower arrangements, arranging pet

dor of danger in the air, strong enough to make his muscles tense, and the gathering had gotten denser. His senses heightening, he looked around the room once more before f

ntion narrowed as he carefully put it down. With a shift, the man reached into his

r head, their gazes locked, and a chill of fear scuttled through her. His eyes had a predator

tion, "Tessa." In a moment, he was beside her, putting h

d the man's wrist in the middle of his swing and twisted it so violently that the blade clattered to the ground. Lucas was quicker than

peed overpowered the hunter, and he moved with an almost unnatural precision. In a matt

cas sent out a low

tsteps coming. Security personnel were running in their direction, their faces displaying a mixture of be

d said calmly, "He attack

man to his feet. Lucas's eyes softened as he turned to

still shaking, she nodded.

e paused. At last, he said, "Someone who shouldn't h

ndow, Tessa's mind was racing with thoughts of bewilderment, anxiety, and something more she couldn't quit

ilence by saying,

ed, "You... you didn't even hesitate." "You did it as

eyes on the road. He said cautiously, "I've dealt with dangerous pe

ude... He was more than simply a

precise moment. At last, he stated, "It's complicated."

're withholding something from me. I take it

d of what she could discover, but she needed to demand answers. She couldn't help but be drawn to him in

His golden eyes searched hers as he gazed at her. "Tessa, I swear to you...

g or demanding the truth. Reluctantly, she nodded an

nish inside the house. He drove away after linger

The sound of Tessa's shoes reverberated in the deserted hallway as she went back to fetch a forgott

ll with stars and moons. A crescent moon shone in the center, its edges dotted with elaborate

symbol on her palm. Fragments of memories came flooding back to her, including voic

real." However, the symbol and the indisputable

pounded. She touched the mural, and it hummed as if it knew who sh

ing that this was