Lucian
I was relieved Alaric had finally responded. At least now, the waiting was over. As much as I wanted to be the one to face him—to be the one who ended this—I knew it wasn’t my fight to take.
This was personal for my father. Deeper than revenge. It was about reclaiming everything Alaric had tried to destroy.
I watched from the corner of the lounge as my father stood by the window, seething in silence, fists clenched. Martha had calmed down, though her eyes were still red. She moved toward him slowly and wrapped her arms around him from behind, resting her head against his back.
“Don’t risk your life for me, Vander,” she whispered, her voice tight with fear. “Please.
Reconsider. You’ve already been through too much.”
His body tensed, but his voice was soft. “Do you have so litt
