The inner sanctum was a world away from the sterile brightness of the main atelier. Here, the lighting was amber and recessed, casting long, velvet shadows across walls lined with thousands of amber-glass bottles. The air was heavy, a thick tapestry of sandalwood, old parchment, and something metallic that hinted at the chemical experiments occurring within. A single, oversized leather chaise lounge sat in the center of the room
The leather chaise lounge sat in the center of the room, a dark island in a sea of amber light. Lucian waited, his pulse a steady, rhythmic thrum in his ears. He had spent the last twenty-four hours in a fever of creation, mixing, distilling, and refining. He hadn't slept. He had only breathed her.
The door opened. Aria stepped in, wearing a thin, cream-colored d
