AureliaThe familiar path leading back to my childhood house felt a little strange. Perhaps it was because it had been a few weeks—months, even—since I had last been here.The heavy, black armored SUV purred to a stop in front of my mother’s modest home, instantly followed by two other security cars. Before the engine had even fully died, the doors flew open, and a sea of dark-suited men swarmed the driveway, discreetly marking the perimeter.I looked out the window, a soft, helpless smile spreading across my lips. A few weeks ago, the sight of these towering, armed men would have terrified me, trapping me in a cage of anxiety. But today? Today, it felt like a fortress built purely to keep me safe."Stay close to me, little swan," Lucien murmured, his deep, rumbling voice vibrating against my ear as his large hand settled securely at the small of my back.I looked up at his dark, piercing eyes. He seemed completely different from the Lucien I had spent my time with these past wee
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