Blair woke to the smell of coffee and the sound of someone humming badly off-key two floors down, and for one disoriented moment thought she was home before she remembered whose home this actually was.Nicoletta was already at the stove when she came down, still humming, waving a wooden spoon at the chair across the counter without turning around. "Sit. Eat. You slept later than I expected — that's a good sign, actually. Means your body finally believed you were safe enough to stop keeping watch.""I didn't realize I was that obvious.""You weren't, to most people." Nicoletta set a plate down, considering. "I've just had a great deal of practice reading people who've learned not to relax around a room."Blair didn't ask how she knew what that looked like. Something about the flat, practical way Nicoletta said it made it clear the answer wouldn't be a comfortable one, and this morning, comfortable was exactly what Blair wanted to hold onto a little longer."Where's Alessandro?""Making
Last Updated : 2026-09-07 Read more