Chapter 24 ARIA
ARIA'S POV
Nyra and I were beginning to learn the rhythms of this house.
By late morning, the kitchen was always warm, always filled with the smell of something sweet Josie had baked “just because the triplets asked.” By midday, sunlight spilled lazily across the living room, catching dust motes in the air like tiny sparkles. I’d never lived anywhere that felt so… soft. So lived-in. So safe.
I helped Josie fold the tiny laundry, how could children this small generate so many clothes? while Elias sat on my lap, occasionally handing me a sock in the wrong color set and looking very proud of himself.
“You’re a big helper,” I whispered to him.
“Uh-huh,” he said with his little serious face, leaning fully against me like I belonged here.
Something warm bloomed in my chest.
Sofia chattered endlessly about a story she read in school, Lila corrected her facts in that calm, older-sister tone that always made me smile and wonder how they were so different despite being triplets and Josie hummed as she cooked a light lunch.
It felt like a life I’d accidentally stepped into…
And shockingly, it wasn’t suffocating.
It was… comforting.
I helped feed Elias, because of course he demanded I do it–as always--and when I wiped a bit of oats off his cheek, Josie looked at me with this soft, knowing smile.
“You’re good with them,” she said.
“I like them,” I admitted before I could stop myself.
And Nyra purred.
“You like this whole place, admit it.”
“I do not.”
“You do. You adore it. Look at you, smiling like a dandelion in sunlight…”
“Dandelion? Really?”
“Shh. You love it here. And you know why.”
I refused to answer that.
But the truth stayed warm in my chest.
Lucian.
Lucian was the reason this house didn’t feel foreign or intimidating.
Lucian was the reason I wasn’t anxious.
Lucian was…
The front door opened. Heavy footsteps. Tension radiating before I even saw him.
Lucian walked into the house looking like he’d carried the entire pack on his shoulders. His jaw was clenched, his hair was messed from running his hands through it, and though he offered everyone a polite smile…
He looked tired.
Not physically. Emotionally.
“Welcome back,” Josie greeted warmly.
He nodded, but his eyes found mine immediately–like it was instinct–and he tried, truly tried, to soften his expression for me.
“Hi,” I said quietly.
His shoulders dropped a little. “Hi, sweetheart.”
But even his smile didn’t reach his eyes.
He exchanged a few polite words with Josie before excusing himself, clearly intent on heading up to his room.
Nyra nudged me sharply.
“Follow him. Now.”
“He said he wanted to rest..”
“And you can see he’s troubled. Go.”
I didn’t even argue. My feet were moving before I understood I’d stood up.
I hurried up the stairs and gently pushed open his bedroom door…
…and immediately froze.
Lucian stood in the middle of the room wearing nothing but a pair of grey boxer briefs. His broad back was to me, muscles shifting as he ran a towel through his damp hair. Water dripped down the line of his spine. Droplets slid over the carved muscles of his torso. His skin was still flushed from the shower, his breaths deep and slow like he was trying to calm himself.
Nyra’s voice vanished.
My thoughts vanished.
My soul vanished.
He turned slightly, just enough for me to see the side of his chest, the ridges of muscle, the V-shaped dip of his hips disappearing…
Nyra inhaled sharply.
“Oh… oh we are in trouble.”
I didn’t move.
I couldn’t.
He finally noticed me standing there.
“Aria?” His voice was soft, gentle, careful. “Sweetheart… you okay?”
I didn’t answer.
Because my entire body felt like it had been set on fire.
Heat pooled under my skin.
Every breath felt like velvet.
Every sound was too loud.
Every heartbeat too slow.
And his scent…fresh soap, pine, and the warmth of him…wrapped around me like a physical pull.
My feet moved on their own.
One step.
Then another.
And another.
Until I was right in front of him, looking up at him like I had no idea why I was there.
He frowned slightly. “Aria? What’s wrong?”
“I…” My voice broke. I swallowed. “I… don’t know.”
His gaze softened with concern, but before he could step back, my hand rose and pressed against his chest.
Hot. Hard. Solid.
Lucian inhaled sharply.
“Sweetheart…”
I didn’t let him finish.
His lips moved, maybe to ask what I was doing but the moment I saw them move, my vision blurred around the edges.
I leaned up and kissed him.
Not soft.
Not shy.
Not careful.
I kissed him like something inside me snapped free.
Lucian froze.
For half a second.
Then he made a sound low, deep, almost pained and his hand slid to the back of my neck as he kissed me back, matching my urgency. The world dropped away. I pressed closer, heat coiling and climbing, instinct screaming louder than reason.
His breath hitched against my mouth.
“Aria… wait…”
But I didn’t.
I couldn’t.
I wanted him.
I needed him.
My fingers slid up, over his shoulders, into his damp hair. His hand tightened around my waist, pulling me impossibly closer. The kiss deepened until I was dizzy, until my legs trembled, until I was certain I would burn up if he stopped…
But he did.
Suddenly.
Firm hands on my arms, holding me away from him.
“Aria,” he breathed, voice rough. “Sweetheart… what’s wrong?”
“I…” My head spun. “I don’t… know. I just–I don’t know what’s happening…”
I leaned forward instinctively, chasing his lips again, but he held me steady.
“No. Aria, look at me.” His voice lowered, strong and steady. “Something’s off. Tell me what you feel.”
I blinked.
The haze began to separate.
My breathing slowed.
And realization…horrifying, undeniable…poured over me.
Nyra exhaled.
“Finally. Took you long enough.”
“Nyra. Please tell me this isn't what I think it is?”
A pause.
Then her voice, grim and absolutely certain:
“it is. It’s our heat.”
My stomach dropped.
My eyes widened.
“Oh… shit.”