The elevator closed with a metallic sound that seemed to seal more than just the doors—it seemed to lock away my thoughts, my emotions, and above all, my sanity. I was alone, or at least I thought so. My chest rose and fell rapidly, as if my heart were fighting to escape my body. The air in the small space felt dense, charged with something I couldn't explain but that enveloped me like a second skin.
My fingers fidgeted with the hem of my dress, an almost unconscious gesture that betrayed my nervousness. Damian... His name echoed in my mind, but not clearly. It was like a distant echo, a shadow that blurred in the face of a much more imposing presence. I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself, but then I felt it: that scent. Woody, wild, with a dark note that I couldn't identify but that made me shiver.
I opened my eyes suddenly, and there he was.
Lucian.
