Lucian knew something was wrong before the message even reached him.
It was not instinct in the dramatic sense. Nothing sharp or sudden. Just a quiet absence where something should have been. Julian normally answered his phone. Even when he was irritated. Even when he pretended he did not want to talk.
Tonight there had been nothing.
Lucian stood near the long table in the private room while two of his people discussed something that had already stopped holding his attention. The words faded into the background as his thoughts circled the same quiet detail again.
Julian had not answered.
The door opened.
Arden Vale entered without hesitation.
Lucian looked up immediately.
Arden rarely interrupted meetings unless the matter required it.
That alone was enough.
The vampires at the table noticed the shift in Lucian's attention and fell silent.
Arden stopped a few steps inside the room.
"Report," Lucian said.
Arden did not waste time.
