Lucian was not alone when Victoria Henderson entered the room.
The conversation he had been having stopped immediately when the door opened. That alone would have told anyone familiar with the room that her arrival mattered.
Victoria did not rush inside.
She stepped in calmly, closing the door behind her with the quiet certainty of someone who did not need permission to enter.
Lucian glanced toward her.
The movement was small, but everyone else in the room noticed it.
That was enough.
The two vampires who had been speaking with him moments earlier rose almost at the same time.
Neither of them argued.
Neither of them asked questions.
They simply excused themselves and left.
The door closed again.
Now the room was quiet.
Victoria walked farther inside, removing her gloves slowly as she did.
"You're working late again," she said.
Lucian leaned back slightly in his chair.
"That suggests you came here for a social visit."
Victoria placed the gloves on the table.
