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The elevator dinged, doors opening to the penthouse foyer. His scent hit him immediately—cherry blossoms and midnight rain, drawing him like a beacon. His wolf perked up, following the trail to the family sitting room.

Ryker stopped in the doorway, breath catching at the sight before him.

Luca was curled up on the massive window-side couch, afternoon light playing across the young man’s delicate features. Two tablets balanced precariously on Luca’s lap as he worked,his slender fingers moving between them with surprising confidence.

Ryker’s wolf purred at how… right the prince looked there. No more hiding in his room, no more fleeing at the sight of them. This Luca was settled, present, absolutely captivating as he worried his lower lip with one tiny fang.

“No, no, that won’t work,” Luca muttered to himself, completely unaware of Ryker’s presence. “The lighting concept is beautiful but the models look too… We need to show the supernatural essence more…” The boy made a quick note on one tablet. “Maybe if we caught that moment when a vampire’s skin first catches starlight…”

Ryker leaned against the doorframe, content just to watch the young vampire work. Every few moments Luca would scrunch his nose in thought or tilt his head. Ryker’s wolf memorized each little gesture, treasuring these unguarded moments.

“Crystal formations would be pretty,” Luca continued his quiet monologue, “but we need something more… alive? More magical?” Another note, another adorable fang-bite to his lip. “What about that luminescent effect Sylvie mentioned…”

The prince looked so natural there, so perfectly at home, that Ryker’s wolf ached with it.

A small gasp pulled Ryker from his thoughts. Luca had finally noticed him, the young man’s lavender eyes wide with surprise, tablets nearly sliding off his lap.

“How… how long have you been standing there?” A lovely blush colored Luca’s cheeks as he scrambled to catch his work materials.

“Long enough to hear about crystal formations and luminescent effects,” Ryker said, unable to hide his smile as Luca turned an even deeper shade of pink. “Sounds more interesting than my morning of financial reports.”

“Oh God,” Luca groaned, burying his face in his hands. “You heard my weird marketing mumbling. I swear I’m not usually this… vocal about my thoughts. Well, apparently I am now, which is new and mortifying and I should probably stop talking…”

Ryker’s wolf preened at the prince’s adorable flustering. “I like hearing your thoughts,” Ryker said softly, moving into the room. “After decades of silence, your ‘weird marketing mumbling’ is… refreshing.”

Luca peeked at him through his fingers. “Refreshing like a cool breeze, or refreshing like watching a train wreck in slow motion?”

The laugh escaped before Ryker could stop it. “Definitely the first one.” He nodded toward the tablets. “Show me what you’re working on?”

“Oh! Um…” Luca glanced between his tablets and Ryker, clearly debating. “It’s just some ideas for Archer’s team. Probably silly ones. I mean, I don’t really know anything about supernatural marketing…”

“And yet you managed to hold an entire conversation with yourself about vampire luminescence,” Ryker teased, settling beside the prince on the couch. His wolf hummed with satisfaction at Luca’s lack of retreat. “Come on, sugar fang. Dazzle me with your crystal formations.”

Luca wrinkled his nose at him—an expression so unexpectedly cute Ryker’s wolf nearly whimpered. “You’re making fun of me.”

“I would never.” Ryker pressed a hand to his chest in mock offense. “I am a very serious financial officer who takes all proposals with utmost gravity.”

“Says the man who just used ‘dazzle me’ unironically.” But Luca was fighting a smile now, his shoulders relaxing. “Fine. But remember, you asked for this.”

The young vampire turned the tablet toward Ryker, and he found himself genuinely impressed. Luca’s notes were detailed, organized with a precision that appealed to Ryker’s financial mind. Sketches of lighting concepts, suggestions for supernatural models, even rough budget estimates…

“You did all this since the morning meeting?”

“I might have gotten a little… excited?” Luca tucked a strand of short black hair behind his ear, a nervous gesture that drew Ryker’s attention to the elegant line of the prince’s neck. “It’s just—everything in marketing is soserious. All dramatic shadows and intense poses. But real beauty is more… alive than that.”

Ryker’s wolf was captivated by the way Luca came alive talking about his ideas, all traces of shyness forgotten in the young man’s enthusiasm.

“You should see this over lunch,” Ryker found himself saying. “The rooftop garden has perfect lighting this time of day. We could go through the concepts there?”

Smooth, his wolf preened.Very smooth.

Luca blinked at him, clearly surprised by the invitation. “Oh! I… yes? I mean, if you’re not too busy with work…”

“Trust me.” Ryker stood, offering his hand. “This is far more interesting than acquisition reports.”

Luca’s slender hand slipped into his, and Ryker’s wolf practically purred at the contact. “I don’t know,” the prince said with a hint of mischief. “Acquisition reports sound thrilling. All those numbers. Very sexy.”

Ryker nearly choked. Did Luca Valentine just saysexy?