Valerie was caught off guard so abruptly that for a moment she simply stood there, her thoughts stalling mid-motion as if someone had pulled the ground from under her feet. The easy rhythm of her conversation with Lucas dissolved without warning, replaced by a tension that crept into the space between them like something alive.
"I don't tell my wife to steer clear of inconsequential trivialities."
The voice came from behind her, calm and even, but there was a quiet authority in it that made the surrounding chatter feel distant in comparison.
Both of them turned.
Azrael stood just close enough to make his presence undeniable, his gaze gliding over Lucas with a detached, almost dismissive coolness before settling on Valerie. Without asking, without hesitation, his arm slid around her waist and pulled her into him, firm and unyielding, his touch grounding and possessive at the same time.
"Uncle."
