Unexpected Visit

You all blew me away yesterday! What an amazing first contracted day for the book. <3 Thank you so much to those of you who bestowed upon me the honor of your golden tickets and gifts - I got teary eyed many times lol. I did not expect that! And - major wow - thank you to DespinaNY for your incredibly generous gift. I am humbled. Each reader who silently reads in the background is honestly a gift, and then to have anything extra... I just don't know what to say. I would dedicate this chapter to you, DespinaNY, but it doesn't feel right to dedicate a chapter with a trigger warning. So I won't do that. But know that I am truly touched. <3

***

[trigger warning - threat of assault]

"Surprised to see me?" Marius asked, walking through the doorway for August to back away. "Oh don't look so frightened. You were the one who left me bleeding out last time we met, remember? What a cute little love nest you two have here." Marius looked around him thoughtfully with his hands behind his back.