Alina's POV
"No," I repeated, staring at him as the finality of his tone sank in.
"Yes, Alina," he insisted, his jaw tightening.
"Why not? I mean, Aiden won't have a problem with it," I argued, trying to make him see reason.
Lucian let out a sharp, bitter scoff. "Are you being serious right now, Alina? We can't be around that man. We aren't wanted or needed over there, so we aren't coming. It's that simple," he said, his tone dropping into a dangerously stern register.
"Come on, Lucian. Please do this for Leo," I pleaded, taking a step closer and looking up at him. "You love him like he's your own son, right?"
"Yes, I do love him," Lucian countered immediately, his expression softening for a fraction of a second before hardening again. "But I don't love those people. And Aiden probably only wants us over there because he has other, hidden plans for us."
