Maybe it was the urgency in my voice or the way I called her Kristen instead of my usual Kris, but whatever it was, my best friend nodded and quickly followed me to the corner of the living room in her family’s suite.

“What is it, Ave?” Kris put one hand on my arm and rubbed her thumb up and down, her way of telling me that no matter how dire the situation was, she would be there for me.

Before I could continue, Kris’s parents, Kristov and Jane Ambrosia, walked in. I gave Kris a nudge. I whispered, “Did I come at the wrong time?”

“Not really,” she whispered back. “Domenico’s having dinner with us, that’s all.”

I had come at the wrong time. I had totally forgotten Kris had mentioned that Domenico would be meeting her parents tonight.

“Avery, dear, Kristen told us you were coming. I had Augusta cook an extra portion,” Jane said, motioning for both of us to join them. “Come. Dinner’s ready.” Jane moved to the dining room, closely followed by her husband.

“We can talk after.” Domenico trailed after Kris’s parents, looking far too eager to win over his future in-laws. My chest grew tight; he looked every bit like Carlo. My nightmare came flooding back to me and I wondered if I would ever get used to seeing Domenico without thinking about Carlo.

“Are you sure it can wait?”

I wasn’t sure, but I also didn’t have the heart to ruin this important dinner. “Yeah. I’m sorry; I totally forgot.”

“No need to apologize! I’m glad you’re here. It makes me less nervous about the whole situation.”

Once settled next to Kris at the table, I noticed Vlad wasn’t here. The dinner wasn’t formal, but it wasn’t normal either. Jane and Kristov spent more time asking Domenico questions than they did paying attention to the food in front of them. Frankly, I was convinced they were better interrogators than the Court Guards. But Domenico had made it through most of the parental interrogation by the time our second course was served, and Jane and Kristov were warming up to him.

“So, Domenico, tell me—” Kristov’s millionth question was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening and closing, and footsteps approaching. Domenico seized the opportunity to take a large gulp of water.

A moment later, Vlad, wearing a dark-brown, nearly black trench coat, slid into the room. “My apologies for being late. The trial lasted longer than I thought. And I had to help out the lawyer.” He moved next to Jane and planted a kiss on her cheek, causing her to smile instantly.

“No matter, dear, as long as you’re here with us now. I really don’t like how you have to travel back and forth. Can’t you arrange to just work from here for the rest of December?”