"Yes, Your Highness," Lucia replied, bowing her head slightly with practiced grace.
Ava frowned softly, waving her hand. "No, don't call me that. The title belongs to Zoe now. I'm just… Luna Ava. Or Ava."
Lucia cracked a shy smile. "Yes, Luna Ava."
That earned a soft chuckle. "Close enough. Now, what do you need a rope for?"
"Alpha Lucas requested it."
"Is he in there?"
"Yes, Luna."
"Alright. Oh, before I forget…would you ask Zoe to join me for tea on the terrace later?"
Lucia gave a graceful nod, then glided off, disappearing down the corridor.
Ava turned the knob, pushing open the doors. "Hey, husband," she called with a smile that already softened the room.
"Hey, wife," came Lucas's muffled reply, his voice partially buried beneath a fortress of aged documents and dusty ledgers. He paused in his task and pulled her into a warm hug.
She melted into his chest, and he instinctively dropped a kiss onto her belly. "How's the little one doing?" he murmured.
