They stepped inside, and the atmosphere shifted instantly.
The dining room was bright and warm, sunlight catching on polished stone and soft gold accents. The long table that had been set for four was simple, elegant, and unmistakably arranged by someone who wanted things perfect without looking like he was trying too hard.
Dax was already seated at the head of the table.
He wasn't wearing a crown, or his mantle, or anything particularly dramatic, just a fitted black shirt and dark slacks that somehow made him look even more dangerous in the morning light. His posture was relaxed, one arm resting on the table, but his attention snapped to Chris the second he walked in.
And there it was, the softening of his expression.
The barely-there smile.
The subtle shift in the air was like the whole room was adjusting to him.
Chris resisted the urge to throw something at him.
Dax's eyes flicked briefly toward Andrew and Mia, assessing them without judgment.
