**CHAPTER FIFTEEN: New Year**

~Zella's Point of View~

The penthouse was very quiet.

Outside, Paris was doing what Paris does on New Year's Eve: being dramatic about it, with lights, noise, and that particular energy of a city that took the celebrations seriously and had the architecture to back it up. Inside, there was only the sound of Brynn's door opening, and then nothing.

Evander stared at the door.

I watched him looking at the door.

Neither of them spoke for a moment. Then he moved toward