Lucian's POV
"What the fuck did you put in that cake?!" I roared, stepping directly into Ilya's space, my chest heaving with a violent, protective rage.
Ilya stuttered, her face twisting into a mask of pure frustration as she looked down at the shattered plate. "The cake... it was meant for you to eat! And now it has been completely ruined!"
My eyes burned with absolute fury. The veins in my neck bulged as I clenched my fists, fully prepared to lash out at her, consequences be damned.
"I love you."
The sudden, deeply intense declaration shattered the tension in the room. I froze, my gaze halting instantly as both Boca and I snapped our heads down to look at Ragnar.
The violent convulsing and choking had completely stopped. Instead, Ragnar was staring up at Boca with an overwhelming, desperate intensity, his eyes wide and glazed over with a frighteningly soft devotion.
