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He inclined his head as Magnus continued.

“My nephew, Lucien Stormforge, Director of Intelligence and Chancellor of House Vaelor.”

Lucien’s silver-blue eyes made the third stone at my throat easy to place. Very pale, with midnight-black hair, he looked every bit as composed as his image had suggested, although bergamot and silver birch made his presence feel warmer than his immaculate appearance.

“A new light to you, Lady Elowen. Welcome to High Mountain.”

“And to you. Thank you, Lucien.”

Magnus introduced Leon next as Lord Steward of House Vaelor. His amber-gold eyes immediately matched the fourth stone at my throat, and there was something warmer about him even through all that High Mountain composure. The amber and sandalwood of his scent only made it stronger.

“It is an honour to receive you, Lady Elowen.”

“Thank you, Leon. I’m glad to be here.”

And strangely, impossibly, I was.

Magnus reached the youngest.

“My nephew, Darius Stormforge, Director of Internal Security.”

Darius’s grey-blue eyes found mine. He was broader in person than he’d looked in his image, dark stubble covering his jaw, his expression watchful rather than cold.

“Lady Elowen. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“Hi, Darius.”

The word escaped before I remembered where I was.

His expression remained perfectly composed. “The pleasure is entirely mine.”

Juniper and rain-dark slate joined the scents already surrounding me.

I looked across all five of them. Their scents were distinct and yet somehow belonged together. Although the overwhelming pull from the stairs had eased, something inside me still felt unfinished.

My attention returned to Alaric. Before I understood what I was doing, I crossed the small space between us and wrapped my arms around him.

He went completely still.

Cedar and cold mountain stone surrounded me, stronger than before, and the effect was immediate. My eyes closed as a deep calm moved through me, taking the tension from my shoulders so quickly that I almost sagged against him.

Alaric didn’t return the embrace. He simply stood there and let me hold him for as long as I needed.

When I finally stepped away, the calm fractured and my eyes went straight to Caius.

Oh. I wasn’t finished.

I hugged him too.

Pine smoke and black pepper filled my next breath, quieting another piece of the restless feeling inside me. By the time I released him, I already knew what my body wanted.

Lucien came next, bergamot and silver birch settling another part of me as I held him. Leon followed, warm amber and sandalwood deepening that strange sense of safety. By the time I wrapped my arms around Darius and breathed in juniper and rain-dark slate, I could feel the last of the restlessness beginning to fade.

None of them reached for me, but each remained perfectly still while I held him, allowing me to choose when to approach and when to step away. By the time I released Darius, the restlessness was gone and the enormous hall came rushing back into my awareness.

Heat rushed into my face as I looked towards the stairs. Cedric, Samir and Matthias were still standing at the bottom with Commander Halden, and behind them were several thousand soldiers.

Every single one of them had just watched me hug five men I’d known for approximately three minutes.