Dorian stood at the far end, back turned, shoulders carved from shadow.
As he stepped out into the world beyond, Lucas felt a sense of resolve. The shadows of his desires still lingered, but they no longer held the same power over him. He had faced the labyrinth of his own heart and emerged with a clearer understanding of himself.
"And now you know." He stepped closer. The candlelight caught the scar above his brow — a souvenir from a past he'd never shared, not even in the red room. "I am real. Flawed. Married. Bound to someone I made promises to before I knew what desire could cost."