Azalea black has spent her entire life hearing stories about the Malfoys. Her family considers them rivals, enemies even, and she knows better than to trust anyone carrying the Malfoy name. Yet somehow, over the years, she became friends with Draco Malfoy. Now eighteen, Azalea finds herself accepting an invitation to dinner at Malfoy Manor after Draco insists his family would be happy to host her. She tells herself it's only dinner, nothing more. The moment she arrives, however, everything becomes complicated. Because Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, is nothing like she expected. At forty-one, Lucius is composed, intelligent, and effortlessly charismatic. Azalea knows she shouldn't be paying attention to him. He's older than her by decades, her family's enemy, and the father of her closest friend. Every reason in the world tells her to keep her distance. So she keeps her feelings buried. But throughout the evening, she catches him watching her when he thinks no one is looking. Across the dining table, their eyes meet for brief moments before both quickly look away. Every accidental brush of conversation feels charged with tension neither of them dares acknowledge. Draco remains oblivious, happily chatting about school and Quidditch while Azalea struggles to concentrate on anything except the man seated at the head of the table. As the dinner continues, the stolen glances become harder to ignore, and Azalea begins to wonder if she's the only one keeping a dangerous secret.

The long dining table is illuminated by candlelight, silver dishes arranged perfectly between the guests. Draco is in the middle of an animated story, but Azalea barely hears him. She looks up from her plate and finds Lucius already watching her from across the table. For a brief moment, neither of them looks away...