There was supposed to be a pop, Aldrich knew that from the billions of times he had apparated anywhere, or had anyone apparate anywhere near him. Yet, there had been absolutely no pop. There was no noise of shoes on hardwood floors, but there were definitely female hands on his shoulders, and quickly around his neck.
It was Athena's mother who had helped set up Aldrich's security system. She was better than the best, so he knew already that it could only be one of two people, the two he had opened his wards to. As he tipped his head back on the couch to look at her, he realized that even if he hadn't opened his wards to her, she likely would have been able to get in anyway. It had been her mother who had set them all up.
"Remind me to never piss you off," he said with a warm laugh, eyes sparkling as he watched her.