Maya walked toward Solace with her bag slung over her shoulder, still irritated from her failed attempt to get information out of Rylee. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the street, and the restaurant’s glass windows reflected the busy movement of the city.
She was halfway across the sidewalk when the door to Solace swung open.
Sebastian stepped out.
His eyes immediately narrowed.
He had seen her.
Not coming from the direction of her apartment.
Not from the bus stop.
Not from anywhere she could claim had “traffic.”
He had seen her walk straight out of Ember.
“Maya,” he said, voice low. “Why are you late?”
She forced a smile. “Traffic.”
Sebastian stared at her, unimpressed. “Traffic?”
“Yes,” she insisted. “It was—”
“You were crossing the street,” he cut in. “There’s n
