Seraphine’s POV
He was starting to slip away. I saw it before he said a word. Before he did anything obvious. It was in the way he looked at me. Or didn’t. That was the first sign.
Darius had always watched, measured and calculated.
Even when he said nothing, his attention was there.
Now..it wasn’t.
He stepped into the room without announcing himself.
Didn’t pause. Didn’t acknowledge me immediately.
Just walked past. Like I wasn’t the center of his focus anymore. My fingers tightened slightly against the arm of the chair. Not enough to show. Never enough to show.
“Darius.”
My voice came soft.
He stopped. But he didn’t turn immediately.
That was new.
A slow breath.
Then he faced me. Expression unreadable. Too calm and distant.
“You’re back late,” I said gently.
No accusation
