Bound by Vows, Torn by Secrets

Late night talk

The silence stretched between us.

Nathaniel had returned his attention to the papers in front of him, but something about his posture was... different.

Less rigid.

As if he was allowing himself to be seen.

I shouldn't have cared.

This wasn't real, we weren't real.

But for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to leave.

Instead, I moved toward the bookshelves that lined the far wall, tracing a finger over the leather-bound spines.

"Do you read all of these?" I asked, breaking the quiet.

He didn't glance up. "Some."

I pulled out a book at random, flipping it open. The pages were smooth, untouched.

I raised an eyebrow. "This one's never been read."

Now, he looked up.

His gaze flickered to the book in my hands before returning to my face, something amused lingering in his expression. "Didn't take you for the type to pry."

I shrugged. "Didn't take you for the type to collect books just for decoration."

His lips quirked, just barely. "Looks can be deceiving."

I snapped the book shut, returning it to its place. "Clearly."

When I turned back, he was watching me.

Not in the way he usually did—with calculated, distant interest—but in a way that felt... different.

Like he was trying to figure something out.

It made my stomach twist in a way I didn't like.

I cleared my throat. "You should try sleeping sometime. It's actually quite nice."

His gaze held mine for a moment longer before he leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled together.

"I sleep when I need to," he said simply.

I didn't believe him.

But I didn't press further.

Instead, I stepped back toward the door. "Good night, Nathaniel."

I wasn't sure why I said his name. It just slipped out.

He didn't reply immediately.

But as I turned to leave, his voice followed me.

"Good night, Elena."

It was the softest I had ever heard him speak.

I didn't know what to do with that.