The three of them stood in silence, the weight of Sethis’s question still lingering in the air. Mae’s heart thudded in her chest, uncertain whether it was from the sudden shift in the conversation or from Lucien’s nearness. Sethis’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, unreadable, then a sly smile tugged at his lips. He winked at her, a flicker of mischief in his eyes that did not quite hide the ache behind it, and with a casual turn he walked away, leaving them in the quiet that suddenly felt too heavy.
Mae exhaled slowly, only then realizing how tightly she had been holding her breath. Her eyes darted towards Lucien, but he did not move at first. He simply watched her, his silence more potent than words. She felt his presence coil around her like smoke, dark and magnetic, impossibl
