Barbara stared at her empty plate, her mind swirling with confusion as she tried to make sense of Lycus’s erratic behavior. One minute, he was cold and distant, his eyes unreadable like he was a stranger to her. The next, a heat in his gaze made her pulse quicken as though Lycus could devour her without warning. It was like he couldn’t remember her, but at the same time, he couldn’t stay away. The shift in his demeanor unsettled her.
How did they get here? She wondered, feeling the weight of his presence even though his attention was back on the hologram. There was a time when she could read him effortlessly and understand the subtle shifts in his expression, but now, everything about him was shrouded in mystery. His coldness used to make sense; it was who he was—controlled, detached. But
