Valerio
I watched Octavia eat, feeling a sense of peace as I observed her replenish her strength. It was reassuring to know that I had brought her this meal, even if I hadn’t cooked it myself.
Old instincts.
I sat at the end of the table, while she sat near the corner along the longer side, not quite at the end but close. Large chandeliers threw a soft glow across the dining room.
As I slowly swirled the liquid in my crystal glass, my eyes never left her. It felt as though if I looked away for even a second, she might vanish. I still didn’t know the full story of what had happened tonight, intensifying my need to hear the truth.
“Do you really need to stare at me while I eat?” Octavia asked, meeting my eyes.
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“It makes me calm.”
“Calms you?” she echoed, clea
