Terrified of her own erratic heartbeat, Belle mentally forced Ceres to the front, demanding she take over the physical body immediately. She was genuinely afraid of what would happen if she kept talking to him like this. Sooner or later, she was going to end up falling completely under his spell, and that was a vulnerability she simply couldn't afford.
"We've been under the same roof for quite some time now. I know the exact weight of your hands, and I can recognize your cologne anywhere," Ceres answered smoothly, without batting an eye.
Eli seemed to fully accept the explanation. A faint, pleased smile touched his lips as he pulled out a chair and sat right next to her, leaving Neon directly across from them.
