Lucas chuckled again, the sound rich with amusement, and this time Nyx allowed herself a small, reluctant smile in return. For him, it was enough. In that moment, the least he could do for her was to give her a few hours of freedom, to distract her from the crushing weight of duty and expectation that seemed to shadow her every step. If he could make her laugh, or even just loosen the guarded stiffness in her posture, then perhaps the day would not be wasted after all.
He straightened and glanced toward the narrow window, gauging the fading light outside, then turned back to her with a conspiratorial gleam in his eyes. "We'd better move quickly before the day slips away from us entirely," he said in a low, urgent tone, though there was still humor curling at the edges of his voice. Nyx nodded, her excitement barely concealed, and the two of them moved toward the door without further hesitation.
