Lucen's grin didn't falter. "'Oh, I was enjoying the show same as you. Shame it ended early.'"
"Ended," she repeated, voice low, "because he stepped in." Her eyes cut toward Varik. "Which makes me wonder why he's babysitting someone I've never heard of instead of… anything else."
Varik finally spoke. "He doesn't need babysitting."
Selindra's gaze snapped back to Lucen. "Then what does he need?"
Lucen let the silence hang just a beat longer before answering, tone light, almost playful. "'Dinner. And maybe dessert if the service holds up.'"
Selindra's eyes narrowed, but the faintest curve touched her mouth. Not quite a smile, not quite disdain. Something between.
"You're bold," she said finally. "Either you have no idea who you're sitting with… or you know exactly who you are."
Lucen smirked, leaning back against the booth, arms spread loose along the seat. "'Why not both?'"
Selindra studied him for a long moment, then turned back to Varik. "You're not going to explain him?"
