Chapter 362 – Don't Run
She froze, breath hitching. Her arms wrapped tighter around her torso, but her eyes darted to his, confusion raw in them.
Footsteps clicked against the tile behind him. Sira's perfume wafted closer—spiced wine and arrogance.
"What happened?" she asked, voice suddenly sharp instead of mocking.
Lux didn't look at her. He kept his eyes on Ariel. "Mermaid. Kidnapped young. Dumped with the Delmars. They milked her for pearls, called it a curse. When the revenue dried up, so did their affection."
Ariel flinched with every word, shame carving itself deeper into her face.
Sira exhaled, low, disbelieving. "No kidding."
Lux's mouth quirked bitterly. "Nope."
The silence that followed wasn't peace. It was thick, heavy, the kind that tasted like salt and iron. The only sound was water lapping against the tiles as Ariel curled smaller in the pool, her scales flashing faintly under the sun.
Lux's thoughts spun like ledgers flipping open.
