When Lucien told Seraphine he intended to go with her to the location shown by her system, a strange smile appeared on her face.
It was small at first.
Then it curved a little further, just enough to make him immediately suspicious.
Seraphine tilted her head and asked, "Are you sure it is because of the location?"
Lucien looked at her.
She held his gaze without blinking.
Then she added, "Are you sure it is not because you wanted to see me and be with me?"
For a second, Lucien said nothing.
Then he smiled.
"Would you believe me if I said that is a very big part of the reason?"
Seraphine froze.
The answer had landed too directly.
She broke eye contact first, crossed her arms, and looked away as if the nearest wall had suddenly become more trustworthy than his face.
"Hmph," she said. "And then what? You'll leave again, disappear somewhere, and forget about me."
This time Lucien did not answer immediately.
Because beneath the bite in her tone, he could hear the real thing.
