Seeing that Marcus stubbornly refused to admit anything, Talia merely smiled, her expression softening instead of pressing him further. She tilted her head slightly and asked in a gentle voice, "Marcus, you really weren't thinking about my aunt at all?"
She sounded calm, almost casual, as if the question meant nothing. The sudden change made her seem unexpectedly adorable, and Marcus relaxed a little.
"Of course not," he answered quickly, nodding with absolute confidence. It looked like she was giving him an escape route, a graceful way to step away from danger without embarrassment.
What he failed to notice was the faint cunning hidden in her eyes, or the subtle curve of amusement tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Really?"
Talia's expression suddenly shifted to exaggerated astonishment. She stared at him as though she had just witnessed something impossible, something deeply suspicious.
Marcus felt his heart skip.
'That look again.'
