Reyna searched his face. The longer she stared, the more the resemblance clawed at her—something familiar she couldn't name.
Lucian shoved her hand away with cold irritation. His eyes dropped to his watch. "You have sixty seconds. Lie to me, and you won't leave this hospital in a car."
…
The door to Madam Colburn's room opened.
Brianna, who was still sitting beside the bed, with her fingers laced through the Dowager's, flinched at his entrance and forced a smile—the same brittle, "everything's fine" mask she'd been wearing since they walked through the door.
Madam Colburn's voice was soft. "Is everything alright, Lucian?"
He didn't answer right away. Instead he crossed to the bed and fixed his gaze on Brianna, having discovered a lot a few minutes ago.
When he spoke, his voice dropped into a tender, terrifyingly gentle tone that somehow made her stomach tighten.
"Everything is fine, Grandmother."
