Arion looked at the odd trio, and for a second he could have sworn the universe had assembled them purely to test his patience.
Nero had never met Sylvia before tonight. Nothing aside from their chaotic nature could explain the sudden, coordinated terror.
And yet all three of them stood there with the same grim conviction, like they'd attended a seminar titled 'How to Survive Dean' and passed with honors.
Arion's gaze moved between them, slow and assessing.
"You," he gestured with two fingers, minimal, polite, and slightly insulting, "are unusually in sync for strangers?"
Sylvia didn't flinch. Sebastian didn't move. Nero smiled like he'd been praised.
Nero turned sharply to Sylvia, then tipped his head down so she wouldn't have to crane her neck to meet his eyes. Even that small adjustment made him look annoyingly considerate for a man who enjoyed chaos like oxygen.
He extended his hand to her in a gesture that was part greeting, part performance.
