Lucian took the wheel. Slowly, the car pulled away from the company. Emily suddenly felt the space in the car was too small as the presence of Lucian seemed to dominate it.
She folded her arms and turned to look out the window, pretending to admire the scenery, even though her heart was pounding a little faster than usual.
The ride was quiet at first. After a few minutes, he glanced at her lightly. "Where do you plan to take me?" he asked, breaking the silence.
Emily hesitated. She hadn't actually thought about where to go — she just knew they needed something fast and simple.
After a quick thought, "There's a mall nearby, about ten minutes from here," she said finally. "They have decent stores and… usually have... basic clothes." Her voice was softer than usual.
Lucian gave a slight nod. "Good," he muttered, his tone light and easy.
