The fire crackled softly in the fireplace.
Aurora had taken the couch, already half asleep, while Ava sat near the window watching the dark forest outside.
Lucien stood beside her.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Ava said quietly, "You knew something about me before we met… didn't you?"
Lucien didn't answer immediately.
His silence said enough.
"You did," Ava whispered.
He finally looked at her.
"Yes."
Her heart skipped.
"What did you know?"
Lucien ran a hand through his dark hair.
"I knew you were in danger."
"That's not an answer."
His eyes softened slightly.
"I knew you were investigating people no one should investigate."
Ava stared at him.
"How?"
Lucien hesitated.
Then he spoke the words she wasn't expecting.
"Because I was hired to find you."
Ava felt the ground disappear beneath her.
"You were… hunting me?"
Lucien shook his head immediately.
"No."
"Then what?"
His voice lowered.
"I was supposed to bring you to them."
The room went silent.
Ava's chest tightened painfully.
"But I didn't," Lucien said quickly.
"Why?"
Lucien looked directly into her eyes.
"Because when I found you… you had already been erased."
Ava's breath caught.
"And?"
"And something about it didn't feel right."
The tension between them grew heavy.
Finally Ava whispered, "So instead of delivering me… you protected me."
Lucien nodded once.
"Yes."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Why?"
Lucien stepped closer.
"So I could learn the truth."
But the way he looked at her suggested that wasn't the only reason.