“I told him that someone didn’t appreciate you summoning me and wanted to punish us both for it. That we are trying to figure stuff out, but until we do, we needed sanctuary, which he granted.”
“And the reason you didn’t say it was Oblivion?” I asked, although really, it was obvious.
“Because he’s an Enforcer and they usually stick together, relic or not,” Bo said, making me sigh.
“And if he finds out, what then?” I snapped, feeling myself losing it, as my hands started to shake. Which was when Bo grabbed my hand, gave it a squeeze and promised,
“He won’t. Don’t worry, I will get us through this.” I nodded at that, knowing that arguing about it now wasn’t going to help. Besides, I had another Enforcer to focus on right now, hoping he wasn’t going to interrogate me, as it sounded like he had done with Bo. I also wasn’t exactly the best poker player for a reason. Which meant that when Walder sat down beside me, I couldn’t help but tense, as did the rest of the room, making me wonder if it was common practice.
Because the shift was immediate, yet this time not in the way I had expected. As even though the dangerous edge I had seen earlier was still there, now it was somewhat softened. Tempered by something lighter, as though whatever he had been waiting for had finally fallen into place.
Not only that, but he looked different up close, not just because he was now dressed for the evening, but because he was relaxed in a way he hadn’t been before. And while his appearance had shifted toward something more refined, it still fell short of anything as formal as a full suit.
Like the way his shirt was left open and not just at the collar, but enough so that I could see part of his wide chest muscles peeking through the gap when he shifted. Even the sleeves were rolled back up his forearms as though restraint was something he had long since discarded. The material pulled slightly across his shoulders and biceps when he moved, hinting at the strength beneath it, while his hair had been tied back into a loose knot. A few strands fell free to frame his face, which, despite being accidental, managed to soften his features and make him even more handsome.
Effortlessly and dangerously so.
“For once,” he said smoothly, his voice low, edged with quiet amusement as he glanced at me,
“Kiki hasn’t exaggerated. You do look beautiful tonight, Eliza.” I blinked, the sound of my name catching me off guard as my gaze snapped toward him.
“You… know my name?”
His attention flicked briefly toward Bo before returning to me, that same faint smile lingering.
“Bo explained your circumstances to me,” he said easily, as though that alone answered everything.
“I can assure you, you are safe here, and I will aid you in any way I can.” There was something in the way he said it, something calm and certain, that made it feel less like a promise and more like a fact. Which meant that despite everything, I felt some of the tension in my chest ease.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
He inclined his head slightly, a small, almost formal gesture that didn’t quite match the casual way he carried himself.
“For what your circumstances have brought me in return,” he added, the faintest hint of something sharper slipping into his tone,
“It’s the least I can do.”
Ah, but of course…the relic.
My fingers curled slightly in my lap, my thoughts flickering briefly toward the mirror before I pushed them away. Because right now, his attention had settled fully on me, and there was something unnerving about the way he studied me. Not intrusive, not uncomfortable, but… knowing.
Too knowing at that.
“It looks as though something weighs heavily on you,” he said after a moment, his voice quieter now, more observant than before.
“And something tells me it is not only the circumstances you find yourself in.” I let out a soft scoff, shaking my head as I looked away.
“It’s certainly been a few days, that’s for sure,” I replied, brushing it off, though even to my own ears it sounded weak.
“Then tell me, little dove…” he murmured, leaning closer. His presence shifted just enough to pull my focus back to him as the side of his body touched mine, and his arm rested at the back of my seat.
“…Why do I sense heartbreak in your gaze?”
My breath caught.
“I… what? No, that’s not…” I started, the denial automatic, though it faltered almost as quickly as it came. His lips curved faintly, something almost amused flickering there as he leaned in just enough for his voice to drop lower, more intimate.
“I would say you’re a terrible liar,” he said softly, before continuing,
