"And if you're wrong?" Marcellus asks.
"Then I'll be the first one at the east wing." I hold his gaze. "I'm not asking anyone to take risks I won't take myself."
Another silence. Then Marcellus nods slowly. "Acceptable."
Maximus's voice cuts through. "Implement those strategies. Julian, visible reinforcement on the east wing. Nadia, coordinate the mobile reserve. Celeste." Our eyes meet. "You'll lead the reserve team."
The weight of that lands on me. Lead a team. In combat. Against Konstantin's forces.
"Yes," I say. Because what else is there to say?
The meeting continues for another hour. Logistics,communications, contingencies. By the time it ends, my head is swimming with information, and my body is humming with pre-battle tension.
People file out, heading to their posts. The room empties gradually until only a few of us remain. I'm studying the map, committing the layout to memory, when I feel him approach.
He doesn't touch me. Doesn't need to. His presence is enough, that particular quality of attention that makes the air feel heavier.
"You handled that well," he says quietly.
"I told them what I knew."
"You told them what they needed to hear, in a way they could accept. That's leadership."
I look up at him. The room is nearly empty now. Just Nadia at the far end, gathering documents, and Marcellus lingering near the door. Not private, but close.
"I was scared," I admit quietly. "Telling a room full of ancient vampires they were thinking about this wrong."
"You didn't show it."
"I've had practice hiding fear."
Something shifts in his expression. His hand moves, and for a moment I think he's going to touch my face the way he did last night.
But Marcellus is watching. Others might return at any moment. So instead, his fingers brush against mine where my hand rests on the table. A light pressure. There and gone.
The brief contact sends electricity racing up my arm.
"This isn't how I wanted tonight to go," he says quietly. His voice is low, rough. Frustrated.
"I know." I hold his gaze. "But we survive this first. Then you can make good on those promises."
Something flares in his eyes. Hot. Hungry. Barely controlled.
"I haven't forgotten a single one." His voice drops even lower,meant only for me. "When this is over, Celeste. The moment it's over."
My breath catches. "I'm holding you to that."
He holds my gaze for a beat longer. I see the effort it's taking him to maintain distance. To be the commander instead of the man. But there's a battle coming, and we both know what's at stake.
He turns and walks toward Marcellus. The two of them fall into conversation about perimeter defenses, and I'm left standing at the map with the ghost of his touch still tingling against my fingers.
Nadia catches my eye from across the room. Her expression is carefully neutral, but there's something knowing in it. She doesn't say anything. Just nods once, then leaves.
The shift between Maximus and me isn't a secret. It's not announced either. It simply exists, visible in glances, in the space we do or don't leave between us, in the quality of attention we pay to each other when we think no one's watching.
Everyone sees it. No one comments.
That might be more unnerving than if they did.
