Page 112 of The Quiet Witness

“What’s up, sweetheart?” he asked, voice all innocent as he watched her press the aux button again.

“It’s not working.” She pouted like a child, one hand resting on a hip.

“Let me help you there.” He guided her back to her seat, watching as she flopped down, shaking her head resolutely.

Lucien strode over to the installation, pressing the on key and making it spring to life in a mere second while he dutifully ignored Kate’s sighs.

“And with you, it does work. Magic fingers or what.”

Glancing over his shoulder, he saw that she’d turned to lie upside down. Staring up at the ceiling with her head hanging down over the couch’s edge, and her calves resting over the backrest.

“What music does her Queen demand?”

She puckered her lips, lost in her important decision over the music. A slap rang out through the silent house as she hit herself on the temple. “You choose something… befitting.” She grimaced. “Everything is too hazy for me to decide, which is all,” she sneezed. “Your fault.”

“That it is.” He muttered, popping in Daydream’s Relit. If she wants befitting, I’ll give it to her.

“Feeling light?” With a smile he turned.

“Light as a feather,” she murmured, sliding down the couch dramatically, she stopped just before her feet hit the floor, where she stayed, resting on the fuzzy mat below her back.

Ghost crossed eyes with Lucien, glancing down the usually composed woman with a visible frown on his long face, the muscles of his eyebrows crinkling as he watched Kate carefully. But she was already moving again, pushing to her legs before she marched to the piano, notes lifted in the air from where her hands flew over the white keys. She swung her hips to the beat of Relit’s music, raising a foot to rest on the bench in front of the piano.

Lucien was there before she could take another step upwards, swaying in place.

“Woahh, there missy, where do you think you’re going?”

Her gaze was distant, staring out at the moon, she whispered. “To the mountains.”

“The mountains?”

Whatever went on inside that mind of her, he’d give a lot to dive into its depths.

“Hmmhmm.” Dipping her head in conviction she said. “I wanna go out and have some fun.”

“Yeah, that’s not happening.” He muttered it under his breath, more to himself than her, but she’d caught up on it.

Pouting, she exclaimed. “You’re no fun.”

He chose to ignore her last remark. “Let’s get you to bed before you fall down and hurt yourself.”

“I don’t wanna go down.” Kate gazed up at the ceiling, admiration written over her eyes. “I wanna go upppp—”

A chuckle escaped him. So far for resisting the effects.

Lucien kept a hand on her waist as he took in her pupils again, her blue eyes dancing with a light he hadn’t seen her carry yet.

Peculiar really. Just like with drinking, being high could make one become aggressive, or laugh with every single joke, or… like Kate. Back to a childlike version of herself, she might never actually have been able to show in her past.

He reached for her elbow. “Okay, playtime’s over. Let’s go.”

“No, no, nooo.” She slapped his outstretched hand away playfully. “I’m staying here. I’m enjoying myself.”

“Yes, you sure are.”

Another giggle escaped her as he managed to catch her hands. Admiringly, she leaned in. “You’re the hottest guy I’ve ever seen.”

A loud, booming laugh escaped him, rumbling through the house while her eyes sparkled with laughter. “Oh, God, I hope you don’t remember this come morning.”