I forced a smile. “I see. Get well soon, Talia. I’ll just... get back to work. Lucian’s here to take care of you.”
Talia flashed me a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Thanks, Sera. And sorry for the commotion at this hour.”
Her words were polite, but her tone was anything but apologetic.
I nodded stiffly and turned away, heading back toward the room. I didn’t make it far before Lucian’s voice stopped me in my tracks.
“There you are,” he said softly to Talia. “Let me help you sit properly. Please be more careful next time, Tals. Those precious legs of yours shouldn’t suffer a scratch, let alone a cut like this.”
The door clicked shut behind me before I could hear more.
My hands trembled as I leaned against the desk, trying to steady my breathing.
I couldn’t help but remember the time I was injured in the woods. I’d called for Lucian, hoping—no, expecting—he would come. But he didn’t.
When I finally made it back, bruised and bleeding, he barely looked at me.
“Good you’re back. Kael was worried,” he’d said, his voice devoid of concern. “Stop overreacting. You just had a small wound.”
Small wound.