Xara playfully rolled her eyes, but the action made Rin pause. It seemed fake. "You and your secrets. You’re a hard girl to keep track of, Vesperin."
Rin was half bent, subtly placing a tracker on her heel, under the guise of tightening the thin buckle strap around her ankle. "Good," Rin hummed.
Her wariness would make her push everyone away.
In the small living area, they waited with their clutches. Xara reached for a pill bottle and tapped one out. Rin caught a glimpse of the label, partly obscured by Xara’s thumb.Somnocept. It wasn’t the first time Rin had seen the pills. She shoved down the fear that made her heart race. It was fine. Itwas. Xara wasn’t out to get her.
A knock on the door broke through her thoughts, and it was Xara who went to answer it, expecting Keir. Except it wasn’t Rin’s fellow Alpha Team Hunter who answered.
Lucien.
Her doctor entered, murmuring a soft hello to Xara as his eyes fell to Rin. "Are you alright, Vesperin?" Lucien walked quickly to her and took her wrist, checking her pulse. She was too stunned by his appearance to answer.
He looked?—
"You’re so handsome," Rin uttered.
Lucien froze. "I know that’s not the cause of your racing heart."
Rin’s eyes slid to Xara, who was watching with rapt attention. Staring into Lucien’s deep green eyes behind his glasses, Rin subtly shook her head. A warning. He dropped her hand as she stepped away from him—a safe, respectable distance.
Lucien’s black hair was artfully pushed off his forehead, revealing the strong lines of his face. His glasses only made him look more attractive, contrasting with the elegant black of his suit. He wore a black tie, and her eyes fell to the column of his throat. She wanted to press her nose there and inhale the sandalwood cologne she caught hints of.
Was Rin the only one who felt the charge in the air, crackling like electricity between them both?
"So, is this your date, then? I thought you said he was meeting you at the gala?" Xara interjected.
"No," Rin said too quickly. "No, Lucien’s not my date. He received an invite as one of the top doctors in Solar City." And because Sabine and Talor believed they had him under their control. "He’s just picking me up—as a friend."
Xara’s red painted lips parted. "Oh, okay."
Another knock on the door blessedly saved them as Xara turned to let Keir in.
With Xara’s back turned, Lucien subtly walked closer to Rin, brushing his pinky over the back of her hand. "You look beautiful, my V girl," he murmured to her.
Rin’s lashes fluttered. "Thank you."
"Your heart," he started, "is everything okay? Your pulse was elevated. Have you taken your medication like I messaged you about? If you need to stay here tonight, no one will blame you." He held her eyes as he said it.
She shook her head, and his eyes dipped to her glossed lips as her tongue poked out. "No, I have to be there tonight. Too much is at stake."
"Hey." Keir entered, dressed sharply. His green tie was loose, hand laced with Xara’s. "Ready to go?"
Lucien’s fingers brushed her spine in a secret touch. It sent shivers rippling down her exposed arms, goosebumps in its wake.
"Yep," Rin said, thankful her voice didn’t waver.
She felt off balance without her usual Hunter gear, like she was missing something. She patted her hips—no pockets—and her fingertips caught on a dainty, silken butterfly wing.
Lucien seemed to sense her unrest. "Go, we’ll catch up with you both in a moment." His tone brooked no argument.
Xara protested as Keir tugged her to the door. The last thing Rin saw before the door shut was Xara’s wide eyes, lined with dark shadow, a sparkling emerald to match her gown.
Alone, Lucien stepped closer to her, finger hooking below her chin as he carefully lifted her face to his. She felt the tension inside her loosen and unspool under the weight of his commanding gaze.
"Why did you send them away?" she asked him.
"You needed a moment, and though I cannot give you all the time in the world, I can give you time to collect yourself now—before we go. Once we’re there, the mask stays on. Neither of us can falter. Say the word now, sweet girl, and I will keep you far from this. I swear it. Everything I have done and everything I will do, it has all been to keep you from them." Lucien didn’t need to say the name of her adoptive parents.
