the conversation tiptoed through safe

He spoke with the ease of someone who observed more than he revealed. Yet

small fragments of herself bu

ollided-and the silence between w

ions," Lucian noted, sipping his coffee

plied lightly, traci

ice hi

iving," she co

asing edge replaced with quiet und

er awkward nor tense-jus

asked, nodding toward his cam

ll smirk. "It's how I... make sense of the

Amara murmured, sur

rpened with recog

conversation tilted, l

ng like frayed threads. But as Amara laughed at one of Luci

't ready

she stood, slipping he

ounced, ignoring the t

ut watching carefully. "I'm not her

ugh her feet hesitated by th

ity haze, leaving behind cold coffee

't ready to let her

t