Beneath the mask

from Luca, her hands clasped tightly in her lap to keep them from trembling. Her father sat

th an intensity that made her skin prickle. She felt like a spec

mooth but commanding. "Your fath

f to meet his eyes. "Yes.

t the corner of his li

gave her a subtle nod of encouragement. "From

n unreadable. "The world can be a dangerous

to tell him that she didn't need his protection or his cryptic wa

e only sound in the room. Elena picked at her food, her appetite nonexistent. She co

ng his throat. "Luca, why don't you and Elena take

but she knew better than to argue. She rose from her seat,

ow, her touch tentative. Luca's arm was firm beneath her fingers, his

flowers filling the air. Elena walked beside Luca, her steps slow and me

uca observed, bre

" Elena admitted, her voic

to face her. "You don't have

im, her eyes wide.

s lips curved into a faint smi

ked away. "I just... I don't unders

almost human. "Your father and I have an agreement. This

I want?" Elena asked,

ng. "Sometimes, what we want doesn't matter. But

tell him that she deserved more than being a pawn in their

umstances hanging heavy between them. As they reached the end

retend this is what either of us wanted. But I promise

rched his face for any hint of decep

he asked

efully. "Because you deserve more than the l

time, she saw a glimpse of the man beneath the mask

t to change in ways she couldn't yet comprehend. And despite her fear, a small part of he