Chapter 33: Lunch
Cecilia walks just a little too close beside me, smelling of lavender with a faint hint of cinnamon—pulling at my senses no matter how hard I try to ignore it, and I hate how annoyingly pleasant it is. Her steps are light, graceful, matching mine without effort.
She glances up at me with a soft smile. "I hope you don't mind us tagging along... I know we're being intrusive," she says gently, her tone sincere but with a flicker of amusement beneath it. "It's just... well, after meeting you that day, I found myself hoping I might speak with you again."
I glance at her, unsure how to respond to that. She's an inquisitor. I should hate her; she's part of the system I hate. Part of the order that killed my parents. But yet, her voice is warm and disarming. And have I myself not become part of that same order I hate by being an elite?
She laughs softly. "And now here we are. In the same place, crossing paths once more. Surely the Divine wills it."
I clear my throat, feeling awkward. "Uh-huh, sure."
Ahead, Howard is still talking to Dax and Garet, completely at ease, with the lanky, ugly Jaynd walking silently next to them. He glances over his shoulder at me and smirks, clearly picking up on my discomfort before turning back to the conversation. I mentally curse him. What does that bastard think is happening back here?
Cecilia continues walking beside me, her hand brushing lightly against mine as we step around a group of slow moving citizens. The faintest touch, but it sends a sharp jolt of energy up my arm. I flinch back instinctively, my pulse spiking.
She turns quickly, her expression all polite apology. "Forgive me, my Lord. I didn't mean to startle you." Her words are soft and apologetic, but her eyes sparkle with something playful, as though the touch had been anything but accidental.
I force a short nod. "It's fine; no issue."
She smiles again, softer this time. "You really are quite serious; I like that about you." "You're everything an elite should be," she says softly. "Beautiful. Just. Blessed by the Divine... almost regal," she adds the last part as a whisper.
I freeze for half a second, completely blindsided. My face heats up instantly. I clear my throat, scrambling for something—anything—to say back. "Uh... you, um... you're very... elegant."