Lucian entered as if nothing had happened, as if not a guest, but the rightful owner of the house.
His confident, almost careless gait was more infuriating than usual.
“You didn’t come when I called.” - Adaline reproached him.
“There was literally a demon hanging on you at that moment.” - he responded lazily.
“It was...not really a demon.” - she tried to object.
Lucian raised an eyebrow and grinned.
“Still saying that?”
He sat down imposingly on the sofa, crossed his legs and looked at her mockingly:
“Even after I saw how kind your fiancé really is?”
“Well...uh...yes, I kind of saw...”
“Every time you called him kind, I could hardly contain myself from laughing.”
[He's always been like this...]
Adaline took a deep breath and shook her head.
[At least he still answers when I call...]
[To be honest, she thought that Lucian would not come again.]
[The connection between them, as it seemed to her, was broken five years ago.]
[He was a man who clearly counted his debts.]
[And then Adaline made him owe her thanks to the knowledge from the book. Information that would not have been known under normal circumstances.]
[It was the same with Lloyd.] - a thought flashed.
[If she had not known in advance when, where and how Lucian would appear, they simply would not have crossed paths.]
And she was sure that Lucian guessed. But he didn’t ask anything, and she didn’t explain.
[They called themselves friends, but in fact they were just business partners. Or even: customer and contractor.]
That’s why she was sure that after the completion of their common “project” their paths diverged forever.
That’s why I listened to his reproaches then, with half an ear.
She did not believe that their relationship would last.
There was no reason to write to him, and there was certainly no reason for him to wait.
[So why make excuses for silence?]
But he still came.
[Even though he equated Shane to a demon.]
[And that means there is still hope.]
[Even if not as a person, but as a profitable client, he took her seriously.]
[If I want to move unnoticed, even in Shane's absence, I can't do it without Lucian.]
[I'll be isolated every time something happens, and I won't even be able to find a sorcerer, let alone have freedom of action.]
[I thought about asking Jeff for help, but it turns out he's on Shane's side...]
[Yes, asking Lucian is scary.]
[There are no pressure levers. What he will demand is unknown.]
[But...well, what can he do to her in the worst case? Sell into slavery? Even if you donate organs, it is not profitable.]
"Lucian...help me."
"No."
"..."
Hope collapsed instantly.
"Why?! You've come! If you didn’t want to help, why did you come?”
Lloyd looked at her as if she had just tried to steal the moon from the sky.
But Adaline decided it was time to be bold. [Arrogance and determination are almost the same thing.]
Lucian didn't even blink.
“I wanted to look at the fool who didn’t understand what she had raised and ran away.”
"You've already seen my face."
“You didn’t know anything then. I was wondering if you look worse now that you know everything.”
“Everyone, both he and you, are just waiting for me to suffer.”
[Maybe throw a tantrum? Cry or something, for the sake of decency...]
“In this regard, you disappointed me. You look quite cheerful."
“Sorry I didn’t live up to expectations.”
"No need to apologize."
He leaned his elbows on the armrest, resting his chin on his hand. Light brown hair covered part of the face, and the expression became incomprehensible.
Adaline stole a glance at him and he grinned.
“I don’t want to help... but we can do it a little.”
“How much is “a little”?”
“Are you asking for help and being greedy?”
“Hanging out with you is more expensive than asking for help. What if brother Jeff goes bankrupt because of me?”
Lucian laughed - sincerely and loudly, as if she had just said the greatest stupid thing in the world.
[There's a fox.] - Adaline thought with a tired grin.