Page 16 of The Panther's Price

“No one ever is,” she replied, voice rough but steady.

He stopped a few feet away. Far enough not to threaten. Close enough to be heard.

“You’re waiting for her to come back,” he said. “Thalia.”

Evryn’s brows pulled together. “How do you know her name?”

Lucien tilted his head. “Because I’ve known her a long time. Long enough to know she doesn't do anything without a reason.”

“She said she’d help me.”

“Shesaida lot of things.”

Evryn’s eyes narrowed. “You think I should just trust you instead?”

“No,” he said. “I think you should trustyourself.”

The wind picked up then, catching the hem of her coat. Her curls whipped into her face. She didn’t flinch. Just stared at him.

Measured. Mistrusting. But not afraid.

That quiet courage again. The kind that didn’t brag.

“You’re the one I saw before,” she said softly. “In the market.”

Lucien nodded once. “You saw me when you shouldn’t have.”

“Because of the Sight?”

“Because ofwhoyou are.”

That made her hesitate.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean the blood running through your veins hasn’t walked the world in centuries,” he said. “I mean there are Houses that would kill to control you—or kill just tostopyou. Thalia’s one of them. She just hides it better.”

Evryn looked down then. Her hands curled at her sides. Her voice was quieter now.

“She told me she’d help me find Eamon.”

She didn’t know. Of course she didn’t. And he couldn’t say it.

Not yet.

“She might try,” he said carefully. “But it won’t be for you. It’ll be for her cause. Her rebellion. She’ll make you into a flag before you understand what it costs.”

Evryn’s throat bobbed with a hard swallow. “And you won’t?”

Lucien stepped closer. The space between them thinned like paper.

“I don’t need you to be anything.”

She blinked, searching his face. For what, he didn’t know.

A lie? A weakness? Something she could believe in?

Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Why are you helping me?”

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