Page 53 of The Obedient Lie
Even if it was just dread.
If only she knew that both Bastion and I had been systematically forcing her back into our world.
Little by little.
Curfew lock? Bastion’s doing. He nearly went to war with the admin board over it.
This assignment? Me.
We weren’t subtle.
We weren’t noble.
We just weren’t ready to let her disappear.
And if pairing her with me for three weeks of mandatory meetings and late-night strategy sessions was what it took to hear her voice again?
So be it.
Even if she hated every second of it.
Especially if she did.
Chapter Nineteen
EMILIA
I was already apologizing before I even sat down.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, barely above a breath. “For being late. For the assignment. For—” I hesitated. “For everything.”
Luca didn’t say a word.
He just sat back in his chair, arms crossed, glaring out the tall arched window like the storm rolling in outside was more interesting than me.
It probably was.
I dropped my bag beside the table and pulled out the materials I’d prepped. My hands were shaking, but I laid everything out perfectly, hoping the order would help. Hopingsomethingmight make this easier.
He still didn’t look at me.
I swallowed and tried again. “I can take lead on everything. If you’d prefer. You won’t even have to?—”
He shifted slightly in his seat.
His jaw flexed.
I flicked my pen nervously against the page.Tap. Tap. Tap.
Still no response.
Tap. Tap?—
Suddenly, his hand shot out. He snatched the pen from between my fingers and placed it on the opposite side of the table, like it had personally offended him.
I flinched.
My knee started bouncing next.
