The villa fell into a different kind of quiet after Nicholas departed, the kind of silence that followed the departure of a dangerous predator.
It was not the relief of safety, but the tension of knowing the threat had simply moved elsewhere, biding its time.
Creed remained in his hovering armchair for several long minutes, his fingers steepled beneath his chin as he stared at the spot where Nicholas had been sitting.
The crystalline walls of his villa reflected the ambient lighting in patterns that shifted like liquid starlight, but Creed's attention was entirely internal, his mind working through the conversation with the methodical precision of a master strategist dissecting a complex battlefield.
"Well," Lilith said, breaking the contemplative silence as she examined her perfectly manicured nails with the satisfaction of someone who took pride in sharp things.
