He did not wait for her reply. Stripping off his heavy overcoat, he draped it around her shoulders with a firm, protective urgency—as if shielding a fragile child from a gathering storm. Then, with a gentleness that defied his usual nature, he took her hand to guide her into the safety of the carriage.
"Rest for now," he muttered, his voice a low promise of retribution. "I will ensure she regrets this later."
Seated within the plush interior, Olivia felt the lingering warmth of his coat and the scent of him enveloping her, a silent balm to the frigid void Lucius had left in her heart. She looked up at him, a small, fractured smile playing on her lips.
"You came here because you were afraid the Empress would strike again... just like last time, didn't you?"
