Page 77 of Demon Apathy: Sunderverse

“I think you know,” he said, his voice so deep it sent a chill up my spine.

He took a deep breath as if to draw courage from the air. I braced myself for a lie, for… hope.

But something crossed over his features, and he seemed to do a one-eighty, offering me the lie I’d feared.

“You deserve a little fun, Lucia. You have been working so hard and—”

I waved a hand in the air to stop him. “You know what? I shouldn’t question this.” I reached for a hamburger out of the big pile that rested on a platter and removed the top bun to inspect it.

“It looks perfect,” I said, blinking rapidly, trying to dispel the tears that threatened to fill my eyes. “Extra pickles and extra mustard.”

“I know that’s how you like them.” He reached for a burger for himself, then pulled a bag of potato chips closer and opened it. “I know you like these too.”

“I do.” I grabbed the offered bag and tipped it over my plate, spilling a small mountain of crispy potato chips on it. I popped a few into my mouth and peered at the horizon.

We ate while Drevan made small conversation, and I answered all his questions in monosyllables.

“Is something the matter?” he asked. “You haven’t said much.”

“How is Lunar?” I asked, only to make conversation. “Solar said she’s in trouble for faking a kidnapping.”

Drevan waved a hand in the air. “No such thing. I made all of that go away.”

“I’m glad.”

Silence again.

I cast out for something else to say. “Um, Grant thinks I should get Truesight despite the risks.”

“Truesight?” he echoed, picking up a napkin and wiping his hands off.

Did I sense a hint of disapproval in his expression?

He threw the napkin on his plate. “He didn’t mention that to me.”

“Do you think it’s a bad idea?”

“Well, like you said, there are risks, and… this isn’t the time to put things in jeopardy unnecessarily. Especially something as important as your vision.”

I made a sound in the back of my throat as if I were considering his words when in reality the thing I was actually considering was whether or not he was hiding his true semblance from me. What if he looked nothing like this stunning creature that had the habit of leaving me breathless with a single smile? What if his true shape wasn’t remotely human? Would I still think I was in love with him?

My stomach twisted.

Of course, I wouldn’t, and maybe that was just what I needed to get him out of my head for once and for all. Nothing else seemed to be working.

“Damn Mabella Huxley,” he said under his breath.

“Who?”

“No one.”

I drummed my fingers on the table. “You’re right. I mean… I’m leaning toward ano.That’swhat I told Grant.”

“Good. I’m glad to see you’ve grown… sensible. I think in the past you would’ve jumped at the opportunity right away.”

“I had the same thought.” I chuckled.

“Are you done?” He indicated my plate.