Eclipse had finished his meal much faster than usual, not because he was in a hurry, but because he wanted the upper hand.
He leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin, and let his eyes settle on Valeria with a calm intensity.
Every now and then, he'd glance out the window or swirl his tea. There were quite a few civilians running. Are they having some sort of race or something?
But his attention always drifted back to her like a hunter watching a snare.
He wasn't in a rush to speak. Silence, after all, was its own kind of pressure.
In his mind, he was already running through the scenarios—how much she might reveal, how far he'd need to push.
There was an almost childish amusement behind his cool exterior. Maybe she didn't know it yet, but she was already playing his game.
He exhaled softly, just loud enough for her to hear.
And waited.
Across the cafe table, Valeria was still poking at her food, trying not to notice him watching her.
