Damien expression remained blank, giving her nothing.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Don't you?" Her smile was enigmatic. "You're very good at hiding what you are. Whatever that is. But I've always been perceptive about people who don't quite fit their supposed roles."
She was too close to the truth. Too aware. Too dangerous to his operational security.
And yet, the System notification remained unchanged – she was still a heroine requiring corruption.
"Why are you telling me this?" Damien asked.
"Because I want you to know that I see you. All of you - the shadow-touched noble, the Emperor's controversial investigator, the assassin eliminating traitors in the night. And the actual you, whatever that is." Her expression softened slightly. "And I want you to consider that maybe I'm not quite what I appear to be either."
Before Damien could respond, she stepped back, the intimate moment broken.
