Darius.
I searched Leilani's face for any trace of unease, anxiety or anything that could give away the fact that she was lying to me but I found none.
Instead, what I was met with was a sincerity that was so immense, it made my heart constrict within my chest.
I cupped her face in my hands, half expecting her to shrug me off like she always does, but for some reason, she didn't. Instead, she leaned into my touch, closed her eyes as if in delight and sighed heavily— a sigh that felt like she was unraveling all of her burdens before me.
And that delighted me.
At that moment, I totally forgot about the fact that she always seemed to hate me. I totally brushed off the fact that she had nearly beaten me to a pulp the last time we met.
My Lycan stirred within me in delight and I found myself smiling despite myself. I drawled; "Leilani…!" And at the sound of my voice, she slowly peeled her eyes open to stare up at me with puppy dog eyes.
