Lara stood alone on the balcony, gazing out over the sprawling garden below.
The evening breeze swept gently through her hair, carrying with it the faint fragrance of flowers. Silver moonlight spilled across the garden, painting the trees, winding paths, and flower beds in a soft, almost dreamlike glow.
"What are you thinking?"
Lara turned at the sound of the voice.
Ares stood several feet behind her, his hands tucked casually into his pockets.
She hadn't heard him approach.
For a moment, their eyes met.
"The moon is beautiful tonight," she said, almost too quickly.
One of Ares's eyebrows lifted.
It was an obvious evasion.
Still, he turned his gaze toward the garden.
She wasn't wrong.
The moon hung high in the cloudless sky, its pale beams bathing the grounds in a silvery glow. Under its light, the garden looked almost enchanted—too beautiful, too peaceful for the thoughts that seemed to weigh so heavily on Lara.
"Thank you for defending me. I heard it."
