The night felt different.
No hesitation.
No pretending.
Just truth—raw and unfiltered.
They sat together, the city glowing beneath them, but neither of them looked away from each other.
"Why me?" Ava asked softly.
Dominic frowned slightly. "You've asked that before."
"And you never gave a real answer."
He studied her for a long moment.
Then—
"Because you don't see me the way others do," he said.
Ava tilted her head. "How do they see you?"
"Useful. Powerful. Dangerous."
"And me?"
His voice dropped.
"You see me like I'm human."
Her breath caught.
"And that scares you?"
"Yes."
She smiled faintly.
"Good."