Lucas's gaze swept the chamber once more, and for the briefest of moments, it lingered upon Nyx. He could see it clearly now, the tension running through her, the stiffness in her shoulders, the way her hands trembled faintly where they rested in her lap. She tried to appear composed, but her heart betrayed her, and Lucas, more perceptive than most, caught it all. He offered her nothing elaborate, no gesture that would draw unwanted attention, only a steady look, calm, resolute, and certain. His eyes told her what his lips did not: trust me.
The effect was immediate. Though faint, he noticed her breath soften, the tautness in her posture easing just a little, as though the storm inside her had been soothed. It was enough, for now.
