Lucien's brows drew together. "I haven't approved any appointment yet."
Thorne hesitated. "He introduced himself to Lady Liora in the garden. Alone."
There was a pause. Rowan's gaze flicked toward Lucien with a faint glint of knowing.
Lucien said nothing for a breath too long.
Then: "Is she safe?"
Thorne gave a slight nod. "He was respectful. She did not seem troubled."
Lucien turned away from the map. "I want his full history by morning." Where he trained. Who sent him? Why now?"
Thorne bowed slightly and left.
Rowan raised a brow as Lucien sat back down. "Shall I add him to the list?"
"Not yet," Lucien said. "But I don't like unknowns."
Meanwhile, Liora stood in the infirmary's main hall, flipping through the patient logs. The fire was warm behind her, but she didn't feel it. Her thoughts drifted again and again to Cassian's eyes, how they had studied her with such easy familiarity.
She didn't dislike him. That was the problem.
