Evaline:
The moment the question slipped past my lips, realization hit me.
Three questions.
That was the rule.
And I had just asked my fourth.
I shook my head immediately, a little too fast, hands lifting as if I could physically pull the words back into my mouth. "No-forget it," I said quickly. "I didn't mean to ask that. You don't have to remind me the rule. Just... ignore it."
Elion didn't respond right away.
Instead, he leaned back slightly in his chair, folding his arms over his chest, his eyes studying me with an intensity that made my skin prickle. And then... slowly... his lips curved upward.
A smile.
Amused. Knowing. Entirely too calm.
"I can answer it," he said.
I froze.
"What?" The word came out sharper than I intended as I stared at him. "No, you can't. That was the fourth question. You said-"
"I did," he agreed smoothly. "And I usually wouldn't."
My brows knit together as confusion tangled with disbelief. "Then why-?"
