"How can this be..." The High Archon Seraphina whispered to herself.
The silence in the hallway was thick with shock. Lysaria clung to Riku, completely lost in the overwhelming relief of the moment, her world narrowing to the simple, solid fact that Riku was with her now. For a heartbeat, she was oblivious to everything else.
"Ahem."
Seraphina cleared her throat, a sharp, pointed sound that cut through Lysaria's emotional haze like a shard of ice. The sound jolted her back to reality. She remembered where she was, who she was, and most importantly, who was watching. With a small gasp, Lysaria finally pulled back from Riku, her face flushing a deep crimson as she shyly avoided Seraphina's stony gaze.
Seraphina's mouth snapped shut. The stunned horror on her face morphed into a mask of cold, controlled fury. Her perfect trap had not only failed but had detonated in her face, revealing a secret that could ruin them all.
