The tiny sound from the bathroom is barely louder than a breath, but in the silence of the room, it becomes a thunderclap.
Merida's head snaps toward the door instantly.
Her eyes narrow.
Her brows draw together.
"What's that?"
Lucien freezes. His spine stiffens, and for a split second he forgets how to breathe. His mouth opens, nothing comes out. His pulse hammers in his throat. shit Merida doesn't have to go to the bathroom or it will be over
"Rats," he blurts finally, voice embarrassingly high. He forces out a shaky laugh. "Yep. Rats. Saw one last night when showering ,Big ones. But don't worry, I've got it all covered."
Merida keeps staring. Too long. Too sharp.
The kind of stare that always made Lucien feel ten years old again, shrinking under the weight of her scrutiny. She's not cruel, not outwardly, but she's terrifying in her quiet logic, the way she pieces things together with almost mechanical precision.
