"I heard a message come in, but I didn't check. My mother called at the same time. I didn't know it was you."
"Of course. Total coincidence."
I nodded with exaggerated understanding. "Must be tough, juggling royal bloodlines and basic phone etiquette."
He flinched a little but kept going. "I'm not making excuses. Once I knew you were safe, and my mother--" He paused. "I got pulled in. But I should've handled it better."
He looked at me like he was hoping to find something--an opening, a reaction, anything.
I gave him a smile. Bright. Polished. Lethal.
The one I'd spent a year perfecting after Xavier.
The one I used to exile people, emotionally and permanently.
"Affection?" I laughed, light and sharp. "Sebastian, I like you because you're hot and emotionally unavailable. Not because
