Lila noticed the small details immediately.
The collar of Elio's armor slightly misaligned, a deactivated clasp, his hair more disheveled than usual. Her eyes, trained by months of quiet watching, caught every signal, each one felt like tiny daggers to her heart.
"Diana needs to speak with you too," she kept her voice professional while guiding him, ignoring the slight flush that still colored Elio's cheeks and the way her own heart constricted at the sight. "It's about Zahyla."
Elio nodded, running a hand through his hair in an unconscious attempt to fix it. The gesture only served to confirm Lila's suspicions and deepen the ache in her chest.
"Did she say anything specific?" Elio asked, adjusting his collar.
'Her mark is there,' Lila thought, forcing herself to look away from the telltale signs of what she'd interrupted.
