"Have we met before?" Theo asked.
Salina's cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink beneath her desert-worn scarf. "No, my lord," she replied softly, averting her eyes. "But I seen you in Capita, In you parade."
Theo felt a strange warmth spread through his chest at her words, an emotion that was both comforting and disconcerting. He had never felt such an instant connection to someone, not even with Lily and Arabella. "Your words are as intriguing as you are," he murmured, his thumb brushing against her cheek, feeling the softness of her skin.
Ely watched from the side, her eyes narrowed slightly. She had seen Theo with many women before, but there was something different about the way he interacted with Salina. It was as if he had forgotten the danger of their mission, the looming shadow of the prophecy that had brought them to Hazzar.
"Why don't you hang out here with me?" Theo suggested. "I enjoy talking to you.
