Ava woke with the distinct feeling that she was being watched.
Not in the general, vague sense of being observed—no. This was targeted. Intentional. A presence carved directly into her awareness.
She opened her eyes.
Lucas Bai was sitting in the chair beside the bed. Arms crossed. One ankle balanced casually over the opposite knee. Golden eyes very much open. Very much focused.
On her.
She stared at him.
He didn't blink.
"You've been watching me sleep." Her voice was rough, sleep-creased. "That's not flattering. That's just the worst."
Lucas tilted his head. "You watched me almost die, so I figured we were even."
She groaned, rolled to her side, and buried her face in the pillow. "That's not how this works. There are boundaries. You don't just park yourself next to someone and stare like a sleep-deprived statue."
"I do," he said mildly. "And I did."
