Athena rubbed her sore wrists, the faint redness still marking where the ropes had held her.
Xavier stood before her, his sharp eyes softened by a gentle smile that made her heart waver.
It was strange. The intensity in his gaze, the way he looked at her, as if she was more precious than the world itself, made her feel something unfamiliar.
A connection she couldn't remember, yet couldn't ignore.
"You're free to move around now," Xavier said, his voice low and steady. "Come with me. I'll show you to your room."
Athena hesitated for a moment before following him down the dimly lit hallway. The villa was vast yet eerily silent, with its high ceilings and marble floors amplifying their footsteps.
He stopped in front of a wooden door and pushed it open.
"This will be your room," he said, stepping aside for her to enter. "It's right next to mine."
