The candlelit table at *Le Jardin* was a world away from the toxic politics of the Croft/Valerius war.
Dr. Kaius Reed poured wine for Maya Khan, his smile easy and golden.
“You have a ‘tell’, Dr. Khan,” Kaius teased. “Whenever you’re happy, you twist that ring on your right hand.”
Maya laughed, realizing she was doing exactly that. “You’re too observant.”
“I’m interested,” Kaius corrected, leaning in. “There’s no drama with me, Maya. No secrets. Just… this.”
It was perfect. It was exactly what she needed after months of Julian’s brooding darkness. She felt light. She felt seen.
Across the street, sitting in a parked car with the engine off, Dr. Julian Sterling watched them through the restaurant window.
He saw Maya laugh. He saw Kaius reach out and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
Jealousy was a physical pain in Julian’s chest. He wanted to storm in there and drag her out. He wanted to tell her that Kaius was boring, that Kaius didn’t know the thrill of breaking rules in the archives or the heat of the on-call room.
He pulled out his phone. His thumb hovered over the screen. He shouldn’t. It was petty. It was toxic.
He typed it anyway.
*He doesn’t know you like I do.*
Inside the restaurant, Maya’s phone lit up. She glanced at the screen. Her smile faltered. She looked out the window into the darkness, her heart skipping a beat, pulled back into the orbit of the secret prince she couldn’t quit.