Page 125 of King of Sin
The answer came instantly. His expression remained cold and indifferent, as though the question itself wasn't worth discussing. He slipped his phone back into his pocket before turning toward the stairs without the slightest hesitation.
Xavier watched him leave, his eyebrows slowly rising.
"I'm going outside to get some air," Cassian said dismissively over his shoulder.
For several seconds, Xavier simply stared at his retreating figure before a laugh escaped him.
Chapter 16 Drink With Me
Five minutes ago, Cassian had been acting as though he would rather jump off the roof than go anywhere near Juliet. Now he was practically heading straight toward her the second she asked. Shaking his head, Xavier rubbed a hand over his jaw, thoroughly amused by the sight.
The man was hopeless.
If Juliet snapped her fingers and asked him to cross an ocean, Cassian would probably do it without hesitation and still convince himself it had nothing to do with her.
Meanwhile, Cassian descended the stairs and headed toward the garden behind the estate. His face remained expressionless, but his pace was noticeably faster than usual.
The moment he stepped outside, cool evening air brushed against his skin, carrying the scent of flowers and freshly cut grass. Strings of golden lights hung from the trees overhead, casting a warm glow across the pathways, while elegant lanterns illuminated the garden below. Soft jazz music drifted through the air from a small band performing near the fountain, blending with the distant sounds of laughter and conversation from the guests gathered around cocktail tables and drinks stations throughout the grounds.
Cassian barely noticed any of it.
The second he stepped into the garden, his eyes immediately began searching the crowd. His gaze swept across the guests once, then again, instinctively looking for only one person.
Juliet.
"Cassian!"
The familiar voice instantly drew his attention. His head snapped toward the sound, and for a moment, he simply stared.
Juliet was hurrying toward him, a bright smile lighting up her face beneath the golden garden lights. Dressed in a midnight-blue gown that flowed around her with every step, she looked breathtaking. Her long blonde hair fell in soft waves down her back, the curls catching the warm glow of the lights and making her look almost ethereal.
Cassian felt his breath catch.
Beautiful.
The word appeared in his mind with startling clarity.
He had always known Juliet was beautiful. But tonight, with happiness shining in her eyes and that radiant smile directed entirely at him, she looked devastatingly so.
Something inside his chest tightened unexpectedly.
She looked genuinely happy to see him.
"Cassian!"
She called his name again, her smile widening as she closed the distance between them. The next second, she threw herself directly into his arms.
Cassian's breath caught.
Instinct took over before thought could. His hands immediately settled on her waist, catching her effortlessly as her body collided against his. The force of the impact pushed him back half a step, but he quickly steadied himself, his arms tightening around her without conscious thought. Juliet wrapped both arms around his neck as though she belonged there, settling comfortably against him while her familiar scent surrounded him and made his pulse stumble.
For a moment, everything else seemed to fade into the background.
The music.
The conversations.
The guests.
