Page 138 of Interion

“Beautiful doesn’t even come close.” I tore my gaze from the glass and turned to him—his eyes were on me. A shadow brushed my cheek. I quickly turned away, unable to bear the electricity of being so close.

“Maybe this is becoming the fourth best view I’ve ever had,” I said cheerfully, and the shadows stirred.

“Since I first saw you, you’ve been my favorite view.”

“Really? The first? You’ve been to Lemon’s before?” I turned to the man beside me, and to my surprise, he was still staring at me. I couldn’t help the blush that crept across my cheeks. Zion blinked a few times, then looked through the glass as well.

“Lemon’s... Yes, I came once, when I passed the academy’s final test. I graduated with Angelo, the owner’s son, so he threw a celebration dinner. Actually, Angelo runs the place himself now.”

“I’ve always wanted to come here, but it’s where Lorenzo and Ambrose celebrate their wedding anniversary, so whenever they came on those dates, I avoided accepting the invitation. I didn’t want to be a third wheel.”

“And why didn’t you come alone?” He moved closer to me, almost as if our bodies no longer wanted to stay so far apart.

“I don’t know, I guess I was waiting for a special occasion.”

He seemed to weigh my words, measuring every inch of what I’d said. The elevator stopped and the back door opened. Zion smiled and extended his hand again, so I placed mine in his.

“I hope I don’t disappoint on your first time.”

Chapter 35

I blushed at how suggestive that phrase sounded. But I forgot all about my embarrassment when we stepped out of the elevator into the night garden. Lush vegetation spread through the mountain’s alcove, a vivid green bursting with thousands of flowers in every color. The whole space was beautifully designed, and the mingled scents of roses, lisianthus, and lilies made the air impossibly sweet. Light sconces lined the entire path, and the flowering trees sparkled with thousands of tiny lights wound around their branches. Zion pressed his palm to the small of my back, guiding me through a maze of low shrubs to a table on a wooden deck near the balcony.

“Now I understand why Ambrose always brought Lorenzo here,” I said.

“Because of the garden?” Zion asked, pulling out the chair for me.

“No. Because of the romance.”

Decks dotted the garden, and I spotted a few couples’ heads among the illuminated vegetation, but none were sitting near the edge where we’d chosen to stay. The view from our table was incredible—we could take in the city lights, Canoa Lake below, and the three walls. The waiter approached with the menu, and we quickly placed our order. When he left, I leaned back in my chair and smiled at Zion, satisfied with the atmosphere.

“Have you heard the results of my test with the Sonar?” I asked excitedly. This would be my opening to unload everything.

“Who hasn’t? I think all of Jupiter knows by now! It was no surprise to me that your level was special—I saw what you’re capable of when you healed the students during training.”

“You’re exaggerating. I never faced a big challenge during training.”

“Are we exaggerating about Kaori’s case?” Zion asked, arching an eyebrow. Then he smiled, satisfied with my silence. It was the most open and genuinely sincere smile I’d ever seen him give. “Would it be exaggerating to repeat what all the other doctors are saying: you were perfect, creative, and brilliantly precise during the surgery?”

I felt awkward and took a sip of the water the waiter had set in front of us.

“I can’t argue with that. I have to admit I did really well with the reconstruction, but we shouldn’t celebrate yet—Ambrose hasn’t confirmed the test results, and the patient is still unconscious. It’s been three hours since I finished the surgery, and no one’s sent any news about the case. I’m getting worried.”

“We should celebrate just because she’s alive! You have no idea how relieved I am, Kay. I really thought she wasn’t going to survive. When I saw the extent of the damage, I thought she’d be dead before she even reached the base.” Zion seemed a bit anxious, and a shadow of sadness crossed his gaze, leaving the tendrils on alert. “But you performed a miracle. I’m so proud I don’t even know how to react. You haven’t even graduated yet, and you’ve already surpassed Ambrose’s intelligence and level. You’re becoming a brilliant doctor.”

“I’m nowhere near Ambrose’s level, but I appreciate the compliment.”

Zion was starting to make me feel awkward with all that attention. He’d always been critical during training sessions, and being praised by him left me at a loss for what to do. It stirred something deep in me, tying my brain in knots.

“No, you really were wonderful. I hadn’t realized the full extent of your abilities until today. I want you to know that I admire you greatly—not just for the magnitude of your gift, but for your intelligence, resilience, and ability to handle a tense situation like that.”

I stared at my hands on the table, and when a tear threatened to fall, I looked around. I fixed my gaze on the moon, which hung enormous over the city, its light gleaming on the lake below.

“Kyller?” he called. I looked everywhere except at him, wishing my eyes would stay dry and that he wouldn’t see me like this. “Why are you sad?” he asked, worried. “Did I say something wrong?”

“It’s nothing,” I replied, finally facing him, but the traces of tears were still there.

“How can it be nothing if you’re almost crying?”