Gideon stepped closer, the heat radiating from him cutting through the cool evening air. He reached out, his fingers hooking beneath her chin to tilt her face upward, forcing her to meet his steady, golden gaze. "Did you get bored being by yourself all day?"
"A little," Adeline admitted, her tone brightening with a sudden spark of excitement. "Then I started a series I found. It was incredibly popular years ago, but I never had the time to actually sit down and watch it until now."
Gideon watched the animation in her face for a moment before his expression shifted into something more somber. "Your family... do you believe they will truly leave you be now?"
"Huh?" Adeline blinked, the transition from her lighthearted topic to his heavy question leaving her momentarily disoriented.
Gideon released her chin, shifting his grip so his hands rested firmly on her shoulders. "From what I have learned, your family went to great lengths to ensure you wouldn't survive. Yet, here you are."
