Chapter 26

We left the room and walked to his car in silence. We got in, still silent.

"What was that? What are you planning to do with me?" I asked, bewildered.

"For now, I'll take you to get some real food," he decided, starting the car, as cool as a cucumber.

-

The "real food" Lucius referred to was this glorious cheeseburger I was biting into. My hands were messy with all the sauces I had added. He was in the same state, focusing on the fries on our little table.

We must have looked like quite the sight—dressed as if we'd just come from a black-tie event, yet sitting beside a street burger stand. There were few customers around, each minding their own business, so no one paid us much attention. Lucius had left his jacket in the car, and I had tied my hair up in a messy bun to keep it clean.

"I told you I'd bring you somewhere with real food," he boasted.

"Careful, a nutritionist might hear you and scold you," I replied, though I couldn't deny the burger was delicious. "They must've wan