I blinked, the words that had just left his lips did not make sense in any way. That was not Sylas. A mafia boss was not the man who held my hand in the garden, it was not the man who watched me eat as though it was the most fascinating thing in the world.

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “That’s not true. You are lying.”

Cassian’s lips curved into something that felt dangerously close to a smile,

“I’m not shocked that you don’t believe me,” he paused, and leaned towards me, “But I have a question for you. Why would I lie?” he asked softly.

“I don’t believe...