"If he is as intelligent as he is now presenting himself to be, he may suspect," Vanessa said, her voice hard, almost clinical. "But men—" she paused, letting the word hang for emphasis, "—men suspect, and yet they proceed anyway." Her eyes met Sera's directly. "The bait only has to be good enough. You.... my dear Seren... are good enough."
A long silence stretched between them.
"You want everything," Sera said finally. "Not just impressions. Not just vague ideas. You want—" she hesitated, measuring each word carefully, "—specific words. Specific moments. Every fragment of it."
Vanessa leaned forward slightly, her hands joined together. "I want to be able to close my eyes," she said, "and see the inside of that conversation as though I were present for it myself."
Sera was quiet for another heartbeat, her mind working rapidly behind calm eyes. Then she gave a slow nod. "Yes, my lady."
Without another word, she stood, moved towards the door, and slipped out.
**
