Xavier's smirk deepened as he leaned back, resting his hands behind his head. His golden eyes gleamed in the dim light of the tent, filled with amusement and something else—a quiet satisfaction.
"You don't remember," he mused, his voice carrying an unsettling calm. "But it makes sense. After all, that's how betrayal works, doesn't it? It's sharp, unexpected… and most painful when it comes from someone you trust the most."
Athena's fingers curled into fists. "What are you talking about?"
Xavier chuckled, shaking his head as if he found her confusion adorable. "We weren't always enemies, Athena."
She stiffened.
"You and I…" Xavier's gaze drifted, as if he were recalling something long buried. "Once, we were lovers."
Athena's breath caught in her throat.
"No." She refused to believe that.
