<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ffcc">Alexi had been hoping they could just pretend that didn't happen, unable to believe how brazen he'd been. It was like his sister had momentarily taken over. He was halfway down the hall before he realized he didn't reply to anything lucian had said. But he hadn’t been able to help himself. Knowing how his other apprentice was feeling, dredging up painful memories, Alexi genuinely liked the man and had wanted to see him smile. And it hadn't been a lie after all, he had kissed Ayla's boyfriend.</span>