Bab 45: CHAPTER 44

The air between us grew tense, charged with an undercurrent of something I couldn't quite name. My mind raced, trying to find the right response, something that would keep me from giving too much away. But with the way he was looking at me, it felt impossible to hide anything.

"Should I be?" I asked, aiming for a casual tone even as my heart pounded in my chest. "Or is this just another one of your games?"

His eyes flickered, amusement flashing in their depths. "You wound me," he replied, the mock hurt in his voice about as sincere as a wolf pretending to be tame. He stepped closer, closing the distance between us, and I found myself rooted to the spot, unable to look away.

"Games, as you call them," he continued, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "are reserved for those who bore me." His gaze traced over me, lingering a second too long, as if to make his point. "And you… you are far from boring."