LK

one whose injuries I mistakenly tended to, was now sitting b

g he wouldn't recognize me. After all, I hadn't exa

kept my head high. He stared at me for a long moment

chimed in, "Prince Zeroth, she'l

m off, his tone s

n the room. I could feel the tension in the air. His eyes ne

low and deliberate. "Why does

ead quickly. "No, Your Highness," I repl

from now on," he said, his tone low but firm. "I don't tolerate no

reathe. The weight of his words pressed on me, but I f

, and night. And make sure it's the right temperature

whisper. "Yes, Your Highness. Dare

and biting. "Why are you nodding your

it made my skin crawl. I quickly caught myself, panick

I'd pushed him too far. But he just pointed to

t my toenails," h

in shallow gasps. I bent down carefully to cut his nails, bu

ips. The sound made my stomach drop, and I immedia

rry, Your

out, gripping my neck with terrifying force. His fingers tightened aro

for a moment, I saw a flicker

h me," he growled, his voice

RO

ir within me. Our faces were so close, her breath almost mingling wi

e weight of her gaze... nervous and afraid, kept me rooted in place. Her lips

her neck. As soon as I did, she lost her balance and fell

"Leave," I commanded, my voice rough, as

she scrambled to her feet, her hands t

lumsy. You haven't been here for even ten minutes, and

. I hated how weak she looked, yet something about

ice breaking as she begged,

or being this clumsy," I said, my tone biting. I couldn't help

hesitate... but o

I had no intention of letting her off

lushed, and quickly hu

be. My mind was elsewhere as I prepared to leave. The

diately noticed how Valkira ran out of the room, her face

nsure how to respond. But I wasn

said coldly. "This is your fault, Dare

l warm up to you," he said, though I could hear the uncertainty in h

, focused on my next step. Darethor's gaze drifted

ing?" he asked, a

'm going back to the woods," I said. "Where

her face- the one that had looked so unsure and desperate just moments before. Ther

xtra safety. He seemed more nervous than usual, glancing arou

one," I tol

If anything happens to you, Prince

don't work for the king... you work for me. Unless you

e carriage, leaving him behind, and walked deeper into the trees. T

found the spot... the tree

ensation was strange, like it wasn't the tree but some

d me. My senses went on high

ed a beat when

mean to scare you," s

just the maid

as the truth hit

s my