What—
Lillia felt dizzy.
The question lingered between them momentarily, and Lillia blinked, feeling like a baited prey. Then, with a slow and silent exhale, she answered.
“I will always protect what’s mine.”
Wind stirred her hair as her words fell flatly with silence. The torches flickered and stilled at once as if the room held its breath.
Regaleon did not react at first, he stood unmoving, studying her intently.
The moment stretched.
But Lillia held herself still, her gaze never leaving his. She could feel the air brush against her skin, but the space between them was much too heated to feel cold.
She felt exposed and bare, her defenses stripped away slowly by this man’s electrifying gaze, and she couldn’t look away. In the silence and still, his presence surrounded her, tight
