-LILIAN-
The meal, if one could call it that, ended in a suffocating silence. Alexander dismissed the court with a flick of his wrist, and suddenly, the grand hall was empty save for him and me. The tension, thick and suffocating, remained. His hand, which had been a burning brand on my thigh, finally retreated as he rose from his throne. He didn't speak, just turned and walked towards the entrance to his private chambers, his broad back a silent command. I had no choice but to follow.
The moment the heavy chamber doors swung shut behind us, the veneer of composure I’d clung to shattered. The air crackled, heavy with unspoken words and raw emotion. He moved to the centre of the room, turning to face me, his eyes now blazing with an intensity that promised a storm.
"Property," I stated,
