I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching Elara’s every move like a hawk circling its prey. The changing area was a cage, the locked door my ally, and the tension between us was a live wire, sparking with every breath she took. Her hands tugged at the door again, her movements frantic, her dark eyes darting around the small space, searching for an escape that didn’t exist. I could read her like an open book—fear, suspicion, a flicker of panic—and it amused me, the way her mind raced, piecing together a conspiracy.
“You’re so readable, princess,” I drawled, my voice a teasing taunt, my smirk growing as her gaze snapped to mine, wide and wary. “It’s almost too easy.”
She looked almost scared, her body tensing as she glanced around again, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.
