Lirea's wrist burned in his grip, the iron clamp of his fingers impossible to break. She struggled, twisting, but Turik's hand didn't budge.
"Release me," she hissed, her voice sharp as a blade, but beneath the steel, there was a flicker of unease.
Turik's smile deepened, cruel and deliberate. "You command me as if I am your lapdog. But tell me, Princess… which of us is trapped here? You standing in my chamber, or I holding you in place?"
Her breath caught, and though she glared at him, her pulse betrayed her, hammering in her throat.
"You forget yourself," she spat, straining against his hold.
"No," he murmured, drawing her closer, his breath hot against her ear. "I remember all too well. You came to me once… seeking more than alliances. Do you deny it? Do you deny how your body betrayed you even then?"
Lirea stiffened, fury flashing across her face. "Lies!"
