He towers over her, his sheer presence enough to tilt the dynamic in his favor. She must look up to meet his gaze, and Kalix makes sure she does.
“The infamous captain of the guard,” she says lightly. Yet the nervous flutter in her mind betrays her.Gods, he’s enormous. And those eyes—
Kalix offers his hand, adorned in a collection of rings. Annabeth hesitates a fraction of a second too long.
“Kalix, Lady Annabeth.” He greets her smoothly. “Thank you and your father for having us.”
He is using her first name on purpose. A subtle trick I’ve watched him employ more times than I can count. He’s trying to make her feel closer to him.
The more you give, the less they guard their hearts. Soften the defenses, and that’s when the real fun begins.
He’s going through his process. It’s a game he plays well.
Annabeth is already a blushing mess. Amusement tugs at the corners of my mouth as I take another sip of wine. I’m thoroughly entertained. Kalix has always had a gift for charming ladies.
The women at the castle whisper about him, as if he were a marble statue brought to life, with his strong jaw, captivating eyes, and thick lashes that shouldn’t belong to a man his size. His shaggy dark brown hair is always worn the same, swept to theside and just unruly enough to make him seem untamed rather than unkempt.
It’s his size that holds their attention. He trained since childhood and grew into a frame too large to be anything but imposing, even now. The black tunic stretches taut across his broad shoulders. Annabeth notices.
Of course she does.
“Certainly, Captain,” Annabeth replies sweetly, releasing his hand.
Kalix’s smile doesn’t waver. His tone remains friendly and almost…effortless. “I was hoping to speak with your father. He was expecting me, but I can’t seem to find the man of the hour.”
Annabeth’s lips curve into a deliberate smile, but her fingers twitch at her sleeve, smoothing out a crease that isn’t there. “Oh, I’m not sure. I’m sorry. I haven’t seen him.”
Father is not to be disturbed.
“You must be preoccupied,” he muses, his smile shifting, teasing her. “A beautiful lady such as yourself has better things to do than keep track of her father.”
Before she can respond, he invitingly extends his arm. “Would you allow a poor fool like me, who has alreadywastedyour time, to waste some more over a drink?” Kalix’s eyes glint with amusement.
Smooth.
Annabeth pauses but slips her arm into his, “Of course, Captain.” She nods shyly, her voice softer and blush deepening.
As Kalix guides her to the wine table, he flicks me a quick glance. A silent cue. We are moving to stage two in this plan.
I rise, adjusting my trench coat, and wander to the patio doors, pretending to need some fresh air before slowly drifting to the wine table. Keeping my distance, I station myself at the opposite end and casually observe.
“A wine for my lady?” Kalix asks, his voice light and charming as they arrive.
Annabeth attempts to focus, but the heat of his presence is impossible to ignore. “I don’t drink very often, Captain…perhaps something sweet?” she manages, her voice just a touch unsteady.
Kalix leans in, one hand pressing firmly against the table, the other reaching for a bottle of wine. Caging her in without touching her, he pours it into a glass.
“Don’t drink very much? What a good girl,” he says, his voice low, indulging her. He lifts a glass to her but doesn’t offer it just yet. Instead, he lowers his lips to her ear, close enough that she nearly shivers. “Try this for me,” he says, his voice smooth and coaxing. “It’s sweeter, with notes of peach and jasmine.”
She reaches for the glass, but he doesn’t let go. His fingers remain curled around the stem, a gentle but calculated motion.
“Personally, I prefer something with a little more depth,” he continues, carrying just enough weight to make the words linger. “Something...fulfilling.”
She swallows hard.
I read every thought racing through her mind.For a virgin, she certainly has a vivid imagination.
Annabeth reaches for the glass, but Kalix clicks his tongue.
