I lifted the Noctyss flower into the candlelight, slowly turning the sealed glass container in my hand.
The inky petals gleamed, their edges tinged with an unnatural iridescence, shimmering like something pulled from the depths of an abyss.
“My, my,” I murmured, feigning ignorance, the weight of the moment pressing between us.
Elizabeth moved with the same fluid elegance as the melodies I played upon my harpsichord.
Deadly.Controlled.It was a calculated step in our unspoken game.
She closed the distance swiftly, her gaze locked onto the prize in my hand.
“Lord Hassan, may I please have the flower?”Her voice was smooth, but there was an undercurrent of urgency she could not quite conceal.“It is rare and delicate, and I want to ensure its safety.”
I tilted my head, watching her, studying her.
“It seems we have returned to formalities, Lady Alexander,” I mused.“If I remember correctly, we once shared a passionate kiss, and you called me by my first name.”
Her composure faltered, if only for a moment.
Then—she stiffened.
“That was a mistake, Lord Hassan.”
A tremor laced her voice, though she fought to mask it.
“I don’t know what came over me that day, but I assure you it won’t happen again.Now, please, may I have the flower back?”
Lies.
Her words were deliberate, yet her demeanor betrayed her.
Her swift, instinctive movements.
The way her fingers flexed—not just with desperation, but something deeper.
Something she refused to acknowledge.
Our stolen kiss meant more to her than she dared admit.
I let the moment drag on, my gaze lingering on her, my silence speaking louder than words.
Then—a slow, knowing smirk.
“Apologies, my lady,” I murmured, my tone polite yet laced with mock amusement.
But my true interest had shifted.
As my eyes roamed the cluttered wooden table, they landed on something more intriguing.
A book.
The Sacred Alchemy of Solaris: Secrets of the Celestial Forge.
The title alone sent a ripple of intrigue through me.It was time for another peek.
Without hesitation, I hurriedly plucked it from the table, flipping through its pages.
Elizabeth reacted instantly.
