Islinda knew she had to assert herself, to show Aldric that she wouldn't be cowed by his presence. The intensity of her gaze bore into him, daring him to respond, demanding that Aldric take her seriously despite the vulnerability of her situation.
"What do you mean by that, didn't you miss me?" Aldric asked, his tone unaffected by Islinda's anger, his expression inscrutable.
"What?" Islinda stared at him, dumbfounded by his audacity. Was he kidding her right now? How could he escape from his prison and then have the nerve to claim he missed her after what he had done? Then, in a moment of clarity, Islinda realized her mistake—she forgot she was dealing with a psychopath, someone capable of such twisted logic and manipulation.
To confront Aldric effectively, Islinda would have to match his cunning and ruthlessness. With calculated precision, she maintained her sweet facade as she responded to his question.
