"But, I refuse!"
Zerah's eyes widened, her mind barely processing what she'd just heard. But I refuse. The words echoed in her ears, ringing with a finality that shattered the comfortable illusion she'd briefly allowed herself to entertain.
She turned slowly to look at him, the lingering traces of her admiration replaced by sheer disbelief. Surely, this had to be a joke. Lucavion couldn't have been serious—not after everything he'd just said. Not after hinting that he understood the advantages, the opportunities she was offering.
"What?" she managed, her voice caught between incredulity and shock.
But as her gaze met him, all hope of him jesting vanished. His face held none of the lighthearted mischiefs he often wore; instead, his expression was dead serious, his eyes gleaming with a cold amusement that bordered on cruelty.
Lucavion tilted his head to the side, his one foot suddenly raised onto his seat.
