Rex's posture stiffened, and his hands instinctively reached up to grab hers, stopping her from continuing her wandering touches. "Look," he said, trying to mask his discomfort with an awkward laugh. "I don't think it's that unreasonable, is it? A little help here and there—"
"One time," Xytrallia interrupted with her tone soft but firm, "I can agree to. But the other two times…" She leaned closer, her green eyes glowing faintly as her fingers paused under his hands.
"For those, I'll have to ask for an exchange. You see, I'm a fair queen, and I don't break my own rules, now do I?" Her voice was like velvet, utterly captivating and yet tinged with a dangerous undertone that made Rex's pulse quicken.
