After the banquet, Kael approached Alina in the dimly lit corridor outside the great hall. His presence was like a shadow that loomed over her, his eyes gleaming in the flickering torchlight.
"You handled Vivienne well," he said, his voice low and rough. "But be careful. She is not one to forget a slight."
Alina turned to face him, her heart still pounding from the confrontation. "And what about you, Your Majesty? Do you forget slights so easily?"
Kael's lips twitched, almost forming a smile. "You continue to surprise me, Alina," he said softly. "I find that I am... intrigued."
The word hung between them, heavy with unspoken meaning. For a moment, the distance between them seemed to vanish, and Alina could see something raw and vulnerable in Kael's eyes—something she was certain he would never allow anyone else to see. But then, just as quickly, he turned away, the mask of the Blood King slipping back into place.
"Do not mistake my curiosity for kindness," he warned. "You are still my prisoner here."
Alina watched him walk away, her emotions a tangled mess. Was it possible that beneath the cold, ruthless exterior, there was a man capable of warmth? Or was this just another layer of the game he played?