Zara gasped, spinning around so fast that her gown swirled around her ankles. Her eyes widened as she took in Denzal's towering figure, his smirk sharp and predatory. He stood uncomfortably close, his piercing eyes gleaming with mischief as they locked onto hers.
"Denzal!" she stammered, her breath hitching. "What—what are you doing here?"
He tilted his head, his smirk growing wider. "I could ask you the same thing, Luna" he drawled, stepping even closer. His presence was suffocating, his scent—a blend of pine and earth—filling the space around her. "This library isn't exactly open to visitors, especially ones sneaking around at odd hours."
Zara straightened her posture, crossing her arms to mask her nervousness. "I was just… curious," she replied, her tone laced with defiance.
