Back in her quarters, Frelis took her time, deliberately lingering.

She positioned herself by the window, fingertips idly tracing the ornate frame as she waited for Leon to take the bait.


Night had swallowed the Duke's mansion whole. Leon prowled the silent corridor in nothing but a silk robe, barefoot, his fingertips trailing over cold candelabras as he made his way to Frelis's bedroom door.

He didn't bother to knock—simply pushed the carved wooden door open.

The hinges creaked in protest.


Candlelight danced across his exposed collar, gilding his honey-colored skin. Golden hair spilled over his shoulders, his entire presence radiating a lazy, predatory confidence.

He strode directly to her dressing table, slender fingers caressing the newly arrived jewelry box with possessive familiarity.


He leaned down, his voice dropping to a seductive purr that seemed to caress the night air.

"Is the lady feeling lonely tonight?" Each word dripped from his tongue like warm honey. "I have quite the talent for... relieving boredom."

Frelis remained by the window, turning her head just enough to acknowledge his presence.

Moonlight streamed in behind her, casting her in silhouette while illuminating half of Leon's face in silver light.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Those eyes.

Like arctic mist over glaciers—transparent, piercing, cutting through to the soul.

Unbidden memories surfaced—a rain-soaked night, a fleeting glimpse of a young man, a moment of misplaced affection she could never recapture.

The buried past threatened to drown her, but her expression faltered for only a heartbeat before freezing over once more.

"I'm not in the mood for this tonight." Her voice cut like winter wind, instantly freezing any hint of intimacy between them.