She bit her lip, unsure of what to say. She had always known he was relentless in his pursuit, but something in his voice now carried a weight that made her breath hitch. This wasn't just the playful, teasing king she had grown used to—this was something more. Something far more dangerous to her own emotions.
As his thumb traced the edge of her jawline, she felt her own resolve slipping, her thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind. Alaric's presence, his closeness, made it hard to think straight.
"I didn't come here to—" she began, but her voice faltered as he leaned in, the intensity of his gaze making her breathless.
"I know," he whispered, his lips barely an inch from hers. "But now that you're here, I'm not letting you go."
Her heart raced, her mind screaming at her to say some
