In the endless seconds that passed after Hilde turned as if she heard her name called, Leal saw in her pale, arresting eyes that same flash of ire he'd come to adore. It was followed by confusion over what he meant by staring so intensely—was he asking for a fight?
Last of all came that same dread he’d first noted back in her sister's study. Her face had once again become so drained of color that she looked ill. Whatever she was seeing in Leal's eyes, it appeared that it still did not sit well with her. Farthest from it.
Swallowing his crushing disappointment, he allowed his gaze to linger a moment longer before freeing her from its hateful sight.
A soft snort sounded beside him.
Even after he noticed from the corner of his vision that Hilde had begun approaching, he intended to avoid
