~~~{──────────
Morning.
Bathroom, Salviana's Chambers.
Wyfkeep Castle, Wyfellon. Wyfn-Garde.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}~~~
His cold fingers grazed her skin, and he felt her shiver beneath his touch, her breath catching in her throat as she braced herself for more.
But just as his fingers brushed against her most intimate place, a voice broke through the haze.
"She is not worthy to be called a princess," the words echoed from outside the chamber doors, slicing through the air like a cold wind.
Alaric froze. His entire body tensed as he blinked, drawing himself out of the desire that had clouded his mind.
The scent of her arousal still lingered, intoxicating him, but the voice—those cruel words—brought him back to reality.
He clenched his jaw, anger flashing through his eyes, but he didn't let it show. Instead, he dropped his hand from her thighs, his fingers gently grazing her skin one last time before pulling away.
