Meleonora

Meleonora's fingers twitched.

A strange, foreign emotion crept into her chest.

Was it fear? No it couldn't be. She had been in presence kings, dictators, and warlords before, and none of them had ever made her feel this unsteady.

Yet here she was standing in front of an 18-year-old boy and her entire body felt like it was on edge.

Lucian's hand suddenly moved, grabbing the barrel of her pistol and pressing it against his chest right over his heart.

"Go ahead," he whispered. "Shoot me."

Meleonora's entire body tensed.

What… was this feeling of oppression?

Why did it feel like, despite holding the gun, she was the one at a disadvantage?

Lucian's eyes were dark, unreadable. Unshaken.

"Have you ever been dead before?"he asked, his voice calm.

Meleonora's breath caught in her throat.

"What…?"she whispered, her lips moving on their own.

"You won't understand."Lucian's voice was quieter now, almost distant.