"We are enemies. she said, her voice steady, though it felt like it was breaking inside her. "My sister wanted to kill you to give the title to her son. And I am bound to her. How could I love you?"
She expected him to pull away, to release her, to finally let her walk away. But he didn't.
His grip on her waist tightened. His eyes darkened. The air between them crackled, thick with tension and desire.
"Then why did you help me?" His voice was soft, but it was as dangerous as a knife's edge. The words sent a shiver down her spine.
Before she could answer, he released her suddenly. She staggered slightly, feeling as though the ground beneath her was shifting. Her breath came in short gasps, disoriented by the sudden loss of his touch.
But then, before she could understand what was happening, he reached into his coat and pulled out a dagger.
He held it out to her with a cruel, mocking smile.