The chase begins

The next day, Xypheron arrived at the palace courtyard just as the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the stone. His boots clicked loudly against the flagstone, the sound echoing through the stillness of the garden. But he wasn't alone. Vexaria was there, too.

She was perched on the edge of the fountain, her back straight, her eyes scanning the horizon, lost in thought. She looked so composed, so unbothered, that it irked him. She wasn't supposed to be calm. She was supposed to be... rattled.

He hadn't expected the tension from their last encounter to affect him as much as it had. But she had gotten under his skin. And now, the need to break her—no, to own her—was an itch he couldn't scratch. He'd barely slept. Every thought of her had made his chest tighten in a way he didn't like.

But this time, he wouldn't let her get away. He couldn't.

He walked toward her, his steps measured, deliberate.

"Vexaria," he called, a mischievous smile creeping onto his lips as he closed the gap between them.

She didn't flinch, didn't turn. Instead, she gave a small sigh and continued to stare ahead.

"You know," Xypheron continued, leaning against the stone edge of the fountain beside her, "you're rather difficult to find. I've been looking all over for you."

Without looking at him, she tilted her head to the side, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "I've been right here, Prince. You must be losing your touch."

He chuckled, the sound rich with amusement. "Oh, I know exactly where you are. I just thought I'd give you a moment to think you're in control."

Vexaria's head snapped to the side, her eyes flashing with something dangerous. "Is that what you think? That I need to be in control?" she asked, her tone laced with amusement and just the right amount of challenge.

Xypheron straightened, sensing the subtle shift in the air. She was playing. Playing this game, just like he was.

"I don't think you need to be in control," he said, his voice low, filled with both humor and heat. "I think you're just scared of losing it."

Vexaria raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, leaning back on the fountain. "Scared? Of you?"

He met her gaze, his smirk never faltering. "Oh, not me. Scared of what might happen if you let go. Let someone else take the reins."

Her eyes narrowed. "You think I need you to take the reins?"

Xypheron's lips curled further. "I don't think you need me. But I think you want to see just how far I'm willing to go to make you give in."

She laughed then, a sharp, throaty sound that caught him off guard. "Oh, Prince, you really have a high opinion of yourself."

He didn't miss the way her lips lingered in a smile, her challenge bright and unyielding.

"I have to," he said, his voice dropping just a little lower. "It's the only way I can handle someone like you."

Vexaria's smile faltered, just for a moment, but the fire in her eyes never wavered. "I'm not like the others, Xypheron. I don't fall for empty words."

"Empty?" He raised a brow, stepping closer, the space between them shrinking. "I don't think you've ever really given anyone a chance to find out."

She scoffed, looking him up and down as if he were some kind of rare, exotic bird. "You think you can just walk up to me and say some pretty words and expect me to swoon?" She tilted her head slightly. "I don't believe in men like you."

Xypheron chuckled, enjoying this—enjoying her fire. "Maybe you haven't given me a chance either. I could be more than just a pretty face, you know."

She leaned forward, her voice low and teasing, "Oh, I'm sure you're much more. You're an expert at making people believe what you want them to."

He stepped closer, their bodies nearly touching. "I'm not trying to make you believe anything. I'm trying to make you feel it."

Her breath caught, and for the briefest moment, she was caught off guard. Xypheron could see it in her eyes—the tiniest hint of uncertainty. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, and the spark of defiance returned.

"I'll never be your conquest, Prince," she said, her voice steady, though her lips quirked upward in an almost playful challenge.

He grinned, knowing he had her right where he wanted her. "We'll see about that."

---

As the day wore on, Xypheron's thoughts returned to the fleeting warmth of her proximity, the sharpness of her words, and the unexpected way she kept him on his toes. It wasn't just about conquering her—it was about understanding her.

And for the first time in years, he was genuinely intrigued.

But this game wasn't over yet.

Not by a long shot.