She didn’t deny it.
For a moment, they simply stood there close, the night wrapped around them, stars shining overhead. The air felt different beyond the gate. More secluded. More intimate.
“You’re full of surprises,” she said softly.
“And you,” he replied, gaze dropping briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes, “are exactly as curious as I suspected.”
Liora’s smile deepened. “Good.” Because she had no intention of turning back now.
Maldenis finally released her, though his hands lingered for the briefest second before falling away. He gestured ahead with an easy sweep of his arm. “This way.”
She straightened, smoothing her shirt as if she hadn’t just been comfortably suspended against a wall of solid muscle. Still, she couldn’t help the small flicker of disappointment at the loss of contact. His body had been warm and steady, strength wrapped in controlled power. It had felt…nice.
Ridiculously nice.
They began walking along a narrow stone path that wound through thicker ruins, ivy creeping along fractured walls, the sound of water growing clearer with each step.
“You handled that well,” Maldenis said casually. “Most humans panic when lifted without warning.”
She blinked at him. “Excuse me?”
“I’m just saying,” he flashed her a grin that was far too pleased with itself. “You didn’t scream.”
“I gasped,” she corrected.
“Lightly.”
“That was not lightly.”
“You’re adaptable,” he chuckled, entirely unbothered. “I appreciate that.”
There it was. That faint bro-like swagger in his tone, the self-assured commentary that suggested he was evaluating her performance in some invisible competition.
Liora narrowed her eyes at him. “Do you grade all your swims like this?” she asked sweetly.
“Only the memorable ones.”
She huffed softly, shaking her head. Still, she couldn’t fully suppress her smile. His arrogance was irritating, but it was also playful. There was no cruelty in it, no condescension that cut too deep. Just posturing. A little chest-thumping disguised as charm.
She could handle that.
It’s fine.You just have to put up with him tonight.
And she absolutely could. Because beneath the swagger was confidence. Beneath the teasing was heat. And beneath that shirt, she was still very curious.
The path curved, opening suddenly into a hidden clearing tucked between tall stone walls. Moonlight poured through the canopy into the space, illuminating a natural spring thatshimmered like liquid silver. The water glowed softly where starlight touched it.
Maldenis stopped at the edge, spreading his hands slightly as if presenting a prize.
“The coolest place in Solkaris,” he said.
Liora stepped forward, the sight stealing a quiet breath from her. It was beautiful.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “You do know how to impress a girl.”
He tilted his head, pleased. “I try.”
She rolled her shoulders lightly, letting the tension of the evening fall away. Annoying or not, she could still have fun. And judging by the way he was watching her now, heat and challenge mingling in his golden gaze, so could he.
