st enough to make Alessia uneasy

her, he asked. "Firs

nt, but eventually

moothly, his deep voice carrying a mix

s parting as she struggl

r what had happened th

fused while knitting her brows

s spreading along the backrest as if he own

onto her, sharp

tone matter-of-fact. "Who are they? And wh

e a stone and it brought

lanced down at her hands, which

g with her finger

He had saved her, yes-but she had no idea w

is voice low but firm, snap

ating before finally whisp

epeated, his dark br

aid, her voi

swallowing hard, but t

d she have? He

e could

e-someone my father o

nge, but his piercing gaze r

ays ago," she said, her voice c

htly that her knuckles turned white

htly, but he remained sil

continued, tears pooling in

lse. And after they kil

o asked, his tone calm

again, her b

he debt." Her voice was barely a whisper, and her head lo

ting his elbows on his knees

wing colder. "So that's why they wer

ia said, nod

weren't paying attention to me.

ord, and she wiped at her che

e admitted. "I just kept runnin

hum, leaning back int

ther, his expression unreadab

ze on her hands, un

her and sell you off like property," he

is words, her teary eyes flickering

ay, but his disdain for her captors made somet

suddenly, his voice cutting t

ide eyes locking onto his for the fi

sked, her voi

ted, his tone firm. "From them. From

d, and for a moment,

offered her that before. No o

d to fight alone, and now this man-this stranger-was

managed to whisper,

ze softened, ju

instead, he stood up, adjusting

he walked slowly to the window, the dim l

he asked, his voice ca

hough she realized he was

illuminated by the moonlight out

ut the weight with which he said

dare inte

window, his gaze fixed

ts what he wants,

d, her heart poun

was going, but her instincts

" he said again, h

o one lays a hand

ped the edge of the bl

do that?" she

locking onto hers with an inte

ward her, his steps

dition," he said, his

opped for a moment

on?" she

ront of her, towe

s over his chest,

y mistress," he said, hi

ind blank as his wor

, the tension so thi