His hand gripped the phone so tightly that veins bulged along the back, making it seem like he could crush it—or even her—with a single motion.
She remained silent, slowing her breathing to reduce her presence.
But even in silence, his intensity was overpowering, making it hard for her to breathe.
She tried to come up with an excuse. "I… I'll just head to bed now."
Bang!
Alaric slammed her phone onto the kitchen counter. Emerald didn't even glance to see if the screen was shattered.
She looked up, meeting his cold eyes.
In that moment, Emerald felt as though she'd been thrown into a frigid space. The cold seemed to creep up from her feet, freezing her in place.
She wanted to run, but it felt as if her feet were rooted to the ground.
Alaric's expression was terrifying, like a frozen monster advancing with slow, deliberate steps.
Emerald backed up against the kitchen counter, unable to move. She swallowed hard. "Uh…"
