Darius~
The soft creak of the door pulled me from my thoughts. A young girl, no older than nineteen, stepped into my chambers, her head bowed, hands trembling at her sides. She had been dressed in fine silks, her dark curls pinned back with delicate golden clips, her lips painted a deep red. Despite the effort to make her look desirable, fear clung to her like a second skin.
She stopped a few feet away from my bed, her gaze locked on the marble floor. I leaned back against the pillows, shirtless, my arms folded behind my head, watching her with mild interest.
"Luna Gabriella sent me," she whispered, her voice barely a breath.
I didn't bother with pleasantries. "Take off your clothes and lie down."
She flinched, her breathing uneven. "Please... I just want to go home to my parents. I don't belong here."
I sighed, irritation sparking in my chest. "Did I ask you to speak?"
