Lyra stood completely spellbound by his deep, hypnotic blue eyes. They shone like polished marble, unmatched by any she had ever seen.
A part of her wanted to open up to him, but the other part held back. She didn't want to make a fool of herself in front of him.
She was just a lowly maid, a girl who had stolen lessons from her stepsister, an embarrassment that only reinforced her status as an outcast. And yet, despite the instinct to pull away, something within her screamed at her to trust him.
"I don't want you to see me as a desperate girl," she finally muttered.
Casian's brow arched in confusion.
When had he ever looked at her that way?
But when he didn't respond right away, Lyra's heart sank.
Her eyes dropped in shame, but before she could withdraw further, his hand slid under her chin, gently tilting her face back up.
"Why would you say that?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
The way she avoided his gaze spoke volumes, yet he wanted to hear it from her.
