As Lexie approached Isiah, her heart pounded with relentless anxiety. A cold sense of trepidation washed over her, filling her with dread at what his reaction might be.
Would he push her away and leave her humiliated before the remaining mages? Or, worse yet, would he lash out and hurt her physically?
Despite her fear, she forced herself to keep moving toward him, striving to handle the crushing situation as best she could. Yet the thought of leaving him behind, of potentially never seeing him or Ciel again, was almost unbearable.
Deep down, a buried, desperate part of her still longed to be his, to be protected and cherished like any woman before her. When she finally stood before him, he glaring down at her with an intensity so fierce it left her feeling completely exposed and vulnerable.
Her breathing turned shallow and light, her heart hammering so hard against her ribs she thought it might stop beating altogether.
