Nina couldn't help but laugh, a soft, bright sound that cut through the tense air.
What a bunch of fierce little food lovers.
Standing a few paces back, Phar's gaze lingered heavily on the spiky fruit crushed beneath Setan's knees.
So... this was a law of the little female's household? Any male who stumbled or made a mistake had to subject himself to a durian?
Involuntarily, his thoughts drifted to his own closely guarded secrets. He had deliberately concealed his true identity from Nina.
Did a lie of omission count as making a mistake? If the truth came to light one day... would he be expected to kneel too? And if he did, would he have to press his weight into an entire mountain of thorns like this?
The mental image of himself, solemn and dignified, kneeling atop an endless sea of jagged green husks flashed vividly through his mind. For the very first time since arriving in her orbit, Phar felt a sharp, genuine twinge of regret over hiding who he really was.
