Draven turned to her, his eyes dark and flat. "Speak."
Lady Courtney glanced at me, shifting nervously. "I… I need to say this privately. Can we step away?"
"Say it here," he said plainly. "No secrets."
She stared at him, then stepped closer, voice tight and urgent. "You can't do this. We had an agreement. Your mother signed the deal — I was supposed to be your assistant."
Draven leaned back, his expression unreadable. "I've set my rules now. If you don't like them, walk away."
He turned and left without another word.
I watched her freeze, then smiled quietly, and followed him.
We walked back to our chambers in quiet, no hurry, no noise. The moment the door clicked shut behind us, I let out a slow breath and turned to him, my voice soft and sincere.
"You were perfect in there," I said. "Every word you said… it was exactly right. You didn't bend, you didn't waver. I admire that so much."
