Alaric burst into Cressida's office in his wheelchair, a look of concern etched on his face. "Why haven't you answered my question?" He asked, his tone gentle despite the urgency in his eyes. Easton hovered nearby, ready to help with anything Alaric needed. The soft hum of the office computers and the muted chatter from outside the room were the only sounds as he waited for her response.Cressida leaned back in her chair, a playful glint in her eye, but her response wasn't entirely nice or gentle. "Oh, Alaric, I was busy. You know, doing actual work unlike some people who just... exist." She smirked, a hint of teasing in her voice, but there was an undercurrent of something more complex in her expression. Maybe it was a defense, or maybe she was genuinely unbothered by his worry.Alaric's eyebrows rose slightly at her words, but he didn't push the issue further. Instead, he took a moment to adjust in his wheelchair. "I was worried," he admitted, his voice low. "You didn't respond, a
“Not again,” Cressida muttered under her breath as she checked her phone screen. Alaric’s name flashed for the sixth time after they departed this morning, his persistent calls a constant reminder of the rules she was expected to follow.She silenced the call, her fingers moving with practiced ease. “I’m not answering,” she whispered, but Floria caught the words and chuckled softly beside her.“Ignoring his calls might not be the best idea, ma’am,” Floria cautioned, her voice low.Cressida’s gaze drifted back, her brow furrowed in concern. Before she could respond, Floria elaborated, “If you don’t answer, he might just show up here.”“He’d do that?” She repeated, a hint of amusement creeping into her voice. She chuckled softly and continued toward her seat, her heels clicking on the floor as she ascended the short staircase. “Why would he do that?”Floria’s response was immediate. “Because he’d be worried.”Cressida’s giggles trailed behind her as she reached her desk, her lips curvin
“Not again,” Cressida muttered under her breath as she checked her phone screen. Alaric’s name flashed for the sixth time after they departed this morning, his persistent calls a constant reminder of the rules she was expected to follow.She silenced the call, her fingers moving with practiced ease. “I’m not answering,” she whispered, but Floria caught the words and chuckled softly beside her.“Ignoring his calls might not be the best idea, ma’am,” Floria cautioned, her voice low.Cressida’s gaze drifted back, her brow furrowed in concern. Before she could respond, Floria elaborated, “If you don’t answer, he might just show up here.”“He’d do that?” She repeated, a hint of amusement creeping into her voice. She chuckled softly and continued toward her seat, her heels clicking on the floor as she ascended the short staircase. “Why would he do that?”Floria’s response was immediate. “Because he’d be worried.”Cressida’s giggles trailed behind her as she reached her desk, her lips curvin
Natasha slipped into the parlor and spotted Rowan emerging from Amabel's room. She swiftly changed direction, reaching for the door to make a quick exit. But Rowan's voice halted her in her tracks. "Running away because your master's not here to protect you?" Natasha froze, her hand still grasping the door lever, as she waited for Rowan to approach. She released the door and turned to face Rowan, her eyes scanning his figure before a soft snicker escaped her lips. "Yes, I was..." she replied, her tone firm and expression unwavering. As she spoke, she slowly raised her arms, crossing them over her chest. "But that was before your ridiculous question made me reconsider." Rowan's eyes widened in surprise. "Hun!" The soft exclamation escaped her lips, catching her off guard that Natasha still dared to talk back. She quickly composed herself, her shock melting away into a subtle smile. "I see you've grown some nerve." Natasha scoffed. "I've always had nerves. Let's just say I wa
Natasha slipped into the parlor and spotted Rowan emerging from Amabel's room. She swiftly changed direction, reaching for the door to make a quick exit. But Rowan's voice halted her in her tracks. "Running away because your master's not here to protect you?" Natasha froze, her hand still grasping the door lever, as she waited for Rowan to approach.She released the door and turned to face Rowan, her eyes scanning his figure before a soft snicker escaped her lips. "Yes, I was..." she replied, her tone firm and expression unwavering. As she spoke, she slowly raised her arms, crossing them over her chest. "But that was before your ridiculous question made me reconsider."Rowan's eyes widened in surprise. "Hun!" The soft exclamation escaped her lips, catching her off guard that Natasha still dared to talk back. She quickly composed herself, her shock melting away into a subtle smile. "I see you've grown some nerve."Natasha scoffed. "I've always had nerves. Let's just say I was born
Natasha slipped into the parlor and spotted Rowan emerging from Amabel's room. She swiftly changed direction, reaching for the door to make a quick exit. But Rowan's voice halted her in her tracks. "Running away because your master's not here to protect you?" Natasha froze, her hand still grasping the door lever, as she waited for Rowan to approach.She released the door and turned to face Rowan, her eyes scanning his figure before a soft snicker escaped her lips. "Yes, I was..." she replied, her tone firm and expression unwavering. As she spoke, she slowly raised her arms, crossing them over her chest. "But that was before your ridiculous question made me reconsider."Rowan's eyes widened in surprise. "Hun!" The soft exclamation escaped her lips, catching her off guard that Natasha still dared to talk back. She quickly composed herself, her shock melting away into a subtle smile. "I see you've grown some nerve."Natasha scoffed. "I've always had nerves. Let's just say I was born