The knights straightened up the moment I appeared.
Some puffed up their chests, clearly hoping to catch my eye. Others turned their gazes away, visibly stiff, as if afraid they might become the next toy in the princess's collection.
But no matter what thoughts lay hidden under polished helmets and stiff uniforms, when royalty arrives, kneeling is non-negotiable.
"You may rise." I ordered, voice cool.
The whole line stood in perfect unison.
Drake's eyes never left me. He watched me closely, longing and hurt brimming in his gaze. He must've felt gutted, waking up alone in a cold bed that still smelled of our night together.
The number above his head had changed. 5% affection points. A quiet, cruel little notification, proof the mission had succeeded.
I shifted my gaze away, unwilling to face the silent questions brewing in his eyes. Instead, I let it drop, to that dark red mark blooming along his throat.
Mine.
