Cassius's words hit Nala like thunder. Her chest thumped so hard she thought it might burst, yet the man didn't stop.
His gaze dipped down her body, lingering on her tail with such vexation, such disbelief, as if the very thought that others had once mocked it offended him personally.
"I mean, come on..." He said with a huff of disbelief. "Just look at it. Just look at your tail, Nala. How in the world could anyone look at something like this and feel disgust?"
"It's smooth, shining white, like marble polished by the hands of the gods themselves. Not some ugly slab carved by men, no, this thing looks forged by a goddess who was trying to show off."
"...If statues of heroes were half this beautiful, I'd bow before them every morning."
Her breath hitched. She hadn't expected him to spit out words like that. Nobody ever said things like that to her, ever.
But before she could gather herself he pressed on, the glint of laughter in his eyes making her more dizzy.
