[Lavinia's Pov—Dawnspire Wing—Rose Garden—continuation]
The silence stretched like a blade between us. My nails pressed into his throat, and a fine line of red bloomed where his skin surrendered to me.
Caelum didn't flinch. He didn't beg. He didn't even raise a hand to stop me. Instead, that damned smirk of his curved wider—mocking, daring.
"I see…" his voice slithered out, smooth, low, and dangerous. "So the little princess enjoys playing with sharp edges."
I tilted my head, letting my crimson gaze bore into his. A slow smile spread across my lips.
"Play?" I scoffed softly, tightening my grip around his neck until his breath hitched. "That's what children do, Caelum. I don't play—I end things. And you see…" my smile sharpened. "I have very little patience for people who act in shadows behind me."
His eyes glimmered with something unreadable before he chuckled. Chuckled—while my hand still threatened to crush his windpipe. The sound curled in the air like smoke.
