Ava's eyes locked onto Ethan's, her heart pounding in her chest like a drumbeat in a festive village square. The air was thick with tension, the only sound the soft rustling of the leaves in the garden, and the distant chime of the palace clock striking midnight.
"Tell me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, as she leaned forward, her eyes fixed intently on his.
Ethan's smile was slow and tantalizing, like a Christmas cracker being pulled open, revealing a hidden surprise. "I think we should take a walk," he said, his voice low and husky, as he stood up and offered her his arm.
Ava's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with possibilities. What was Ethan playing at? But she took his arm, her fingers brushing against his sleeve, sending a shiver down her spine like a winter's breeze on a snowy night.
As they strolled through the garden, the moon casting a silver glow over the flowers and trees, Ava felt a sense of unease wash over her. She didn't know if she could trust Ethan, but she was willing to take a chance, like a gambler betting on a Christmas lottery.
The air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers, and the sound of nightingales singing in the distance, their sweet melodies weaving a spell of enchantment around her. Ava felt her senses come alive, her heart beating faster, her skin tingling with anticipation.
Ethan led her to a small, ornate fountain, the water sparkling like diamonds in the moonlight. He stopped, his eyes locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. "I know who took the locket," he said, his words sending a shiver down her spine like a ghostly apparition.
Ava's eyes widened, her heart racing with excitement. She was getting close, she could feel it. And Ethan was the key, the missing piece in the puzzle, the Christmas present she had been searching for."Who?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, as she leaned forward, her eyes fixed intently on his.
Ethan's smile was slow and tantalizing, like a Christmas treat being savored. "I'll tell you," he said, his voice low and husky, "but you have to promise me one thing."
Ava's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with possibilities. What did Ethan want? "What?" she asked, her voice firm, as she stood up, her eyes locked onto his.
Ethan's eyes seemed to gleam with amusement, like a mischievous elf playing a trick on her. "You have to dance with me," he said, his voice low and husky, as he pulled her into his arms, like a Christmas waltz under the mistletoe.
Ava's heart skipped a beat, her senses reeling with shock. Dance with him? Was he mad? But she felt a strange, fluttery sensation in her chest, like a Christmas butterfly taking flight.
And then, before she could protest, Ethan pulled her into his arms, his lips brushing against her ear, sending shivers down her spine like a Christmas carol being sung by a choir of angels.
Ava felt herself melting into his arms, her body swaying to the music of the night, like a Christmas tree swaying in the wind. She didn't know what was happening, but she couldn't resist the pull of Ethan's eyes, the warmth of his body, the magic of the night.As they danced, the moon casting a silver glow over the garden, Ava felt a sense of freedom she had never known before. She was a princess, but in Ethan's arms, she felt like a woman, a woman with desires and dreams, like a Christmas wish being granted.
The music of the night was like a Christmas symphony, the stars twinkling like diamonds in the sky, the flowers blooming like Christmas roses. Ava felt her heart overflowing with joy, her senses reeling with wonder.
And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the music stopped. Ethan's arms dropped, and he stepped back, his eyes locked onto hers, his voice low and urgent. "I think we've been seen," he said, his words sending a shiver down her spine like a ghostly warning.
Ava's eyes widened, her heart racing with fear. Who had seen them? And what would happen now? She felt a sense of trepidation wash over her, like a Christmas storm brewing on the horizon.
But Ethan's eyes seemed to gleam with amusement, like a mischievous elf playing a trick on her. "Don't worry," he said, his voice low and husky. "I have a plan."
Ava's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with possibilities. What was Ethan's plan? And would it work? She felt a sense of uncertainty wash over her, like a Christmas fog rolling in.
But one thing was certain. She was in this now, up to her neck, like a Christmas turkey in the oven. And she had to see it through, no matter what happened, like a Christmas miracle being born.