MIREYA POV
Hazel eyes… green and gold swirling together.. locked onto me, and they burned me. His jaw was sharp, his dark hair messy in a way that made it look like he'd just walked out of a dream. Broad shoulders, lean body… everything about him screamed power, control, and danger. I knew I should look away, I really did… but I couldn't.
There was something in them, the intensity, curiosity, maybe danger. My chest tightened, and my legs felt frozen.
Goodness, he was handsome… almost like a demigod.
"Sorry," I whispered, my voice barely carrying over the noise of the market.
He didn't move his gaze. He tilted his head slightly, studying me like I was some puzzle he wanted to figure out. My stomach twisted with nerves.
The bag I had dropped when I stumbled lay at his feet. He glanced down at it, then back at me. His expression didn't change, but his eyes were cold.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. I could barely breathe.
Finally, he spoke. His voice was low, calm, but it cut through me like a knife.
"You're bold," he said.
I froze, confused.
Bold? My thoughts were scattered, lost in the sound of his voice. Deep, smooth… it sent shivers down my spine.
Then his eyes flicked to the bag and back to me.
"I wonder," he continued, still staring at me, "if you're as fast as you think."
My heart hammered so hard I thought it would burst. The market around us.. the people, the carts, the shouting, all faded. Only his eyes mattered.
"I'm glad I caught you," he said coldly. "You thought you could run… You bloody thief."
I blinked, stunned.
Did he just call me a thief?
I looked at the bag on the floor. "Oh… no…" I shook my head. "There must be a misunderstanding."
Before I could step back, his hand shot out and gripped my arm hard. His expression went deadly.
"How dare you?" he hissed. "You think you can steal and disrupt my morning without any consequences? I'm going to teach you a lesson you'll never forget."
My stomach dropped. Fear and adrenaline collided, freezing me in place.
I had no idea what I'd just walked into.
I can't get caught.. or be in a mess or Lord Malric will have my head.
I tried to push him off, but his grip was like iron. My arms shook, my chest heaving, and it wasn't working.
Desperation took over. I stomped down hard on his foot. He hissed in pain, but he didn't let go.
Then, in a last, wild move, I slammed my head against his. Hard.
Something cracked… I felt it in my skull and heard it in his sharp grunt.
Finally, he loosened his grip.
I didn't wait another second. I spun around and ran as fast as I could, my legs pumping like never before. My lungs burned, my hair whipped in my face, but I didn't care.
I had to get away.
Every step felt like a heartbeat of survival. Every breath screamed don't stop, don't look back.
Somewhere behind me, I could hear shouting, but I didn't dare glance over my shoulder.
I just ran.
And ran.
Hoping I wouldn't stumble. Hoping I wouldn't get caught.
Hoping I could make it far enough to breathe again.
I was weaving through the crowded streets, my chest pounding, when I suddenly bumped into someone.
"Miss!" Greta exclaimed, startled.
Without thinking, I grabbed her hand. "Come on! Run!" I hissed.
Her eyes widened, but she didn't hesitate. She let me pull her along, our feet pounding the cobblestones together.
"Miss! Wait… why are we running? What's happening?" she called, trying to keep up.
I didn't answer right away, my lungs burning, my heart hammering. Finally, I skidded to a stop behind a corner, taking a deep breath to steady myself.
"It's… it's almost four," I said, forcing my voice calm. "We should head back before the lord gets upset."
Greta looked at me suspiciously, her eyebrows furrowed.
I forced a smile and let go of her hand. "We should hurry," I added quickly, lying through my teeth.
Her eyes lingered on me for a moment, clearly unsure, but she finally nodded.
We turned and ran back toward the mansion, the sounds of the market fading behind us, but my heart was still racing from the encounter I hadn't even dared to tell her about.
As we ran, my mind couldn't stop replaying it.. his eyes, his voice. The way they had pinned me in place, sharp and piercing, like he could see through every lie, every thought, every fear.
I kept glancing over my shoulder, half-expecting to see him there, running. My stomach twisted every time I imagined it.
There was something about the way he looked at me…. Dangerous. Curious. Alive. It made my blood run hot and my heart freeze at the same time.
I tried to push the thought away, telling myself it didn't matter, that I had to focus on getting back safely. But even as the mansion grew closer, his thought burned in my mind.
I knew one thing for certain.
… I couldn't get him out of my head.