Chapter 22

• A fresh glass is placed in my hand, the cool sensation of the crystal against my fingers grounding me as I blink up at the King, a wide grin spreading across my face.
• “Thank you!” I exclaim, the words bursting from me with more energy than I intend, a hint of embarrassment creeping into my tone as I realize that I’m practically shouting. I can already feel the warm buzz of alcohol settling in my limbs, making everything a bit lighter, a bit easier to bear. “I think I’m getting a bit tipsy,” I confess, though I’m fairly certain he already knows. The weight of my gaze meets his, and I see the faint curve of a smile tug at the corner of his lips, as if he’s enjoying watching me lose a bit of control.
• The King hums thoughtfully, his eyes studying me with an unreadable expression. He leans back slightly, his fingers lightly tapping on his chin as if lost in deep consideration, like he’s evaluating some puzzle.