As they continued walking, Salviana gave up pretending to be annoyed. She laughed freely now, occasionally spinning in her dress as if daring him to catch her.
He did, of course. Every time she turned, he'd teleport close, wrap his arm around her waist, and steal another kiss—sometimes on her cheek, sometimes lingering at the corner of her mouth, sometimes just breathing her in.
"Alaric, people are watching," she whispered once, her face turning crimson as a merchant passed by.
"Let them," he replied with a smirk, leaning close to murmur near her ear. "I want them to know you're mine."
Her heart stuttered, and she swatted at his chest, but her smile betrayed her.
By the time they were nearing the castle gates, Salviana's laughter had softened into quiet giggles, her cheeks pink, and Alaric had one arm loosely around her shoulders, walking as though the entire night belonged to just them.
The moment they stepped past the castle gates, all eyes turned to them.
