As Daphne made to leave the study, Alaric moved swiftly to her side. He took her hand, his fingers lacing with hers, and gently tugged her along. "Come on," he said, his voice a low command.
Daphne stumbled a little to keep up.
When they were out of the door, "Ric, what are you doing?" she asked, surprise and alarm in her voice.
He didn't slow his pace. "What am I doing?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh! So you finally decided to talk to me. I wasn't sure if I was still worthy of being spoken to by the Rose of Eldoria."
He pulled her sharply into a shadowed, quiet alley between two palace wings.
Daphne pulled back, her voice tinged with hurt. "I couldn't talk to you! What was I supposed to say? That I was hurt you wouldn't even look at me?"
Before she could say another word, he pulled her into him, his arms wrapping around her waist. He then silenced her with a deep, consuming kiss.
