Greta froze. The words came out soft, almost tender, but the chill behind them cut straight to the bone. Her breath hitched, and goosebumps prickled across her skin at the sound of his voice.
Duke Matthias Von Ignaz didn't move. He sat on the edge of the bed, far too close, close enough to steal the air from her lungs. His crimson eyes locked onto hers, unblinking. Like a predator sizing up its prey, weighing whether to let it live a little longer… or devour it now.
Greta swallowed hard. Her voice cracked as she tried to speak. She shot him a glare — the sharpest she could muster — jaw clenched so tight it ached.
"You have already saved my life, didn't you? Dragged me to this mansion after scaring those bastards off?" Her voice trembled with memory, the night he'd pulled her from the clutches of men who'd meant to rob and rape her in the woods.
Matthias's lips curled into a faint smile. It was barely there, more mockery than warmth.
