Eilika was shocked when Damian suddenly swept her up into his arms. The transition was so abrupt that she gasped, her hands instinctively flying to his neck for balance.
Pressed against his chest, she could feel the steady, powerful rhythm of his heart, and from this vantage point, his profile seemed even more sharp and imposing. Her hold tightened as a thrill of anticipation raced through her.
"Your Grace, why are you walking in this direction?" a soft masculine voice asked, cutting through the quiet of the hallway. Eilika shifted her gaze and realized it was Damian's personal bodyguard, who had emerged from the shadows to walk alongside them.
"Prepare two horses. We cannot go by the motorcar," Damian ordered, his voice echoing with an undeniable finality.
Without a single word of argument, the bodyguard, Maurice, ran ahead to fulfill the command. The back corridor felt endless until they finally emerged under the vast, star-speckled sky.
