Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 26760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
I poured in a generous amount. Beside it was the white chocolate. I added slightly less of this to balance out the flavors. After combining the other ingredients and finishing the custom concoction with whipped cream, I moved closer to pass him his drink, catching a whiff of his cologne. It was an intoxicating mix of smoky musk, rich amber, and a hint of cedar, both commanding and sensual, a scent that seemed to encapsulate everything that Aidoneus was. The pull towards him was magnetic. I placed his drink down and met his gaze squarely, forcing a smile as every fiber of my being screamed at me to maintain my composure.
“Enjoy.”
He gave me a long look, his eyes a mesmerizing blend of red and gold, swirling like molten lava and sharp as daggers. “Oh, I will.”
Trying to recover some semblance of normalcy, I turned my back to them, focusing on Jae-Hee's drink. The sound of the espresso machine offered a brief respite, hissing and steaming as it worked to produce the rich, dark brew. The scent of fresh coffee filled the air, momentarily drowning out Aidoneus's intoxicating cologne.
Pouring the hot espresso into a small cup, I took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself to face the two men again.
“Here you go,” I said to Jae-Hee, placing the steaming cup on the counter, grateful for the simplicity of the order.
There wasn’t much left to do now that the drinks were prepared. I wanted to distance myself and seek refuge in the back room. Yet, their presence, especially Aidoneus's, felt like an anchor grounding me in place. His gaze was unrelenting. It felt like he was mapping every curve, every inch of me from the top of my head, along the line of my throat, past my waist, and down to my ankle-booted feet.
Boldly, I met his stare, a flash of defiance igniting within me. But as our eyes locked, an unexpected warmth spread through me, causing an uncharacteristic flush to rise in my cheeks. I cursed internally. What the hell? Why was I blushing? There was something in his gaze, something that seemed to reach into the very core of my being, stirring emotions I couldn’t quite understand.
“You’re a pretty little thing, but that color in your cheeks makes you look so much more captivating.” I could hear the faint hint of amusement in his voice.
How did one even respond to something like that? I almost thanked him out of habit, feeling absurdly off-kilter. Swallowing the knot of embarrassment in my throat, I started to turn away.
“That boy you see—Ezra. How is he?”
I paused, taken aback by his knowledge. How could he possibly know about Ezra? More pressingly, why would he care? Wait, had Ezra done something to draw the Triad’s attention? God, I hoped not. But that would explain why he was here and Riven’s sudden interest.
"Ezra’s not a little boy. And he’s fine. Why do you ask?" I retorted, attempting to keep my voice steady, even as my heart thudded wildly in my chest. The natural defensive tone in my reply seemed to amuse him further.
He leaned back, taking a sip of his drink, his gaze never wavering. “Just curious about the boy you've been seeing.”
His repeated emphasizing made it clear he found Ezra inferior. He looked away from me and scanned the interior of the café , eyes lingering on the familiar items that had become a part of my daily routine.
“A talented, vibrant woman like you wasting her days in a coffee café . It's almost tragic.”
"I like my job," I countered, trying to sound confident and wondering what talent he was referring to. Slinging lattes and cappuccinos wasn’t exactly rocket science.
He tilted his head slightly, a smirk forming on his lips. “Liking your job and deserving better are two very different things, Korinna.”
He spoke my name with such familiarity that it disarmed me. All those years, all the people he would have met since then, and he recalled a brief, seemingly insignificant encounter with a teenage girl?
“You remember me?” I cursed myself the second I asked. His knowing anything about me at all could simply be due to the vast amount of information he had access to.
It would make the issue of identity a simple one to resolve. He fixed me with a gaze that was both penetrating and chilling.
“I don’t kill for just anyone, but I killed for you,” he stated, his tone devoid of emotion, making the fact even more unsettling. “How could I ever forget that?”
I tried to process his words, my mind racing, but he cut through my thoughts once more. “And a face like yours...even then, it was one to remember.”
“I…” A whirlwind of emotions battled inside me. I'd never thought of our past encounter in that light. While the memory always came with fear and confusion, it never truly hit me that he had acted to protect me. Another memory, quick and sharp, flashed through my mind. The intricately crafted dragon pendant. Was that the reason he was here? The necklace had vanished some time ago, and I couldn’t ask anyone about it without revealing its significance and inviting a barrage of questions about what I had kept hidden.