The palace library is oddly empty today. It's usually quiet, but there's always someone around. Not today. Today, it's completely silent. I hear footsteps approaching and turn to see who it is. My face immediately twists into a scowl. "I already told you, I'm not going to hand you this dagger," I say wrapping a protective hand on the dagger which hangs in the belt around my waist.
"I'm not here for the dagger," he replies calmly.
"Then why are you here?" I ask, irritation seeping into my voice.
"For something else," he says, his eyes searching mine for something I can't fathom.
"What do you want to ask?" I say, taking a step back as he steps forward.
"Something only you can answer," he says, stepping closer. I take another step back.
"Just ask already," I snap, glaring at him.
"Are you that curious?" he teases, stepping closer again. I step back, only to hit the wall.
"Stop playing games," I growl through gritted teeth.
"I'm not playing games," he says with an intensity in his eyes and an honesty in his voice that almost makes me believe him. Almost. He wraps a strand of my hair around his finger, kisses it, and asks, "You don't feel anything for me?"
"No, I don't," I say, meeting his gaze defiantly. He lets the strand of hair slip from his fingers and cups my face, brushing his thumb across my cheek.
"Still not?" he asks softly.
My body tenses. I tighten my jaw and repeat, "No, still not." He kisses the top of my head and asks again, "Still not?"
"No," I say, but my voice wavers. He smirks, clearly amused.
He trails his hand down my shoulder and stops at my waist, right on the belt of my dagger. "What about now?" he whispers in my ear before kissing my jaw. I try to push him away, but he doesn't budge.
"No, I don't feel anything," I insist, but it comes out all wrong—breathy and almost like a whisper. He kisses my cheek, then his mouth hovers above mine. His lips brush against mine as he whispers.
"If you can be stubborn, then I can be persistent too." He leans back, his eyes locking with mine, a smug smile on his face that I desperately want to wipe off. He steps back, turns on his heels, and leaves, laughing and waving the familiar belt in his hand. Only then do I realize that he cut off my belt with my own dagger. That jerk.
The end.....
