Alaric smirked and slipped the coin purse back into his pocket. He his time with it. Let her watch the movement. Let the reality of being caught settle in.
Then his free hand came up, fingers caught a loose strand of her brown hair that had fallen across her face and tucked it behind her ear with deliberate slowness.
The touch was light. Almost gentle.
Which somehow made it more unnerving.
"What were you trying to do?" He asked quietly, like he was genuinely interested in her answer. And his hand hadn't pulled away.
Instead, it shifted, his palm now cupping her face, thumb brushing across her cheek, slowly.
Delphine's breath hitched. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Every instinct screamed at her to move, to escape, to do something—
But his grip on her wrists was iron. And something about the way he looked at her kept her frozen.
Not quite fear. But close.
"What kind of punishment does a beautiful thief like you deserve?"
The words came out soft. Almost a murmur.
