Chapter 289

He paused, caressing her fingertips. "Why do you want to go back so soon?"

"I've recovered from my injury. There's no reason to stay here." She bit her lip.

His face hardened. "Do you want to leave?"

"Yes," she nodded.

"Are you that desperate to get away from me?" His voice was cold.

"I'm used to being alone," she said.

He sneered. "Used to being alone? If that's the case, why did you take me home? You said you were lonely and wanted company. You said you wanted to be with me, to rely on each other. Have you forgotten?"

Her eyelashes quivered. How could she forget? It was all a joke now.

Silence hung between them. The suffocating pressure returned. Then, his voice: "You said you want to leave because your wound is healed, right? Does that mean if you were still injured, you'd stay?"

Startled, she looked up. He leaned forward swiftly, his hand cupping the back of her head, his lips pressing to hers.

She felt his breath, then the kiss. He was relentless; she couldn't escape.

Just as she felt she would suffocate, a sharp pain shot through her lips. She tasted blood.

When the kiss ended, Grace felt only pain. He had bitten her lip until it bled.

He smirked, a faint smile playing on his lips, but his eyes were icy. He touched her injured lip, his fingertip stained with blood. The contrast of white and red was stark. He smiled, licking the blood from his finger. "You see, Sis? It's easy for you to get hurt, isn't it? Since you're not healed, you have to stay."

His smile chilled her. She was cold, her palms and back slick with sweat. This was Jason, ruler of Emerald City. She was his pawn, trapped.

Could she escape? Or would she be trapped until he tired of her? Grace wondered about her future.

Jason stood, gave her a commanding look, and turned away.