Frozen Heart

It was the heat of the bath. It just had to be. There was no other way Daphne could explain the way her cheeks warmed, or how her heart started racing in her chest like they were part of a race. Her face felt like it was about to explode with all the blood rushing to her cheeks.

What did he just say? Was Atticus out of his mind or was Daphne finally driven insane and started hearing things?

But the look in Atticus's eyes was so intense and passionate that Daphne knew for a fact that she hadn't, in fact, heard wrong. The king had meant every word, none of it a sweet lie just to con something from her. Or if it was, he was a damn good liar.

"What did you just say?" Daphne breathed, her voice shaky when she spoke.

"I―" Atticus stopped short, suddenly widening his eyes as his cheeks turned into the color of beetroot, matching hers. "You… You heard me."