The forest was silent.
Too silent.
Irene crouched on a mossy ridge, her silver hair blending into the moonlight. She had been tracking him for three days — the shadow mage, the thief of minds, the dark whisper in the Queen's court.
Lothaire.
A name whispered in fear. A villain said to twist truth with a glance.
She followed the scent of fire and lavender — strange, for a man like him — to a ruined stone temple, half-swallowed by vines. She crept in, blade ready.
> "You know," a voice said lazily from the shadows, "sneaking up on a mind reader? Not your brightest idea."
She spun around, blade raised — but he was already there, leaning against a crumbling pillar like he'd been waiting for her all along.
He looked… nothing like the monster she expected.
Tall. Relaxed. Almost amused. Long black hair, those impossible golden eyes. And a grin that could melt walls or start wars.
> "Lothaire," she hissed in hatred
He gave a mock bow.
> "Irene Jade. Champion of the Moon Clans. Slayer of beasts. Savior of children and puppies and… what else was it?"
He tilted his head like he was flipping through her thoughts.
"Oh yes — the girl sworn to destroy me."
> "Stay out of my head," she growled, stepping forward.
> "Can't help it," he said with a wink. "It's loud in there. So full of honor. And something else…"
He squinted.
"Anger? No. Curiosity?"
She raised her blade to his throat in one swift motion. He didn't flinch.
> "I will end you," she said.
> "Maybe," he whispered, his voice suddenly serious. "But not tonight."
And in that moment — with her heart pounding and his golden eyes unblinking — something changed, maybe it was the gentleness in his eyes or the seriousness of his voice or maybe just the fact that the monster she had heard of since she was eight was unbelievably stunning,but she found herself slowly putting down here sword.Then the word of the moon priestess hit her like bag of bricks.
"Don't let him full you with his irresistible looks and calm smile,he is a murderer the devil himself".