Assassination.
The word hung heavy in the air, explosive and heavy.
"Assassination" Leander finally repeated, tasting the word.
"I'm being targeted for assassination," Aria repeated her voice, quiet but steady. She stared out at the moonlit artificial lake, the words still heavy on her tongue.
He laid a gentle hand on hers, noting how her grip subconsciously tightened against his.
"Tell me about it."
"I'll tell you, but it's not pretty."
And so, Aria began to recount her tale of being taken, waking up in a strange place, overpowering men and escaping, falling over a river, ending up in the forest and being chased onto a ship and landing herself in prison.
"I would never have made it if you did not come to my rescue...."
She held his gaze, fervent.
"Thank you."
As Leander stared into her emerald eyes with silver flecks, he felt a stirring in his heart.
