Ariel froze. Her breath caught slightly. He could hear her thoughts too? Her chest tightened faintly at the realization. So even that was not hers to keep. She can not have privacy. Nothing of her own.
Her fingers curled slightly at her side. Fine. If he could hear her thoughts… then he would hear this too.
She lifted her chin just a little, meeting his gaze fully.
"Should I be?" she asked, her voice calm, though something sharper lay beneath it. "Or is that what you wish?"
She let a faint pause linger. "If fear is what you want from me," she added, her eyes not leaving his, "then I am afraid you will be disappointed."
Her lips pressed together slightly. "You brought me here," she went on. "So whatever your worst is… you might as well show it."
The words settled between them.
For a brief moment, even she could not quite believe she had said it not long ago… she had been ready to kneel. To beg. To cast aside every ounce of pride if it meant freedom.
