He had only taken a few steps when he heard the quick crunch of gravel behind him. Cathy moved fast.
"Young lord, come on…" she pleaded, her voice now sweet and coaxing. She caught up in two strides and boldly grabbed his right hand with both of hers. Before he could react, she pulled it forward and pressed it firmly between her breasts.
"Don't be in such a spoiled mood," she purred, leaning more so her breasts squeezed even tighter around his hand. "Are you really going to leave a young woman like me all alone in these dark gardens? It's dangerous out here. …"
Julian's eyes narrowed.
In an instant, he flared his mana.
It didn't erupt outward as flame or visible force. Instead, it spread through the space around them like a sudden change in pressure. The temperature spiked immediately, and the air around them grew scorching hot.
And beneath the heat, something else. The edge of killing intent, aimed directly at the hand holding his.
Cathy froze.
