Chapter 12

Ash forced a brittle smile as Larissa stepped into the corridor outside his room, her high heels clicking on the stone floor. “Hello, Larissa,” he said, his voice unnaturally bright.

She paused, letting the light catch the glossy waves of her hair as it tumbled down her back. Her lips—plump and painted a vivid, enticing red—curved into a practiced grin. Beneath her sky-blue eyes lurked a gleam of triumph, the tilt of her chin made sharper by the snug cobalt dress that hugged her slender waist and flared over generous hips. Long, elegant legs completed the picture—any man would fall for her, every man except Ash.

She perched on the edge of his bed, palms pressing into the fabric. “Hello, Ash,” she said, voice as smooth as silk. “The moment Kaden told me you wished to see me, I hurried here.”