Chapter 344

Zavian didn’t miss a beat. He kicked her foot back lightly. A teasing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, transforming his face from severe to boyishly charming in an instant.

“You’re getting awfully comfortable with me, little girl,” he observed.

Emmeline leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest as a laugh escaped her lips. The sound held genuine mirth despite the tension lingering between them.

“Do you think I’ll respect your age forever?” Emmeline’s voice carried a sharp edge that hadn’t been there before.

The word “age” triggered a memory that made her pause. He had once mentioned something peculiar about “human age” – a seemingly innocent phrase that now echoed with new significance. Was there a hidden meaning behind those casual words? A deliberate hint he’d dropped, expecting her to catch?

If so, then how old was he really?

The question bloomed in her mind, bringing with it a cascade of unsettling possibilities. Centur