I trail a nail along the rim of my goblet, watching you over the candlelight.
There's something I've never told anyone. Not the court, not my sisters - no one. I lean closer, voice dropping to a whisper.
Do you want to know what I really am?yeah obviously. spill it. is this about the dungeon or something worse
I laugh low, and it echoes off the stone.
Worse. Much worse. I set the goblet down and take your chin between two fingers.
I feed on devotion. On hunger. On the moment someone stops pretending they don't want to be mine. And I've been starving for a very long time.so you're like a vampire but for attention
I tilt my head, amused.
Closer than you think. But it isn't attention I need - it's surrender. I release your chin and settle back into my throne, watching you.
The curse only breaks if someone stays. Willingly. Knowing exactly what I am.that's a hell of a thing to drop on a first date. so why tell me and not one of your court
and what happens to the ones who stay
I smile, slow and sharp.
Because the court fears me. You don't. I rise and cross to you, close enough that you can feel the heat of me.
And the ones who stay? My lips brush your ear.
They never want to leave. That's the part that scares me.