That might have been the one moment where Leo's heart beat so violently it nearly exploded out of his chest. Something warm trickled down his face, and he prayed it was sweat, desperately clinging to that hope-- but the reflection of the gold katana in her hand shattered that illusion completely.
A second later, pain bloomed.
He felt the sharp slice along the side of his forehead, hot and clean, and all he could do was look up at her in raw, paralyzing fear. His chest heaved violently as his breath wavered, his lungs stuttering as his eyes widened. His breathing stopped entirely—
But only for a second.
Standing over him was a tall, slender, and devastatingly beautiful young woman. Her emerald eyes glowed faintly, illuminated by the low light in the room as she stared down at him with unmistakable disgust etched across her face.
