Chapter 7: A Crack

Karina cocked a brow. "What?"

"I have spent years ignoring you, Karina. But I have also spent years watching. You think I don’t notice when you’re pretending? You were never a good actress. And I can tell, that this little demonstration of yours is a mere act. "

Rage boiled in Karina’s chest. How on earth had the old Karina endured the massive cockiness of the panther king? Gosh!

"You flatter yourself. This is no act."

"Really?" Leonidas tilted his head, his purple eyes sparkling. "I wonder. You say you don’t care, and yet you’re still here. Still sitting across from me. Still talking to me. If you truly wanted me gone, you would have walked out the moment I entered."

Karina let out a scoff. "I tried to leave but you asked me to sit back. You even used the word ’please’. Have you forgotten that already?"

That did the trick.

The prideful panther king’s eyes widened, and a blotch of shame spread across his cheeks. He had forgotten he had pleaded with her to sit down.

"It is no matter. We can table that," he quickly said, trying to salvage the rest of his dignity.

Leonidas reached across the table and picked up the discarded steak knife, examining it with idle curiosity. "But I am not here to apologize. I’m not here to beg. I’m here to make you an offer."

Karina’s eyes narrowed. "What kind of offer?"

Leonidas set the knife down and met her gaze. "I’m returning to Shadow’s Edge in four days. The Panther Kingdom has been.....unsettled lately. Political unrest. Border disputes. I could use your assistance."

"My assistance? In what world would I help you with your kingdom’s problems?"

"In the world where it benefits you," Leonidas replied smoothly.

He paused, letting the words sink in. "And it would give us some time to spend with Valen. He’s never visited my kingdom. I think it’s time he did."

Wait....

He wants to spend time with Valen?

Karina’s mind screeched to a halt. The Panther King, the man who had called his own son a "byproduct of a desperate political scheme" just hours ago, was now asking to spend time with him?

She studied his face carefully, searching for any hint of deception. But Leonidas’s expression gave away nothing.

"Why are you doing this?" Karina asked, her voice cautious. "You want nothing to do with me. You made that abundantly clear. So why are you suddenly offering to help me? To spend time with Valen?"

Leonidas’s jaw tightened. He looked away, staring at the flickering candle flame for a long moment before answering.

"And I still do," he said quietly. "Want nothing to do with you, that is."

Ouch. Okay. Direct.

"Then why?" Karina pressed. "Why the offer? Why the sudden interest in Valen?"

Leonidas let out a slow breath, his massive shoulders rising and falling.

"For reasons best known to myself," he said flatly.

Uh???

Karina blinked. "That’s not an answer."

"It’s the only answer you’re getting."

She scoffed, crossing her arms tighter. "So you expect me to pack up my things, drag Valen across the continent, and you won’t even tell me why?"

Leonidas’s gaze finally snapped to hers. "I expect you to recognize opportunity when it presents itself. This is not for my benefit, Empress. This is for yours. I am offering you a stage. A chance to prove yourself to the council, to the kingdoms, to every soul who has dismissed you as a pathetic, weeping burden."

"Ah, yes. The ’weeping burden.’ You truly know how to make a woman feel welcome."

His eye twitched. "I am being sincere."

"Are you?" She leaned forward, her eyes blazing. "After all these years, you expect me to thank you for this opportunity?"

"I am not asking for your thanks."

"Then what are you asking for?"

Leonidas was silent for a long moment. When he spoke, his voice was quieter. "I’m asking you to think. Not about me. About Valen. This is for him."

Karina’s chest tightened. Damn it. He knows exactly which button to push.

She hated it. She hated that he was using Valen as leverage. She hated that it was working.

But she also couldn’t deny the truth: Valen deserved to see Shadow’s Edge. He deserved to know his heritage. He deserved to have something from his father, even if that father was an emotionally constipated, arrogant beast king.

"Fine," she said, the word dragging out of her like a confession. "I’ll think about it."

Leonidas raised an eyebrow. "That’s not a yes."

"It’s not a no either." She waved a dismissive hand. "Now get out. My appetite is back and I want to eat my steak in peace."

He didn’t move immediately. Instead, he studied her face for a long moment.

"You’re different," he said. "The old you would have begged, cried."

Karina’s eye twitched. "The old you can go find the old me in whatever corner of the afterlife she’s rotting in. I am not her."

"Clearly." He rose from his chair, straightening his doublet. He gave her a curt, shallow bow and turned toward the door.

His hand was on the handle when he paused. "I’ll have my men prepare a carriage. For four days from now. Just in case you change your mind."

"Don’t hold your breath."

He glanced back at her, and for just a moment, it looked like he was doing to come back. But he didn’t.

"I won’t," he said. And then he was gone.

~

[SYSTEM ALERT: LEONIDAS HEART POINTS: -39 → -38]

[OBSESSION LEVEL: 1% → 2% (Curiosity, Not Yet Obsession)]

[Analysis: He’s testing you. He wants to see if you’ll crack. Don’t. Keep him guessing.]