Madam Serenova had always prided herself on maintaining an air of unshakable control, but Pyris—this bold, unpredictable young man—was testing the limits of that control. He was dangerous in a way that had nothing to do with power and everything to do with presence. And she was intrigued.
She leaned slightly forward, just enough to close the space between them, her voice as smooth as the finest silk. "You speak as if you've already unraveled all my secrets, Pyris. Tell me, what else have you deduced?"
A hint of amusement danced in her eyes, but there was something else there too—curiosity.
Pyris smirked, knowing he had her attention now. "That you enjoy the game more than you let on. That despite your reputation, there's a part of you that craves something... unexpected. Something thrilling."
Madam Serenova chuckled, a low, melodic sound that sent a ripple of unease through the men watching. "Oh? And are you offering to be my thrill, Pyris?"
