Julian's breath hitched as his eyes swept across the grand hall. It was vast, illuminated by glowing chandeliers that hung from an impossibly high ceiling. The air carried a faint scent of exotic perfume, teasing his senses. But none of that mattered. What truly caught his attention was the seven stunning women seated before him, their gazes locking onto him like predators eyeing their prey.
They sat on an ornate, U-shaped table, , their thrones carved with gold and encrusted with shimmering gems. Each woman was unique, yet equally mesmerizing. Their flawless skin, their seductive curves, and their confident auras screamed dominance.
They were unlike any women Julian had ever seen. Some radiated elegance, others danger. Each of them bore distinct, mesmerizing features—icy beauty, exotic allure, or raw, untamed seduction. Their piercing gazes bore into him, analyzing, measuring, judging.
Julian swallowed hard, his cocky smirk faltering for the first time.
The woman who had escorted him was now standing beside one of the seated women—a silent guardian. Her earlier indifference made sense now. She was merely a soldier, a loyal protector, nothing more.
At the center of the table, one of the women leaned forward, her piercing gaze locking onto Julian. Her features were sharp yet enchanting, a dangerous mix of elegance and cruelty. She drummed her fingers against the polished obsidian surface, her eyes scanning him like he was an object rather than a person.
"You're not the one we were expecting," she finally said, her voice smooth but cold. "Yet, you emerged from the cave of a fugitive. Explain yourself."
Julian tensed. So that was the reason for his arrest. They thought he was someone else—likely the escaped criminal they were after. He glanced around, his instincts screaming at him to be careful. From the way the seven women held themselves, they weren't just rulers or nobles. They were predators, and he was standing on their hunting ground.
"I would love to," Julian said, forcing a smirk despite the chains on his wrists. "But I have no idea what the hell is going on."
Silence filled the hall. Some of the women narrowed their eyes, while others exchanged glances. The woman who had escorted him here stood silently beside one of the seated women, her posture rigid, ready to act at a moment's notice.
One of the other women scoffed. "Is that so? You expect us to believe you just stumbled into that cave by accident?"
Julian tilted his head. "Believe whatever you want. I woke up there with no idea how I got there. If you think I'm some kind of criminal, you've got the wrong guy."
The woman in the center leaned back in her chair, exhaling slowly. "Then tell us who you are."
Julian hesitated. He couldn't exactly say, Oh, I was just screwing a rich guy's wife, got shot, and now I'm here. That would only dig his grave deeper.
"Julian," he answered vaguely. "Just Julian."
One of the women smirked. "A man with no past. How convenient."
The tension in the room thickened. Julian could feel their gazes dissecting him, weighing his words, looking for any cracks. He had no idea what kind of place he had stepped into, but one thing was certain—his survival depended on what he said next.
"Shall we test him?" one of the women suggested, her voice laced with amusement.
Julian's stomach tightened.
Test?
He had a feeling whatever they meant by that was not going to be pleasant.