Andre’s brow furrowed deeper. "You’re planning to compel me not to talk, aren’t you?" he asked, though the suspicion in his voice betrayed his uncertainty.
But Azula only laughed harder, shaking her head. "I’m not going to do that either."
Her words sent a chill down his spine, and his frown deepened as he regarded her warily. She began to move closer to him, her body brushing against his in a way that sent his nerves alight. He tried to maintain his composure, to ignore the sudden rush of heat that flooded through him at her proximity.
Azula’s hand moved deliberately, running over his chest with a feathery touch that made his skin tingle. Her lips curled into a playful pout as she looked up at him through her lashes. "I know you like Islinda," she murmured, her voice a soft, teasing purr. "And because of that, you wouldn’t bring harm to her."
Andre opened his mouth to protest, but whatever words he was about to say were cut off as her hand traveled lower, brushing against his groin. His breath hitched, and he instinctively clenched his fists, willing his body not to react to her touch. But despite his best efforts, he could feel himself responding, his body betraying him.
Azula’s eyes gleamed with mischief as she traced the outline of his erection through his pants, her touch light but deliberate. "Liar, liar, pants on fire," she teased, her voice a sing-song whisper that sent a shiver down his spine.
Andre’s jaw clenched, his mind racing for a way out of this situation. He knew she was toying with him, but damn it, she was close to the truth.
He had always known he was different from the others. From the royal family. From his brothers. The fact that Islinda was a dark Fae didn’t disgust him as much as it should have—at least, not in the way he had claimed. And the more Azula pushed, the more he realized that she was peeling away his defenses, exposing the truth he’d tried so hard to deny.
Desperate to regain control, Andre grabbed Azula’s hand, yanking it away from him. "What’s your end game, Azula?" he demanded, his voice low and strained.
Azula smirked, clearly enjoying his discomfort. She leaned in closer, her breath warm against his ear as she whispered, "At first, all I wanted was to return to my realm. But not anymore."
Andre’s heart pounded in his chest. "What realm? You are not making any sense to me.".
But Azula went on to say amidst his confusion with a dark chuckle. "Islinda provoked me, and now, I’m willing to play the game."
"What game?" Andre asked, his voice tense.
Azula pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes, her smirk widening into something more sinister. "What do you think about marrying Islinda?"
Andre froze, his mind blanking for a split second. What in the Fae? Marry Islinda? The idea was absurd, and yet, as he stared into Azula’s eyes, he could see that she was dead serious.
"You have to be kidding me," Andre muttered, wiping his palm down his face in frustration. He glared at Azula, his darkened eyes full of contempt. "You’re pitting me against Aldric."
"Are you scared of Aldric too, my prince?" she teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Andre’s ego bristled at her words, and he felt a growl rising in his throat. His eyes flashed with anger, his pride stung by the insinuation.
"Even without Aldric standing in the way, Islinda would never marry me," he spat back, his voice sharp with defiance. "She’s in love with him, and I won’t force her into a marriage she doesn’t want."
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