The shadowed hallway was dead silent, only the ragged breathing of the man pinning Zaliyah against the wall could be heard. The scent of sweet lotus blossoms and rain hit Xulthas like an intoxicating poison, drowning out the stench of spiced wine that clung to his own throat.
His eyes, burning with a dangerous light, bored down into the masked figure trapped in his arms.
"You really thought you could hide from me?" Xulthas rasped
Before Zaliyah could even attempt to pull back, Xulthas's broad hand snared the delicate gold chain running over the crown of Zaliyah's head. With a forceful tug, he ripped the veil away.
CLINK.
The gold chainmail slipped free, its cold links sliding against Zaliyah's jawline with a metallic chime before falling uselessly to the stone floor.
The moment the mask came off, Xulthas's breath hitched in his chest. The sight before him was an absolute sensory overload. It was a vision that shattered his composure.
