?Chapter 91:

“You’re insane, Ryder,” I said in a low voice. Boy, was he full of surprises.

Ryder chuckled. “Maybe.”

For a moment, I forgot about the captivity, the arrangement.

“Tomorrow night, we’re going on a date,” he promised. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“To where?”

“And why would I ruin the surprise?” He shrugged, his fingers wrapped around mine while his other handy on his chest. What was I getting myself into?

Jasmine’s POV

I stood in front of the full-length mirror, smoothing out the clingy fabric of my dress. It was a silk andce dress, blue—a color I picked because of Ryder’s eyes. Unlike the other gowns Ryder had chosen for me, this one stopped just below my calves, with a high slit running across it asymmetrically.

The soft ruffles of the material seemed to echo my racing heart. “It’s just a date,” I reminded myself for the third time in two hours, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach.

The way I felt was somewhere between feeling gassy and ted. No matter how hard I tried to calm myself down, I was nervous in a way that made me feel soft and uncertain, like the excitement was coursing through my veins like a drug, and it made my face turn crimson—so embarrassing, I swear.

As I slipped on my heels, Ruby’s voice echoed in my mind. “Remember, darling, a little tease goes a long way. Make him want more.” I rolled my eyes, but her words lingered, making me wonder if I was really ready for this. I was still trying to recover from the surprise Ryder had tossed my way—it was hard to believe it wasn’t some kind of prank or something simr. Too bad Ruby wasn’t physically here to give me a little pep talk before I headed out.

Instead of Ruby, I had Seraphina forpany. She must have been as excited as I was—probably more excited, in fact, since she wouldn’t shut up.

Seraphina flitted around me, adjusting the straps and fussing over every detail. I’d never seen her this energetic or busy since I’d known her.

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“Remember, mistress, tonight is crucial,” she whispered, her voice a gentle buzz in my ear. “You must make asting impression.” I rolled my eyes good-naturedly, but the flush in my cheeks didn’t fail to redden my face.

“I know, Seraphina. You’ve told me a thousand times.”

“But, mistress, this is the first time he’s taken anyone out,” she emphasized, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “He’s never done this before. It means you’re special.”

I felt a flutter in my chest that I wished didn’t exist. Could it be true? Was I truly different from the others?

Seraphina continued as her fingers parted my hair gently, her voice low and conspiratorial. “And don’t forget, mistress, a little tease never hurts. Keep him wanting more.”

My eyes widened at my maid’s words, and all this time, I thought she was a prude. God! I was going to remain red-faced if I didn’t stop blushing. Why did I feel so nervous? It was just Ryder, after all. But there was something about him, about us today, something that made my heart skip a beat.

“Thank you for the advice, Seraphina. I never knew you were this talkative.” Her eyes faltered as soon as those words left my lips, and I wished I’d shut up.

My palms rubbed against my dress, a subconscious effort to wipe off the sweat on it. I descended the spiral staircase that stretched into a long C, my eyes falling on him waiting for me in the foyer. Tall, brooding, and impossibly handsome, he looked every inch the powerful Alpha he was. Our eyes met, and I felt a jolt of electricity run through my veins. God, those eyes…

“You look stunning,” he said, his deep voice sending a small smile tugging at my lips. Now I felt like a schoolgirl.

“Thank you,” I replied, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, myshes fluttering uneasily beneath my eyelids.

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