Nesta's silence reminded him of his mother. Words trapped behind teeth. How much had she bitten her tongue to be this... lady?
How many good females were going to be stolen away by decorum and placency? It made him want to tear it all to pieces, except Lucien knew she still thought of him as a beast.
To remain calm was to keep the peace. But Lucien didn't want peace. Lucien wanted Nesta burning and alive. He wanted her to spit his name out of her mouth because she was disgusted at the flavor of him on her tongue. He wanted her red faced and ravaged.
Maybe it was his Autumn Court blood calling him tonight. But maybe it was this woman--this little human who took breaths lightly because she was forced in a corset. So that she'd be made smaller in both body and mind. What he wouldn't give to free her from these human trappings.
He was desperate and every minute more made him depraved.