"Aldriana?" Liam calls softly, half believing she's really there and half believing he's dreaming.
Aldriana slowly lifts her head to look at him.
The gaze strikes Liam deep. He can feel her power in that look, radiating off her like heat.
"I heard you're looking for me."
Liam swallows. "Yes, I am."
Her dark eyes fix on him. "Why?" Her voice is low but clear. It isn't overly feminine, yet not masculine either. Liam struggles to describe it.
"Because you cleared the dungeon, which makes you the holder of the majority of the mining rights. By law, no one else can mine the Heartstones if you haven't claimed them."
She blinks slowly. "By my absence, I'm sure you know I don't want the Heartstones."
Liam nods. "Yes, I guessed that. But without the rightful owner, others will fight for them. The city isn't strong enough to fend off every faction. And I've already told the public it wasn't me who cleared the dungeon, so I can't claim it."
