Masuk“Just weeks ago,” he said calmly, his voice cold and measured, “you were a powerful fae. Perhaps the most powerful in all the realm.” His grip tightened slightly. “A worthy opponent.” His eyes darkened. “But now…” A faint golden glimmer flickered deep within them. “I possess most of your
Only then did he seem to notice her. For a moment he simply looked at Lyressa through the narrow crack in the doorway, his expression unreadable beneath the dim light. Not surprised. Not panicked. Almost… Disappointed. Lyressa’s breath trembled in her chest as their eyes met. The golde
The lanternlight flickered across Draevyn’s face. And Lyressa felt something inside her begin to fracture. She remained perfectly still in the doorway, the narrow crack of the door the only thing keeping her hidden as the reality of the moment settled slowly, painfully into place. The man she
The command carried the unmistakable weight of authority. Soon the palace halls fell quiet. Visitors were turned away. Guests dismissed. Even many of the servants were reassigned to other wings of the palace. And within the stillness of her chambers, Lyressa lay beneath the soft glow of lantern
It made sense. The court was already tense with fear and suspicion. News of their union—Seelie queen and Unseelie commander—would ripple through both courts like a thunderclap. So Lyressa agreed. But keeping their love hidden did nothing to temper the way her heart opened to him. If anything, it
Lyressa woke slowly the following morning, the pale glow of afternoon sunlight spilling across the high windows of her chambers. For a moment she simply lay there, staring at the carved ceiling above her bed as her thoughts struggled to gather themselves. The memories returned in fragments. The f







