"Well, well," her mother said, her eyes twinkling. "It seems you've let go of your reservations, haven't you, dear?"
Heat rushed to Lily's cheeks as she nodded, acutely aware of Caspian's hand still resting on her knee. She glanced at him, noticing the confusion etched on his handsome features.
"What do you mean?" Caspian asked, his brow furrowed.
Lily's mother settled into her armchair, her gaze moving between the two of them. "The reason Lily smelled so strongly of you earlier, Caspian, isn't just because you marked her. You've claimed her, instinctively, when you stopped fighting the bond."
Lily felt a tremor run through Caspian's body, his grip on her knee tightening ever so slightly. She placed her hand over his, offering silent reassurance.
"And now," her mother continued, her v
