Caspian's eyes widened, genuine surprise flickering across his features. The ropes binding him creaked again as he shifted, leaning even closer to Lily.
"How are you only two centuries younger than me?" he asked, his voice a mixture of awe and disbelief.
Lily felt a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. She turned away from him, busying herself with arranging vials on the shelf, but her words carried clearly over her shoulder.
"Like I said, there's a lot you won't know about Winters witches."
The air in the small shop seemed to thicken, heavy with unspoken secrets and simmering tension. Lily could feel Caspian's gaze burning into her back, and could almost taste his curiosity on her tongue. It mingled with the earthy scent of herbs and the metallic tang of magic that perpetually hu
