Auren POV
“I’m not manipulating anyone,” I said, the lie sliding off my tongue as smoothly as a blade through silk. The truth was that the only person I intended to manipulate was her. But she was evil rotten to the core so I felt no guilt about it.
Queen Elara was no ordinary Fae. She’d dabbled in shadow magic and mastered every other elemental art known to her kind. That alone made her dangerous. And a dangerous, angry Fae was the last creature anyone sane would want to provoke. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the luxury of choice.
“Lorien is still so innocent,” she mused, her tone slow and deliberate as she tilted her head. “Does she know about your past?”
My muscles went rigid, my fingers tightening around the armrest of the chair until the wood groaned beneath the pressure. What did
