Lucien’s POV
I stood at the edge of the balcony long after Elena had gone to her chambers, the moonlight catching the sharp lines of the courtyard below. The weight of her confession still echoed in my chest, though I’d already known what she would say.
Kira had betrayed us.
And I had let it happen.
Not out of weakness—but strategy. I’d needed to see who else she would lead me to. I’d let her feel safe in her duplicity, let her believe the mask she wore hadn’t cracked. And in the process, I’d uncovered whispers that went deeper than even I expected.
But tonight changed everything.
Elena had seen it for herself now. And once she had touched truth, there was no turning back.
A man doesn’t take oaths lightly—not when they’re sworn in blood.
And tonight, I would spill it.
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By the
