Killian's eyes slammed shut, his fists at his hips. He had strolled through countless battles, wars of blood and tempests, but none hurt him more than seeing her shattered at his feet. He wished to inform her, to speak the facts buried below the centuries of existence, but her eyes flamed with betrayal, no space for his words.
"You disgust me," Serena gasped, her tears streaming down. "I defended you when others doubted. I stood by you even when Lucien mocked me. I believed. I believed that what we shared was real." Her voice shook, cracking in pain. "It was all a facade. You're nothing but a monster wearing a veil of power."
At the mention of Lucien, Killian's eyes shot to her, cold and hard. "Lucien?" he repeated.
Serena nodded bitterly, her lips trembling. "Yes. Lucien warned me. Tol
