LIORA’S POV
I stood frozen as Darren released me, his hands dropping from my shoulders.
“How have you been?” he asked, with genuine concern in his voice. “I heard about the handmaiden selection incident. Are you alright?”
Words stuck in my throat. How could I answer that? How could I stand here and act normal when less than an hour ago his father’s mouth had been on me, driving me to the edge of something I’d never experienced before?
“I’m fine,” I managed. “Just adjusting to palace life.”
“We’ll talk more tomorrow,” he said. “I want to hear everything that’s happened while I was gone.”
Everything. God, if he only knew.
Elora appeared at his side, linking her arm through his with practiced ease. “Darren, we should go greet your father properly. He’ll want to hear about the treaty ne
