"Are you telling me…" Vivian swallowed hard, her gaze shifting to me. "That I ended up in a fairy clan because…" Her voice wavered. "Because Lady Aelira put me there?"
Severin smiled.
It was the kind of smile worn by someone who could already see the damage spreading exactly as planned.
"Stop," Lucian snapped. "How are we supposed to believe any of this?" He stepped forward, eyes locked on Severin. "For all we know, you're saying this just to drive a wedge between them. Who knows what you're really after?"
Severin didn't look offended.
If anything, he looked amused.
"Well…" he said calmly, tilting his head. "That is one of my reasons." His gaze flicked briefly toward me before returning to Lucian. "I hate phoenixes. You know that. Just as much as you do."
Lucian's jaw clenched.
"But," Severin continued lightly, "everything I've said so far is the truth."
Silence fell.
