Lilian touched her bruised temple for a few agonizing seconds, staring at Evangeline in unreadable silence. Then, with a slow, chilling deliberate motion, she wiped the trace of blood with the tip of her index finger. Instead of grimacing, her lips curled, and a low, resonant laugh vibrated through her throat.
She pointed that same blood-stained finger toward the Queen, her silver eyes gleaming with dark fascination. "A beautiful strike. Frankly, I adore women who enforce their respect by absolute violence. It makes them... deeply intoxicating. Ordinarily, little one, I would have broken every single bone in your royal frame for that. But... let us indulge in a polite conversation first, shall we?"
