Lorien POV

Auren’s mother hadn’t been referring to me when she said she’d met his mate long ago. I understood that now. That pointed comment wasn’t nostalgia it was a reminder that I didn’t belong, that the bond Auren paraded around was a fabrication. Sylira was the one she meant. His real mate. The ghost I could never outshine.

“Don’t talk about her.”

Auren’s voice snapped through the air, low and hard. My fingers balled into fists at my sides, and I had to force them to ...