Lucen POV

It grated on me that Auren didn’t trust Lysandra with the money. They’d been close since Sylira died, but lately her edges had frayed she’d gotten unpredictable, and maybe Auren saw it too.

Lysandra stood there, case in hand, eyes daring me to take it. If she’d been anyone else I would have let them bring it to me a display of dominance, a reminder who handled business. With her, though, I couldn’t risk stroking that temper.

I accepted the case with the calm I’d ...