Lorien POV

“Who is she?” I asked quietly as Olyssia and I dressed for the evening’s event.

Auren had pulled on his clothes and left the moment everything between us ended practically bolted, tension carved into his features. I could have chased him, confronted him, begged him not to walk away… but his expression had stopped me. He hadn't looked angry or cold. He’d looked wrecked and somehow that was worse.

What we’d shared had been earth-shattering for me. Mind-splitting, ...