Julian felt his world tilt when Bianca's words hit him. She'd laid bare everything about Lyra, each revelation cutting deeper than the last. Her apology came too late, but at least it came.
"This conversation should've happened months ago," Julian said, frustration bleeding through his voice. He pulled back his anger when Bianca flinched—she looked terrified enough already. "We could've prevented so much damage."
The truth stung. Lyra had only agreed to poison Caelum because the king had been treating her like dirt, all based on lies about her supposedly pining for her rejected mate. Nothing could be further from reality.
"You're certain Lyra despised Killian?" Julian's eyes narrowed to slits. He needed absolute confirmation.
"Completely sure. I know exactly what Killian was like..." Bianca's body trembled. "Thank god I escaped his grip." Her head dropped in shame.
Revealing the truth meant exposing her own humiliating past with Killian—no wonder she'd kept quiet for so long.
