Lucian's sharp crimson eyes darkened, and his nostrils flared slightly as he caught a lingering scent in the air. It was faint but unmistakable—musky honeydew, a scent he knew all too well from dealings with the fae. His jaw tightened, and he leaned closer to Aeliana, his voice a low, dangerous whisper that sent shivers down her spine.
"Have you been sleeping with your cousin, Aeliana?"
Her golden eyes widened in shock, and she froze. "What makes you say that?" she stammered, her voice wavering slightly as her cheeks flushed with guilt.
Lucian leaned in closer, his lips brushing the shell of her ear as he whispered, "I can smell it, Princess. That honeydew musk… it's the scent of faeries, their bodily fluids. And it's clinging to you."
Aeliana stepped back instinctively, her heart pounding. "That's absurd!" she snapped, her voice rising defensively. "I… I don't know what you're talking about!"
