filled with warmth, like a gentle sea of stars.
Now, they were empty, shadowed with wariness.
“Lila Lane?”
I gave a bitter smile. “You clearly know me. How could you forget?”
“Showing up and making this kind of joke…”
I reached to flick his forehead, but he seized my hand, stiff and guarded.
For a moment, both of us froze.
That distance in his eyes—it wasn’t Adrian anymore.
Awkwardly, I pulled my hand back.
“They all say you’re my fiancée, but I’m sorry—”
Adrian’s lips tightened, his face paling.
“I don’t remember you.”
He pulled Stella protectively behind him.
“When I was injured, Stella was the one who nursed me back. We’ve been husband and wife in all but name. Master, even if you kill me today, the only woman I’ll marry is her.”
Adrian knelt heavily, banging his head three times against the floor to prove his resolve.
The hall froze in silence.
The other six apprentices shook their heads, some even gritting their teeth to plead with him.
“Adrian Cole, you fool, don’t lose your mind!”
“Have you forgotten how desperately you pursued Lila five years ago?”
“So many suitors came to propose, and you chased them all away!”