"Lumina!" Ashen's voice cut angrily through the air.
She flinched and turned toward him at once, her fingers tightening around the hem of her robe. Across the room, Alexis watched the exchange with open amusement, a slow smirk spreading across his face.
"So I was right," Alexis said calmly. "You are no charlatan after all."
He extended his hand toward her, fingers curling as though already claiming what he wanted.
Ashen moved faster than thought as he crossed the space between them in a heartbeat, slapping Alexis's hand aside with force and pulling Lumina back against his chest.
His body shielded hers completely as his eyes burned with warning.
"Alexis," Ashen said coldly, "forget everything you heard tonight. She is only seeking allies to revive the Coven, she has once spoken to the king about it… Nothing more."
Alexis tilted his head slightly, studying him. Then he shook his head once.
"We will talk tomorrow, there are still more things to speak about."
