"How bad?" Kieran asked in a low voice.
Emerald's eyes lingered on The Rogue King across the cave, where he still lounged with his back against a jagged wall, golden eyes half-lidded like a predator resting only because he chose to.
"Bad enough," she said quietly, "that he's not playing by any of the rules the rest of you intend to follow."
There was a beat of silence.
Then: "Well, you two have gotten awfully close," Adrien said as he approached, arms crossed. His tone was casual, but the fire in his eyes said otherwise. "So that's why you kept asking about Kieran, huh?"
Emerald tensed. "Adrien—"
He pressed. "You love him more now? That's it?"
"This is not the time or place," she replied through gritted teeth.
Lucien, who stood nearby, interjected. "Maybe it is." He stepped forward, arms folded, his tone calm but not soft. "He has a right to ask. So do I. So does everyone here."
