LORETTA

I blinked at him.

All of a sudden, my throat closed and my father's warning came rushing into my head. That I should on no account whatsoever, let Elion know I was spying on him

Out of my own control, my fingers began trembling. What would Elion do to me if he found out that I'm sniffing around for his secrets? This man already hates me enough; I couldn't...I won't survive what he'll do to me if I'm caught before I have anything substantial

So I did what any reasonable woman in my position would do when being stared down by the most observant man she'd ever had the...