The Cost of Cunning

VESPERIA'S POV

Briony’s head snapped toward me. Thane blinked. Even Gareth turned slightly.

Valerius froze. “What did you just say?”

I swallowed, forcing myself upright. Every inch of me screamed, but I had to speak. "What I gave her... the blood, the hair, the Core Fang. They were all fake."

Valerius blinked and his eyebrows creased.

"I didn’t give her the real things," I whispered, my voice bare