Kaius shook his head, his breath uneven, his mind spinning in a whirlwind of disbelief, anger, and something else, something more painful than he had ever imagined. His hands curled into fists at his sides as he stared at her, at the woman who had turned his entire world upside down in the span of a few moments.
"But despite your deception," he said, his voice rough with emotion, "despite the fact that you’re not Dhalia... I can feel my bond with you." His golden eyes burned with confusion, desperation clinging to the edges of his words. "I know what I feel, …Raya. You are my mate."
Raya’s lips curled into a bitter, sorrowful smile, her eyes dark with emotions she refused to name.
"No, Kaius," she whispered, shaking her head, her voice trembling with the weight of the truth she had car
