Ashen froze, his hand still gripping the edge of his desk, staring at the crown princess like she had just struck him.
"What did you just say?" His voice was low, deadly.
Rhynera's gaze lingered on the bracelet in his hand, her breath coming fast. "I said that bracelet belongs to me."
Ashen's fingers tightened on the bracelet strap until his knuckles turned white. "That's impossible….How would your bracelet end up outside the Celestial Realm and be with me?"
Her throat bobbed. "Because I lost it," she answered quietly. "A few days before my birthday, I was punished for it."
Ashen's eyes narrowed sharply. "Punished? For losing a bracelet?"
"For leaving the realm," she blurted, then instantly smacked a hand over her lips as though she could snatch the words back.
Ashen's entire body went still, and his mind spun, and pieces began clicking into place.
"Forget that I had said that." she quickly muttered.
