Penny looked horrified. "Lady Lyra!"
Lyra burst into laughter, clutching her side as she leaned against the edge of the dressing table.
"Oh, your face! Alright, alright not Darius. But you're not getting away that easily." She gave Penny a knowing look.
"That mark is fresh. Which means someone snuck out of your bed sometime in the last twenty-four hours. And judging by your blush… you didn't exactly hate it."
Penny sighed, caught between embarrassment and amusement. "It wasn't supposed to be anything serious. It just… happened."
Lyra tilted her head, the mischief in her eyes softening. "Well, if someone's biting you and making you smile without realizing it, maybe it should be something serious."
Penny offered a shy smile, fingers fidgeting with the fabric of her sleeves.
"You're enjoying this far too much," she muttered under her breath.
"Oh, immensely," Lyra said with a grin. "It's about time I wasn't the only one in this house caught in a tangle of secrets."
