Malvoria knew she was in trouble the moment her mother tilted her head and took a slow, deliberate inhale.
The smirk on her lips widened.
Oh no.
Malvoria kept her expression perfectly neutral. "What?"
Her mother hummed, eyes gleaming with entirely too much amusement. "Oh, nothing."
That was a lie. Malvoria could practically feel the mischief radiating from her.
Her mother's arms remained crossed, her golden eyes watching her like a hawk. "You seem… flustered."
Malvoria scoffed. "I'm not flustered."
Her mother stepped closer, sniffing again, and Malvoria resisted the very undignified urge to run.
Then—
"Oh my."
Malvoria clenched her jaw. "Don't."
Her mother grinned. "Oh, I will."
Malvoria exhaled sharply through her nose. "It's not what you're thinking."
Her mother arched a brow. "Oh? And what exactly do you think I'm thinking?"
Malvoria refused to take the bait.
She would not stand here and have this conversation.
No. Absolutely not.
She was the Demon Queen.
