I could hardly believe my eyes as Celeste nodded eagerly at August, her expression alight with a kind of reverence that bordered on worship. It was like watching a puppy looking up to its master, eager for any scrap of attention. My sister, who had always been so poised and composed, seemed entirely undone by a few sweet words and the magnetic pull of fate. It sent a cold shiver down my spine, seeing her like this—so unguarded, so vulnerable.
“But you, ugh, so well. I will see you in the hall for dinner,” I muttered, trying to keep the edge of frustration out of my voice. I didn’t want to show how much it grated on me, this sudden shift in Celeste’s demeanor, but my disapproval slipped through all the same. I watched her face, hoping for a flicker of recognition, a sign that she understoo
