"So what are you saying?" I pressed, a hint of dread curling in my stomach. "Am I cursed?"
Tala paused, then snorted. "Nope. Just fate's favorite science experiment."
I huffed, pawing at the snow.
"Hey, maybe the Goddess just thought you needed to be kept on your toes," Tala said, a grin threading through her voice. "Besides, drama is good for the complexion."
"And Soren," she continued, shifting into something more thoughtful. "Now, him, I find interesting. He's been watching you for years—did you know that? Not the way the other two looked at you. Actually watching. Noticing things." Her voice went drier. "Which makes it considerably more frustrating that he spent all that time watching and never once opened his mouth to say anything useful. Observed the problem with great clarity. T
