Chapter 48 – Smoke in the Mirror
The silence was stifling. Ava stood with her arms crossed, the red lipstick on her mouth curving slightly—not quite a smile, but something more venomous. Lena’s chest rose and fell, her bare arms crossing over her chest instinctively as if to shield herself from the stranger’s icy gaze.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us, Jay?” Ava’s voice was like silk—twisting around them, slick and dangerous.
Jay didn’t move. “What are you doing here, Ava?”
“I heard a rumour,” she said, circling the room slowly. Her heels echoed on the wooden floor. “That Elijah was still alive. I thought you’d want to know… unless you already knew?”
Lena looked at Jay sharply. “Jay?”
His face was unreadable, but his fists were clenched.
“Ava, don’t,” he said, voice low.
“Oh, but
