DORIAN
She turned her head, slowly.
“Excuse me?”
“Amia,” I said. “She wants to get a rise out of you. Try not to let her win.”
I already knew it wouldn’t work. Serafina didn’t take well to advice — especially when it sounded like something I wasn’t supposed to know.
“Why are you giving me advice,” she asked, “like you’re not the reason she’s even involved in my life?”
Her voice tightened. So did her jaw. She didn’t even realize how easily she gave herself away.
I looked at her.
Not stiff, just direct.
Because if I didn’t say this now, she’d crash in the wrong direction.
“Because if you fall apart now,” I said, “you hand her the win. You make it easy.”
She stared.
I couldn’t tell what emotion finally stuck — anger, jealousy, or something quieter. Something closer to a break.
Sh
