Felicity’s expression softened just a little. Her maternal instincts, still tightly coiled, seemed to register something more behind Lena’s words.
Magnus said nothing at first, but gave a small nod. “Then I owe you a thank-you… Elena.”
Tiara stepped forward, her voice smooth as water over stone. “Elize must please tell us what danger…”
She looked meaningfully between Lena and Elize, then at Jackson.
Elize shifted under the weight of all the attention, her fingers twisting in the hem of the dress. Her voice came out small at first.
“I… I didn’t mean to run off,” Elize said, her voice wavering under the weight of all the eyes on her.
“I just wanted to go to a friend’s party. That’s all. But… Elena was also at the party. She told me it wasn’t safe. That I shouldn’t be there.”
The room
