Cassia slammed her bedroom door shut, leaning against it for a moment as the silence of Meret’s lavish home wrapped around her. The echoes of laughter and chatter from her “friends” still lingered in her ears, but now, in the stillness, her mind was sharper. Her lips curved into a smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Yes, she had unsettled Meret in front of everyone. And everyone had noticed.

It had been glorious. But… not enough.

Cassia moved across her room, her heels tapping ...