<<Natalya>>

I sit in the waiting room, legs crossed, scrolling lazily through my phone. The hum of the air conditioner fills the silence, and I find myself smiling—actually smiling—for the first time in weeks.

How strange, finding comfort in torment.

Tormenting Hermes.

Tormenting her.

I hum softly, pretending to read the news, but really, I’m savoring the memory of June’s face this afternoon—how she froze when I told her she’d be handling my gala dresses. Watching her bite down ...