Elena’s Point Of View

Matilda’s face twisted, her breath hitching in her throat like she’d been slapped, because she had been, not with my hand, but with my words. Her voice trembled, outraged, her hand twitching at her side like she was considering it… actually considering raising it to strike me. "What did you just say?"

I didn’t flinch. I didn’t back down. I caught her wrist before she could move, my grip iron, my voice a whisper… dark, deadly, my eyes burning into hers. ...