“Women! Claus planted his feet, hands open like he was trying to catch two falling knives.

“Stop.” He said again, softer this time, forcing himself between them.

“We don’t need to tear each other apart at the moment.”

Mia’s jaw flickered; Carol’s eyes narrowed, but for a breath the room held—an awkward, brittle truce.

“Okay?”

Claus read it as best he could: the two women weren’t kissing and making up, but they’d paused the war for now. He felt both relieved and ...