Trina squeezed the glass so hard that it creaked. Thales' gaze followed Aurora as if the entire room had disappeared. And for a moment, perhaps it had.

The girl standing at the entrance looked like something out of an old fairy tale, but Trina only saw the threat. Every strand of white hair loose on her shoulders was a provocation. Every hesitant step—an affront.

The newcomer had achieved what Trina had been trying to do for years.

Thales's attention.

Trina smiled. ...