TRISTAN

My eyes darkened instantly.

“Stop,” I said, my voice low. “Just stop.”

She didn’t. I don’t know if she meant to provoke me or if pain simply made her reckless, but she opened her mouth again.

“It’s just tha...”

“Yelena!” I half-yelled.

She flinched and closed her eyes, her lashes trembling like she was holding back tears.

For a second, guilt stabbed my chest. Then she opened her eyes again, calm on the surface, stubborn underneath.

“Okay,” she said ...