YELENA

We started eating anyway.

I swallowed the tightness in my throat, pretending the food was the only thing I cared about. Nyra sat beside me, her fork untouched. I knew she felt it too, the way the room felt heavy like the moon pressed its weight on us.

Still, I forced myself to chew, act normal, even when Livia leaned into Tristan like she was trying to merge with him. She dragged her fingers against his arm, whispered something I couldn’t hear. Then she picked up a piece of meat ...