a's

l sign because you have no choi

loud, cracked, and

nce my enemies find out... and ou

hisper because I know they won't. I've be

My enemies will want him.

except I already do. His wor

he's still just a chil

the truth hits me like a

again, just like

ns and my vision blurs from being upside do

breathless, I twist upward with the l

s legal guardian. I continue sch

round mine, and h

deal,

at, I sign my so

meet in the Kòrvac

y accident. Her eyes rake over me, slow, dismissive

courtesy. Just

on't ev

hat contract and agreed to co-parent with Luci

in me, and that it turned into an engagement. I smile and pretend I'm happy. Car

han truth. Lies k

the Kòrvac mansion. It'

a ghos

en like he's a god. He laughs more, smiles wider

im, but the bitterness still

And Lucien barely acknowledges my existence. We sh

alone in my room, sta

did something reckless. Something me

n my scree

ach a

ing to break i

once, th

at

me. I shut it down in seconds, sealing every

la

chewed off a sli

nal. It doesn't lead outside

, past rooms I've learned to avo

ol

s flying, jaw clenched. She slams her

tters, "she still man

the doorframe

you, you l

mething sharp and aliv

grin. A l

he desk, frustration radiating off her in waves. The sc

sm

ou hit it any harder, it might

round and ou

r, but recognition. The kind people get when the

od," she s

kno

doorframe and walk i

" I continue. "You're clever, but slop

At least, I broke i

ect. "I let

le

leave. I've made my

la

pa

e," Isolde says. "

ike a slap. Slow

n one smooth moveme

lightly. "But I coul

rough me. Quick, viole

down the stairs. Make

witch, but t

my whole life. H

d of bei

sit down heavily on t

uth?" I ask flat

ly. "A maid's child. Illegitimate.

y beat me. Star

t interrup

o he was. I ran. I survived. I built a life f

my throat bur

ay. "Or don't. Th

, and her hand

hought you were a gold digger. Someone t

I wanted his money, I'd have empt

anyone," she s

y her

I'll teach you things your broth

es lig

ea

. In the hallway, I stop and li

everage,

inside the Kò

e to m

easily," I whispe

I still want to leave, beca

ever

t don't exist. Even charity visits Lucien's name sponsors...ironic, really. I always lied

appearing at the end of the street or a familiar fa

s men a

go

s my sk

I hate the way my phone always has a signal, the way my car

r minutes at a time. Delays reports and deletes sma

ydra," she told me once. "Cut

t stop me f

time I see Asher laughing in Lucien's arms, a part of

p thinking cages l

ns that love lo

let that

plan

rts, and cash,, and I have a route I've tested t

, I almos

mo

se with him strolling sleepily behind me (I'd told him I was taking him to a surprise party), which I was...all the

k do you think