ra expected from someone so polished. It was raw a

s all professional calm, but her eyes were sharp. She placed herself squarely in front of Xioma

cheek with deliberate drama, her fingers spread wide like she was holding her face together. When she looked at Veyra ove

tching now. Heads turned in every row. "I understand now. Your husb

t. The smile was small and

ed her dri

m her chin onto her lap. Xiomara gasped and jerked back, her hands fluttering uselessly at her chest. Th

ouse was ruined. The red wine stain from earlier had company n

hief purse

the scene with one sweep of his eyes: Xiomara dripping in her seat, the wet champagne glass in Veyra's hand, the passengers pretending not

that Ms. Vell is a VIP guest on this flight. She is affiliated directly with Caspi

le fact. Like the name should mean s

ly, to keep your distance from Ms. V

argue. She s

essed them flat against her thighs. Her phone was in h

Where are y

Half eaten takeaway box. His monitor on, showing a

Wife. He had written it

t. Something about what time he was landing. She does

at that moment,

eyra knew his voice. She had known it for seven years. It was warm and low and it was nothin

ed Xiom

g five hundred thousand to her account right now, just to make up for the turbulence she had endured. Turbulen

armrest. Her knu

he months in her mind, searching for it. A birthday. An anniversary. A night when he came hom

ays just about to feel better. She had been patient. She had told herself it was stress. That she lo

now that it w

e buzzed

r working through the holiday. The one with the noodles she liked.

sage twice. She

iomara with a small bow. Xiomara opened it without looking away from Veyra. Inside was a neckla

read it aloud, maybe without realizing

ou. I am alway

ed. Her smile was back. It was the

's seat. In his hand was another velvet box. Small

was a d

n light. Veyra did not know diamonds, but she knew what six figures looked like.

f purser said. His voice was car

wa

you apologiz

n aside. His voice dropped. L

ivalent of several such d

ee years of a cramped apartment. Skipped meals. Cheap face cream. Double shifts. She thought about her mother's

ed to ap

looked up at her with that lazy, satisfied expression. Her hand wa

apped twice," Xiomar

a sa

a sound that was heavier than it should have been. A solid, fina

a slap

r cheek burned. Flight attendants converged again, three of them this time, their voi

lapped

e. The sound was clean and sharp. Xiomara's head turned the other way. Her hair swung forwar

membered standing in the aisle with her bag, her body moving while her mind stayed somewhere else. She was still processing the s

into the ar

n she s

o her cheek. She was leaning into him like she needed him to hold her up. Caspian's arms went around her w

toward hers. He was more visibly afraid for Xiomara than he had been the night Veyra lost their child.

not c

did this. His voice was hard. Protective. The voice of a m

tepped

. Thorne,"