Alice was looking at Dawin. She hadn't expected him to interfere, much less in her defense... against his mother. And in such a... dangerous tone.
And when, for the briefest flicker, his gaze shifted toward her, Alice's breath caught. That look.
She didn't want to think too hard about what had happened between Dawin and Hades earlier. Or about the strange edges in Dawin's behavior around her. He had always been… odd. The way he looked at her. The way he seemed to know far too much. The way he offered help she never asked for.
Did he… was he…?
No. She shook the thought. He knew she was Alice. Surely he didn't like her... right—?
But then… what was this?
The Matriarch's nostrils flared, composure splintering across her face. Her own son. Her own son had cut her down in front of everyone. It looked as though he'd struck her across the cheek. "Dawin, have you gone mad? You openly defy me in front of them!?"
Them.
