I blinked. "Ouch."
She shrugged with zero remorse. "He's my brother. What do you want from me?"
We shared a soft laugh. And then her expression softened.
"But also, cut yourself some slack, Aria. No one's perfect. Everyone's a little fucked up. In their own way."
I shook my head. "Not you though. You're like… flawless."
Ash actually laughed at that. Loud and nervous and almost sad.
"God, I wish," she muttered. "nepo kids have secrets too, y'know."
I tilted my head. "What kind of secrets?"
She didn't answer immediately. Just sipped her drink and gave me this long, thoughtful stare. I could see something working behind her eyes... some battle of choice and courage... and then finally she said, "I'm still surprised you haven't guessed."
I frowned. "Guessed what?"
Ash turned away from me slightly, gaze slipping back out over the skyline. "You asked me once why I wasn't fighting with you over Kael," she said slowly. "Why I wasn't clawing for him like some lovesick heiress."
