{Regina}
~**^**~
Even Soraya, who thrived on cruelty, leaned back with folded arms. "Let Kaelis have her flawless day. There will be other times to deal with Shaw."
Their agreement burned hotter than Kaelis' rejection. I forced my lips into a thin smile, but inside, the words twisted and clawed.
A minute later, the room emptied slowly, chatter fading as the others slipped out one by one. But I stayed seated, my packet of chips untouched at my side, my nails drumming against the armrest.
Of course Kaelis didn't want drama. This was her last Founder's Day as Council President, her final chance to flaunt power before graduation. It wasn't about the Academy, or the King, or the world watching. It was about her.
But I didn't care about her pride or her legacy.
Abort the idea? As if her command alone could snuff out the fire roaring inside me.
No matter how loudly Kaelis commanded or how loyally the others echoed her, one truth pulsed in my chest like fire.
