{Talia}
Talia's heels clicked against the marble.
Her surroundings, the academy's familiar halls but bathed in moonlight, were mostly a blur. The cold air did nothing to stop Talia's skin from burning with embarrassment.
[Mother's office. Fetch her purse. Of course.] She rolled her eyes.
Talia knew what was actually happening the moment her mother started speaking. Evangeline Stone didn't forget purses. Hell, she could probably recite with perfect memory every single move she'd made since the sun came up today.
No, this was punishment for dancing with Aegis, wrapped in a mundane errand.
Talia turned down the administrative wing. It was all empty, of course. Everyone was at the gala. Networking, building connections, plotting on how to kill the nobles they didn't like.
And yet, all Talia was doing now was trying to will away the heat and failing. Her skin still burned where Aegis touched her.
[Stop thinking about it, you fool. That's what... That's what she wants.]
