Elise never let herself unravel in public. She watched, she measured, she calculated. No matter how her stomach twisted at the sight of Meera's hand brushing a little too close to Remiri's, she kept her smile sharp and her voice steady. You won't catch me slipping. Not in front of her. Not in front of anyone.
Remiri felt the shift. Elise wasn't as loud with her jealousy as others had been. That's what made it dangerous. Elise played the long game. Her eyes lingered on Remiri like a quiet storm, waiting, choosing the right time. She's holding back. Smart girl. But even storms break eventually.
Meera, though, thrived on the challenge. She leaned against the bar, her champagne glass glittering under the light, her voice smooth and deliberate. "You know, Remiri, some people only admire from a distance. Others… are willing to step closer." Her gaze flicked toward Elise as if to sharpen the point. Inside, her thoughts were sharper still. I see you watching, little one. You think you're competition. You're not.
Elise only tilted her head, lips curving in a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Distance keeps people guessing. Some of us like to be patient." Her thoughts hummed beneath her calm exterior. Let her think she's winning. Remiri will come back to me. She always does.
Remiri smirked, her dimples flashing like secrets. She swirled the drink in her hand, gaze shifting between them. "Funny thing about patience and boldness," she said, her voice low enough that both women leaned closer. "Neither works if you don't know what I actually want." Her eyes lingered on Meera for a heartbeat, then on Elise. They think they're in control. They're not. I am.
For the rest of the night, the three of them danced around each other—words laced with double meanings, touches too brief to be casual, silences heavy enough to choke on. To the rest of the room, it was nothing more than conversation. But inside the storm, each of them was fighting a private battle.
Elise's thoughts coiled tight. Stay calm. Don't let her see. She'll choose me in the end.
Meera's pulse burned with hunger. She'll surrender. They all do. But this one—I'll make sure she stays.
And Remiri—her smile never faltered, her curls perfectly in place, her body still as stone. But inside, her thoughts were fire. They want me. They're circling, waiting to claim me. But I don't belong to anyone. Not Elise. Not Meera. The only throne I sit on is mine.
The night ended with no victor, only smoldering glances and promises left unsaid. But Remiri knew—this wasn't over. The storm hadn't broken yet.