"And then you used the attack as cover to fake your death," Victoria said. "You let me think you died. Let me mourn you. While you spent fifteen years making demon deals and corrupting yourself so you could come back strong enough to do what Mother never let you do."
Thalia was quiet for a long moment. Then she laughed.
Not a kind laugh. Not amused. Just bitter and sharp and absolutely humorless.
"Is that what you've been telling yourself?" Thalia asked. "That I orchestrated everything? That I wanted the family dead so I could rebuild the coven in my own image?"
"Didn't you?" Victoria demanded.
"No," Thalia said flatly. "I wanted power, Victoria. I wanted to stop hiding what we were. I wanted to use our gift the way it was meant to be used instead of cowering behind principles that got our family hunted. But I never wanted them dead."
"Then why did you fake your death?" Victoria asked. "Why let me think...."
