I lift my head so I’m not suffocating against his shoulder. “And you’re a pain is what you are.”
His head turns, and he nips my ear. Even worse, I make a little yelping sound–right in front of Amber and my half-brother. I crane my head to try and get a look at Amber.
Her top lip twitches in a snarl before she shakes her head like she’s shaking off her rage. “You’re incapable of understanding. I love Minnie; she’s like my sister. Love, family, loyalty–devils don’t have those things, do they?” Her eyes burn as she steps closer, the two of them like stone bookends and me a flimsy paperback.
I try to wriggle out of Rosier’s grip. “Let’s just all stop–” I manage to break free. “And consider, oh, I don’t know, whatIwant to do for a second?”
Amber’s expression doesn’t soften. Rosier scoffs.
“Amber,” I say tentatively, “if Rosier can do things we can’t–”
“You’re seriously considering this shit? Still?”
“Between the curse and my dad coming after me, yeah, I am.” I furrow my brows. “Don’t tell me you wouldn’t do the same–”
“I wouldn’t.”
“Because you don’t have to! You haveeverything: your parents, your magic, the coven at your back. All I’ve got is him.” I gesture to Rosier. Past Amber, Lance’s mouth hangs open. “What would you do, Lance?”
His mouth shuts like a trap, and he clears his throat. “I don’t want anything. I just want peace and quiet.”
A dismissive sound hums at the back of my throat.
Lance frowns. “You know, I’m the only one sitting here who actuallylivedwith the le Fays. Out of my brother and my sister, I was the only one who got out. EvenmyMother sticks around. Just putting that out there.”
“See?” Amber gestures back at Lance. “Your brother–”
“He’snotmy brother.”
Lance’s frown is even heavier now.
Amber lets out a humorless laugh. “But you’ll act like this revenge plot is a family affair. Some melodrama like in all your corny books.”
“Enough!” I shout and forget that there's anyone else in the room but the two of us. “Amber, you need to decide right now if you’re going to be my friend or the Supreme. I need my friend to tell me the truth and support me–I need her to see things from my side.”
“And I need you to stop letting your daddy issues make decisions!”
“Oh!” I shake my head. “Youhadto bring up daddy issues, didn’t you? Real original.”
“Doesn’t need to be creative when it’s correct.”
“Get out!” I shout at her before looking at Lance. “Get. Out!” I turn on my heel to look at Rosier. “All of you!”
The room is painfully silent. Everyone is staring at me like I’m the main event of some circus performance. “Minnie, please.” Amber’s tone is so cool, it makes me want to scream again. “I want to help you. I’m sorry if it doesn’t feel that way, but I swear I’m trying.”
“And I’m just trying to help myself,” I bite back. “I’m sorry you can’t see it.”
Without another word, she starts heading for the door.
Lance is back to looking like a newborn deer, his green eyes darting around the room. “I’m… sorry.” He gets up. “Really, I am.”
He follows Amber, and they leave together. The door shuts, and I’m left alone with Rosier.
But not for long.
I speak through my teeth. “Get out.”
“You can do better than that.” He chuckles. Without words he insults me, that laugh of his worse than any taunting. “All that rage? Let me see it.”