Chapter 20 · Gift of the Shadows

"Stop pretending you’re doing me a favor, Nora. It’s pathetic," Sera spat, her voice echoing off the sterile walls of the safehouse. She didn't move, but her eyes were like razors, cutting right through the polished, 'golden girl' mask Nora was wearing.

Nora didn't flinch. She stepped closer, the silk of her dress whispering against her legs. She stopped just inches from Sera, close enough that the heat radiating between them felt like a physical wall. "I’m not pretending. I’m offering you a way out. One that doesn't involve you rotting in a Solis dungeon because you thought you could play hero."

Sera let out a sharp, jagged laugh. "A way out? You mean a leash. A nice, gold-plated collar so you can keep your little pet hunter on a short string."

Nora’s hand moved fast. She didn't slap her; she gripped Sera’s chin, her fingers pressing firmly into the skin, forcing Sera to look up. The power dynamic shifted instantly.