"You are essential to it," Milena confirmed, the warmth returning to her eyes, yet it felt like the heat of a furnace, not a gentle fire.
"Arthur is a threat because he seeks to claim you for his own purposes, to use you against Selene. My purpose—my corrected path—is to prevent that. To ensure you remain in the fold, where you belong."
I pushed the bowl away with a clatter.
"I don't belong to anyone. And if I'm such a threat to Arthur, why don't you just kill him yourself? Why involve me in this battle at all?"
Her smile finally widened, losing its perfection just enough to reveal a sliver of something genuine—a cold, ruthless delight.
