The air in the kitchen was heavy with the aroma of freshly cooked food, but the tension between Selene and me could have overshadowed even the most delicious of meals. I had asked the maids to leave so I could prepare lunch myself—a way to distract myself from the day's frustrations and the hurt lingering from my argument with Magnus.
Selene, however, seemed to have other plans.
She waltzed into the kitchen, her lips already moving with a stream of words designed to unsettle me. I ignored her at first, focusing intently on chopping vegetables, stirring sauces, and plating my meal. But her incessant chatter became harder to block out.
"You know, Magnus doesn't really love you, Aria," she said, leaning casually against the counter. "You're just a phase. A sweet little distraction before he realizes what he truly needs—someone like me."
I gritted my teeth, refusing to rise to the bait.
