Page 149

Irina sees that too, and her expression turns colder.

“I’m glad this is amusing.”

“It isn’t,” Elara says.

“No?”

“No.”

Elara’s voice is steady now, though her face is still red. “But if you’re going to say something to me, say it. Don’t talk around me.”

For the first time since she arrived, Irina looks genuinely surprised.

So am I, a little.

Finally, Irina smiles. “I have nothing to say to you. You used a small, innocent child to get what you really wanted. I’ve only ever wanted things on her behalf. I should have stopped you sooner. But I’ve learned my lesson, and you’ll learn soon enough.” With that, she pads away.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. God, that was rough.

“She’s right,” Elle says.

“What?” I say.

Elle sighs, shaking her head. “I need a minute.” Before I can say anything, she walks out of there.

I sigh but think better of following her.

“Well,” a voice says behind me, “I chose an excellent day to visit.”

I turn.

Viktor stands just inside the front door, coat open, smile lazy, gaze moving from the side corridor to Elara and then to me. He misses very little when he wants to miss nothing.

“Go home,” I tell him.

“I’ve only just arrived.”

“Try harder.”

I let him because arguing in the hall will only give Irina more of what she wants, and because Viktor has already seen enough to make silence useless.

“What was that with Irina?” he asks.

I sit behind the desk and sigh. “What exactly did you hear?”

“Enough.”

“That’s not an answer.”

He drops into the chair opposite me. “I heard her use that voice she uses when she wants to cut someone without touching a knife.

I heard Elle stand there and not apologize, which was the only enjoyable part of the entire thing.”

I look at him.

He lifts one shoulder. “What? She handled herself well.”

“She should not have had to handle anything.”