Viya's POV
"That's a question you should ask me, not her."
Elizabeth's voice cut through the tension like a knife. She'd been handling guests in the main hall, but apparently she'd seen me come downstairs and had followed when I didn't reappear.
Her gaze fell on Miranda with lethal precision. "I'm familiar with your situation. I know you have certain... skills at manipulation.
But if you start something with Viya—whether it's me responding or my family responding—we won't be gentle about it."
As she spoke, her elegant fingers wrapped around Miranda's wrist, applying just enough pressure to make Miranda's grip on me loosen involuntarily.
Miranda's confidence faltered visibly. Everyone knew that Elizabeth spoke for the entire Hawthorne family. Cross her, and you crossed a
