Ethan's POV
When Lila had taken Soraya by the arm earlier that evening, every instinct in me had flared in warning. I knew that look in Lila's eyes—sharp, possessive, cruel beneath the practiced charm she showed the world. She had never been able to hide her jealousy when it came to Soraya. I should have stopped her right then.
But I told myself Soraya could handle it. That she didn't need me swooping in to defend her every time someone tried to wound her pride. She'd been through hell before; she had learned to stand on her own.
Still… something in me wouldn't settle.
So I sent Thorne after them. Quietly. "Go," I told him under my breath as I turned to greet a noble who'd called my name. "Make sure Lila doesn't do something stupid."
Thorne didn't question me—he never did. He simply nodded and slipped away with Asha following close behind.
