Nora noticed me approaching first, of course she did. Her posture straightened ever so slightly, her icy-blue eyes flicking toward me with that same regal mix of disdain and resignation, like she was already mentally preparing herself for the migraine I was about to cause.
"Ah," she said, her tone perfectly even. "And here comes the disaster himself."
I clutched my chest dramatically. "Nora, please. You make it sound like I ruin everything I touch."
"Do you not?" she asked, one elegant brow arching.
Sacha leaned over from my shoulder, whispering (loudly), "Papa does!"
"Traitor," I muttered.
Annalise, who had caught up to me, sighed and crossed her arms. "You do have a habit of proving people right, you know."
"You too, Annalise?" I said, feigning hurt. "Is there no loyalty left in this world?"
Xavier, who'd been quietly leaning against the pillar beside Nora, finally decided to look up from his nails. He smirked. "You really do enjoy hearing yourself talk, huh?"
