Thorne POV
My beloved star looks up at me, those brilliant green eyes locking onto mine. There's something in that gaze—something warm, deep, unwavering. That quiet look that says I'm his whole world, and it's so casual, so unguarded, it hits me like a punch to the chest.
"Hey," I say softly, and the word feels small, inadequate.
But it makes him smile anyway.
Just past him, our little terror is still crouched beside the long pond, tossing petals into the water and watching the lily pads tremble.
"Hey, little tyrant," I say, stepping closer.
She glances at me over her shoulder, her expression utterly unimpressed. Her bright blue eyes, so like mine, flick away just as quickly, bored.
The betrayal stings.
I give Noelle a look—deeply wounded, theatrically betrayed.
"Did you see that?" I ask. "She looked me in the eye and dismissed me. Like I'm just the help."
Noelle chuckles, brushing a strand of hair behind his ear. "I didn't see anything."
