_Zarelle’s POV_
I was barely three steps away when Thessaly’s voice cut through the night air like nails on a chalkboard.
“Wait! Please, Zarelle!”
I felt her hand grab mine before I could react, her grip surprisingly strong for someone who’d just been “drowning” in shallow water. She pulled me back toward the crowd, her voice rising to a theatrical wail that would have made any soap opera director proud.
“Please, Zarelle, I know you’re angry because you and Calden are no longer together!” she cried, her voice carrying across the entire patio. “I know you hate me because you had to give your blood for me. Calden paid you well, but it’s not just about the money, is it? I can understand why you’re upset, why you pushed me on impulse. I don’t blame you. I really don’t. I just wis
