Caterina spun around, virtually snarling. “What do you think?” she spat over the popping and booming. “I was just humiliated in a room full of my father’s business acquaintances and my friends! And you know what the worst part is? You could’ve stopped it and you didn’t, Jaya. I really thought, when we first met, that perhaps one day you’d prove yourself to be a worthy friend.” Her eyes were pink at the corners. “But I was wrong. And sometimes I get really fucking tired of being disappointed.”

“I’m so sorry,” Jaya said. Two couples from upstairs tried to make their way down, but when they saw Caterina, they quickly turned back around and scurried up the stairs. “But maybe this is a blessing in disguise. Alaric really didn’t deserve you.”

“Don’t act like you’re my friend. Don’t act like you care.” Caterina narrowed her eyes. “You’re just as bad as them. Maybe even worse. The well-groomed, polite, likable princess who loves her sister and her family. You fooled them all, didn’t you? You’re a hypocrite and a liar.” Caterina ripped off her feathered headband and threw it on the ground. It was like she was divesting herself of this party, of this evening, one item at a time.

Jaya felt a small ripple of fear move through her. Was Caterina talking about whatever she’d learned from talking to Kiran? Or was she just talking about how Jaya had kept the whole Daph/Alaric thing from her?

“Caterina…,” Jaya said, reaching a hand out, unsure of what, exactly, to say.

Caterina held up a hand. “I don’t need your charity. It’s clear where your allegiances lie.” Scoffing, she added, “Enjoy the fucking fireworks.” Then she turned, pushing her way through the crowd, and melted away.

Jaya looked at Caterina’s feathered headband lying abandoned on the metal stairs, the feather limp and sad. She felt guilt like a knife twisting in her chest. Somehow, in the weeks prior, it had become easy to justify her lie of omission to Caterina, just like she’d justified so many others. But Jaya had never meant for Caterina to get hurt. She’d never wanted that.

She looked out over the sea of people, down to the deck where she and Grey had been talking. The space that had held him was now empty. Maybe she just had a talent for inflicting pain.

CHAPTER 16

Grey

“Push X! No, not Y! Push X—X!” Rahul yelled.