“No,” Caterina said, shaking her head. She gestured with her drink, and a drop landed on Jaya’s arm. She discreetly brushed it away. “No. He wants to break up with me, Jaya. I’m sure of it.”

“I’m sorry,” Jaya said, unsure of what else to say.

But Caterina appeared not to hear her. “Do you know anything?”

Jaya frowned. Why did Caterina always appear to speak in riddles? “Know anything?”

Caterina grabbed her upper arm again, with her free hand. “About Alaric,” she said, dipping her head so her face was close to Jaya’s now. “And… Daphne Elizabeth.”

Jaya’s heart pounded. She waited, not willing to say anything just yet. Someone on the rooftop whooped.

“I don’t like asking for favors,” Caterina said, the edges of her words blending into one another. “I don’t like to rely on anyone else. But there’s no one else I can ask.” Her eyes drifted over to her friends at the other side of the rooftop and then back to Jaya. “But you’re new here, Jaya. You’re in Daphne Elizabeth’s group, but you’re not best friends with her, are you? You haven’t been here long enough for that. So you could help me. Tell me what you know.”

“Caterina…,” Jaya began, unsure of what, exactly, she was going to say. She had a feeling she was seeing Caterina in a very rare state of disarray. She had to play her cards just right so she didn’t embarrass her. “I…”

“I can’t sleep,” Caterina said quietly, her face open and lost in a way Jaya had never seen it. “I can barely eat. Please. You have to be honest with me.”

Jaya disengaged Caterina’s hand from her arm, feeling a pang of guilt and warring loyalties. On the one hand, it was clear Caterina was suffering. On the other, Daphne Elizabeth was her friend. And she, too, in her own way, was suffering. “I’m sorry,” she said, looking right into Caterina’s eyes. “Truly. I can’t imagine what you must be feeling.”

Caterina waited, expectant.

“But… I can’t get in the middle of this,” Jaya said gently.

Caterina’s expression cleared. In a matter of moments, she seemed taller somehow, her face closed off again, her eyes cold. It was like Jaya’s words had burned off the alcohol in her blood. “So you won’t help me.”

“Cater—”

Caterina held up a hand. “You know, Jaya,” she said. “You could’ve sided with me on this. I always take care of my friends, I told you that. Instead, you’ve decided to oppose me.”

“Just because I don’t want to get involved doesn’t mean I oppose you,” Jaya said, holding Caterina’s gaze.