The girls huddle together as they cower from Ze. His expression is tight and unyielding, a murderous aura surrounding him. Purple tendrils of energy swirl around him.

"You'll pay for this. My father will have your head," Elora continues, using her good hand to summon a blast that she sends toward Ze. He merely opens his palm, absorbing the brunt of it before the energy dissipates around him.

His nostrils flare dangerously as he takes a step forward.

"That's enough, Ze," I whisper as I grab his sleeve.

He slowly turns his head to look at me, his eyes narrowed.

"I'm fine. We're fine," I say as I point to Thea and Wyn.

Thea snickers as she dusts her clothes, glaring angrily at Elora.

"For once, I'm happy to see you, Ze," she mumbles before she turns her attention to her sister. Wyn is wiping her tears as she glances down at her ruined dress. I doubt there's much that can be done with the amount of damage Elora did to it. The embroidery is mostly destroyed, the layers torn. The bodice is relatively unharmed, but the sleeves have also been slashed.

"It's okay, Wyn. We'll get you another dress," Thea tries to comfort her.

She sniffles as she shakes her head.

"You have no idea how long we've been working on this dress." She swallows, a sob lodged in her throat. "It was supposed to be special. Aethon was supposed to see me in it and..." She squeezes her eyes shut.

"Aethon?" Ze swivels, raising a brow at her. "Why are you bringing up my general?"

"Don't worry about it, Ze. It's nothing."

He doesn't listen to Thea, striding to Wyn and looming over her.

"If she has information about Aethon, I must know it."

"She doesn't. She⁠—"

"I'm going to be his mate," Wyn declares, bringing the back of her hand to wipe her tears. "Aethon will be mine. Just you wait and see. All of you," she states confidently as she glances at Elora.

"You are going to be Aethon's mate?" He raises a brow at her before he gives a dry laugh. "You are not very bright, are you? Just like your"—his gaze strays to Thea—"sister."

"Ze, please don't." I pull on his sleeve, whispering in a low voice. "You promised you'd be nice."

He pauses for a moment, deep in thought.

"I do not recall such a promise. My vow did not include that." He clicks his tongue, his gaze boring into Wyn.

Elora and her friends take advantage of this moment to slither past us and run out of the shop, but not before promising retribution for her hair—I assume also the humiliation. "My father will hear of this," Elora yells as the bell rings again to announce their departure.

Ze doesn't bat an eye at the threat. In fact, I'm surprised he let them leave so easily.

Maybe there's still hope for him...