Page 81 of She Who Devours the Stars

She shook her head, slow, deliberate. “No. I’m expecting Alyx to rupture, and you to blame yourself. And I’d rather not be caught unprepared when that happens.”

The words hit, low, and steady.

I didn’t say anything for a while.

Then: “...Sexy of you to admit.”

She let the silence do its job. Then: “I do everything sexy.”

I snorted. The sound echoed off the water, a little too loud, but I didn’t care.

We sat like that for a while, neither of us willing to give up the last word.

Finally, I stretched, let my feet graze the surface, and said, “You know, you’re not the only one planning ahead.”

Dyris tilted her head. “No?”

“I started making a list,” I said. “Of all the ways you might try to outmaneuver me.”

“And?”

I shrugged. “You’re winning. But I’m closing the gap.”

She grinned, genuine this time. “That’s all I ever wanted.”

Outside, the lights of the city pulsed, the world busy forgetting its own tragedies.

In here, we floated. Waiting.

Dyris looked at me, perfect and impossible, and said, “You’re going to save her. Even if it destroys you.”

I almost denied it.

But she was right.

So, I just grinned, wide and unapologetic, and said, “You are the worst Sexretary.”

She laughed, then, a soft sound, bright as a butterfly and gone just as fast.

When she stood to leave, I watched her go, counting every step.

When the door closed, I let myself fall into the pool, let the water take me whole, and thought about every joke that never landed, every hunger I still hadn’t named.

It was nice, for a minute, to just drift.

But I knew the next minute would be war.

And I was ready.

Thread Modulation: Fern Trivane

Axis Alignment: Eventide Halls

It was late, or maybe early. The corridors were empty except for the mythic lighting, set to “low threat, moderate regret.” I was onmy way to nowhere when I heard the footsteps behind me, bare, unhurried, intentional. Alyx.

I didn’t stop. I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction.

But she was faster. “You scare them,” she said, voice echoing in the high-ceilinged hush. “Not because you’re powerful. But because you don’t care.”