EMILIA’S POV

“You’re still alive?”

I turned, pulse pounding so hard it almost drowned her out—but not quite. Nothing could dull the sound of that voice. My sister’s voice.

Rosella stood there, arms folded across her chest, a smirk tugging at her lips like she’d been waiting her whole life for this moment. Her hair was perfectly braided, her dress neat, her chin tilted with the same air of superiority she’d worn since we were children. I hated how familiar it felt.

“Surprise, surprise,” I said evenly, tilting my head just enough to meet her smug stare. “I’m alive.”

Her smirk deepened, eyes glinting like shards of glass. “Barely. I...