“The Alpha King,” I emphasized, “just confessed that he loves me today. He kissed me with a lover’s lips, not just a mate’s. And you,” I held up a fist blazing with moonflame at her chest, “will rot in the Prison of Despair. If you’re still not dead at that time.” I scoffed. “Did you know Kal once saw you as a sister and a friend? He once treated you fairly and nicely before you became so obsessed with bringing me down. Jealousy is a sickness of the soul, Elise. Maybe you should treat that as early as now, or else it’ll spread!”

Her eyes became glassy. She almost punched...