Lilith’s Pov

I stared at Emily, my chest tightening with every breath I took. My fingers curled into fists where they rested on my thighs. She was looking at me like I was a stranger.

“See,” I said, my voice low, tight, “I’m not doing this with you. Whatever Killian told you, whatever he’s feeding you, I don’t care. He has a way of twisting things, of taking the truth and bending it until it’s something else entirely. And I don’t— I don’t have the strength for this conversation right now.”

Emily didn’t flinch. “I’m your best friend.”

“I know,” I snapped, voice cracking.

“Then why didn’t you come to...