ADAM

Oddly enough, I was pleased—actually pleased—that Sage had just sidelined Darius. A dangerous thought, if there ever was one.

The moment she said he wasn't needed for the dome casting, I had to stop myself from smirking. It wasn't just the satisfaction of watching Darius's composure falter; it was something deeper, a strange sense of contentment that came from her decision. And that irritated me.

Since when did her choices dictate my mood?

I scoffed under my breath, masking it as a cough, while my gaze drifted toward Darius. He was staring at Sage as if she were a puzzle he hadn't been given enough pieces to solve.

I...