A marked affair

ed by tall black gates and rows of sycamore trees, the estate was an island of wealth nestled in one of the city's most affluent nei

hed across continents, he was always halfway across Nexalith or the world. His presence in the mansion was as fleeting as a pas

ision, Evelyn carried herself like royalty, and she expected to be treated as such. Th

and had died when their daughter, Iris, was just four. Since then, Leah had done everything possible to keep a roof over their heads, eventu

n and her emotions tucked in. During school breaks, when there was no one else to care for her, Iris would

o ten, but where Iris was soft spoken and reserved, Mira was confident and ass

about the two girls was

their

ked... i

face with wide almond eyes and lashes too long to need mascara. Same

behind and nearly offered her a plate of chocolate

ttled Evelyn, but sh

ongoing irritation an offens

once whispered bitterly to Iris d

answer. She

me Mira saw her, it stirred so

m drifting from the open laundry room. A thin paperback novel rested in her lap something Mira had disc

Mira's voice cut through th

sed in a pastel pink jumpsuit and white ballet flats. Her ha

lready," Iris said quietly,

don't have to dig through my trash like

Mira's mood swings came like a

ied, her voice calm. "It

? Just because we look alike doesn't mean we a

flinch. She'

tory," she murmured. "About a girl who finds her place

a flicker of something unreadable to fla

in your dreams, you won't be

nswer. What w

, and proud. Maybe it wasn't her fault. She was born into a life of pea

was looking, Iris caught Mira

with

knew how thin the veil

nd harsher to the other... would

he could do was swallow her

y from the laundry room, "Iris, co

ered, rising slowly and

l tilted her chin higher as if declari

owing smile, thought to he

ready unraveling. Already shifting toward s

, pain, power... and a night