The door opened slightly as the king stepped in, calm but concerned.
"Is she stable?" he asked.
"She's better," Asher said.
Nova gave a small wave. "Still breathing."
The king nodded. "I'm glad. I saw one of the maids sobbing in the hallway. Something about getting strangled by hair?"
Everyone glanced at Sinnett.
"She provoked me," he said simply.
The king gave him a look. "Try not to strangle the help next time."
"No promises."
Cinder entered behind him, her gaze falling on Nova. Her expression softened just a little.
"You're alive."
Nova nodded slowly. "Thanks to your fire, I nearly wasn't."
There was no anger in her voice. Just tired honesty.
Cinder looked away. "I didn't mean to harm you."
"I know," Nova said. "Still happened though."
Sinnett stepped between them quickly. "Alright, no need for tension. She's fine, let's leave it at that."
Cinder didn't argue. She just turned and left, silent as usual.
