Page 171

And there it is. The knife she's used my entire life.

Except this time? It doesn't cut nearly as deeply.

“You mean because I'm the no-talent.”

Her expression flickers.

“I didn't say that.”

“You didn't have to.”

“Belinda—”

“No. You don't get to do that anymore.”

My voice shakes. I hate that it does. But I keep going.

“You don't get to insult me and then pretend I'm imagining the insult. You don't get to take things from me and call it sharing. You don't get to give everything to Melida and tell me it's because she earned it.”

Melida scoffs.

“This again?”

I turn on her.

“Yes, Melida. This again.”

She actually looks surprised.

“You took my things because you knew Mother would let you. My books. My clothes. My boyfriends.”

“Oh, Goddess. We were teenagers.”

“Not every time.”

Her cheeks color. Good.

“And somehow, every time you wanted something that belonged to me, everyone decided you'd make better use of it.”

“That's not fair.”

“No. It wasn't.”

Silence.

For once, Melida doesn't have an answer. Mother does. Of course.

“This melodrama is exactly why you were never suited to lead the Coven.”

I blink. Then I laugh. Because suddenly it's so fucking obvious.

“I don't want your Coven.”

Mother freezes.

“What?”

“I don't want it.”