Page 205 of Sweet Nightmare

“No.”

“You don’t even know the question.”

“And yet, somehow, I already know the answer is no.”

Poe bursts out laughing. Verali’s grin turns positively wicked, and Allegra looks like Christmas has come early.

Oh, I hate it here.

Allegra leans toward the screen, practically vibrating with excitement.

“How’s Khaos?”

Silence.

Not ordinary silence, either.

No, this is the kind of silence that descends right before something goes terribly wrong for me.

Even Mika, who has spent the last several minutes sitting quietly in the background, pretending she’s far too occupied with her phone to listen to our conversation, suddenly finds the wall fascinating.

I blink once.

Then twice.

“Alive.”

Damn it.

Too fast.

The words have barely left my mouth before the smiles start spreading across the screen.

Ugh, no.

I know those smiles. I’ve seen those smiles. Those are the smiles of women who have just stumbled upon a weakness and are already discussing how best to exploit it.

“That’s not good,” Verali announces.

I narrow my eyes. “What’s not good?”

“The speed.”

I stare at her. “The speed of what?”

“Your answer,” Poe explains, looking far too pleased with herself. “You answered too quickly.”

Willow lifts her hands and signs, You smiled.

I freeze.

Traitor. A sweet one but still a traitor.

“I did not.”

Mom takes a leisurely sip of tea, looking entirely too comfortable for someone presiding over my public execution.

“You did, gremlin.”