Hate her

I stood in the throne room, my thoughts tangled in the aftermath of what had just happened with Seraphine. My mind kept replaying the moment, the intensity, the way she looked at me with such raw desire.

I hated to admit it, but it was actually a bit... great. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I found myself lost in the sensation, the memory of her touch, her breath on my skin.

"Are you listening to me, Riley?" My mother's sharp voice snapped me out of my reverie. I blinked, bringing myself back to the present. We were in the throne room, and she was staring at me with that familiar look of disapproval.

"What?" I asked, my voice tinged with annoyance. I had almost forgotten why we were here. Not talking, really—more like arguing. My mother had a knack for turning every conversation into a lecture, and I was tired of it.