Venom and Velvet

For a second, the room around me disappeared. Her claim clung to the edges of my mind like frost, creeping into every crack and refusing to melt. But I knew her too well to let it freeze me solid.

This was Rowena, the woman who smiled like a saint when Father was near and hissed like a snake when he wasn't. She was manipulative, brilliant at twisting truths.

"Explain," I said finally, my voice fla