The Weight of Finality

'So why wouldn't she just take it? Why does she always have to push back?' Dorian thought. 'Maybe I treated her too gently before.

'Maybe that is why she feels she could stand against me every single time.'

Aria could only find the situation absurd, and a quiet laugh nearly escaped her.

She straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin, and looked right at him with a cool, razor-thin smile. "Tell me