“Well, Elara,” she said sweetly, “everyone’s been working so hard to make this perfect for you. What do you think? Does it suit your taste?”
I glanced at her, my eyes landing on the hair ornament she wore. It was mine—one I thought I’d lost months ago. My jaw tightened as I looked back at her, my voice cold.
“A secondhand setup for a secondhand person. Yeah, it suits you perfectly.”
Her smile vanished, replaced by a flicker of anger. Without a word, she grabbed a glass centerpiece and smashed it to the ground. A shard cut her foot, and she let out a pitiful cry.
Before I could react, Damon appeared out of nowhere. His eyes burned with fury as he stormed toward me.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Elara?” he snapped, his voice like a whip. “Serena spent the whole day helping with your party, and this is how you thank her? If you don’t like it, do it yourself!”
I stared at him, stunned, as he scooped Serena into his arms and carried her away. He didn’t even give me a chance to explain.
By the time the sun set, the clearing was empty. No one showed up for the party—not that I expected anyone to. Damon had always been my only friend, and now, even that was gone.