Natalie's words about Violet had sliced through me like a silver blade. I turned slowly, something cold and deadly settling in my chest.
"What did you just say?" My voice was barely above a whisper.
Natalie smirked, clearly pleased she'd struck a nerve. "You heard me."
The fountain bubbled behind us, its cheerful sound at odds with the tension crackling in the air. I took one deliberate step toward her, then another.
"You know what I find interesting, Natalie?" I kept my tone conversational, though my heart pounded wildly. "How comfortable you've become."
Her smile faltered slightly. "What are you talking about?"
"You've grown so confident in Julian's protection that you don't even bother hiding your true nature anymore." I took another step closer. "Like how you cheated to win the Pack Healer competition."
The color drained from her perfect face. "I didn't—"
