And yet… not a trace of congratulations touched Trisha’s face.
She stood there biting her lip, her usual wide, innocent eyes shimmering like she’d been hurt just climbing the stairs. The picture of frailty.
“Alli,” she said softly, almost as though she were reluctant to disturb me. “Alpha Caden asked me to bring this over. You’re amazing… to win something so precious.”
Her gaze dipped down to the award like it belonged to her already. Then she lifted her eyes back to me, feigning shyness.
“I…” she began, shifting her weight and clutching the crystal a little tighter, “I have a small favor to ask. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful before. And you know how much I love things like this, right? Could you… lend it to me for a few days? Just to motivate myself. Maybe…” She gave a weak little laugh. “…maybe someday I could even replace you as Alpha Caden’s strategist?”
She looked up at me through her lashes. “I know it’s too much to ask, but please… just consider it? I really want to feel motivated.”
For just a moment, I didn’t know how to react. The sheer audacity of her request stunned me into silence.