Lines in the sand

**Angel**

Since the encounter with Amara, things between Dimitri and me had been strained to a breaking point. I could feel the distance growing, and every time I tried to bridge the gap, it felt like he was slipping further away. I knew that Kael and Amara were playing a dangerous game, but now it felt like they were winning, not by force, but by slowly chipping away at what held us together.

I had seen the way Amara looked at Dimitri, the way she lingered just a bit too long when they spoke, and the way she wielded her charm like a weapon. It was infuriating to see her trying to worm her way into his mind, but what scared me more was the thought that it might be working. Dimitri was strong, but Amara was cunning, and she knew exactly how to push the right buttons.

I couldn’t just sit by and let her get away with it. If Amara thought she could manipulate Dimitri and me, she was sorely mistaken. I needed to confront her, to show her that I wasn’t going to back down, no matter what games she was playing.

I found Amara in the courtyard, standing by one of the old stone benches as if she were admiring the scenery. But I knew better—nothing about Amara was ever as it seemed. She was always calculating, always one step ahead, and today, I was determined to take her by surprise.

“Enjoying the view?” I asked, my voice sharper than intended as I approached.

Amara turned, her eyes gleaming with that unsettling mix of amusement and disdain. “Angel, what a pleasant surprise. I was just taking a moment to appreciate the quiet.”

I crossed my arms, refusing to be drawn into her feigned politeness. “Cut the act, Amara. We both know you’re not here to enjoy the scenery. You’ve been playing your games, and I’m done pretending I don’t see it.”

She raised an eyebrow, unfazed by my directness. “Games? You make it sound like I’m plotting something sinister. I’m only here to help.”

“Help?” I scoffed, stepping closer. “You’ve been trying to undermine us since the moment you arrived. You think I don’t notice the way you’ve been getting close to Dimitri, planting doubts, trying to turn him against me?”

Amara’s smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. “You’re feeling threatened, Angel. That’s not a good look for a leader. If you think I’m the reason Dimitri is pulling away, maybe you should take a closer look at yourself.”

The words stung more than I wanted to admit. Amara was playing on my insecurities, and I hated that it was working. “I’m not the one who’s trying to manipulate everyone,” I shot back. “You’re here to serve your own agenda, and I won’t let you tear this pack apart.”

She shrugged, her expression turning cold. “You can believe what you want, but the truth is, Dimitri’s losing control, and it’s not because of me. He’s cracking under the pressure, and you’re too busy fighting ghosts to see what’s happening right in front of you.”

I stepped forward, anger boiling over. “Stay away from Dimitri. If you think you can use him to get what you want, you’re going to find out just how wrong you are.”

Amara’s gaze sharpened, and for a moment, the mask slipped, revealing something colder, more dangerous beneath. “You’re so convinced that I’m the enemy, but maybe you should ask yourself why Dimitri listens to me more than he listens to you.”

I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to lash out. She was pushing every button, trying to get a reaction, but I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. “You’re not as clever as you think, Amara. Dimitri might be struggling, but he’s not weak. And he won’t fall for whatever game you’re playing.”

Amara leaned in, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “We’ll see about that. But remember, Angel, sometimes the strongest bonds are the easiest to break.”

I watched as she walked away, each step deliberate, as if she had already won. My heart pounded in my chest, anger and fear swirling together. I knew I had to talk to Dimitri, to make him see what Amara was doing before it was too late. But as I turned to leave, I saw him standing at the entrance to the courtyard, his expression unreadable.

“How much did you hear?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Enough,” he replied, his tone laced with tension. “Angel.”

I shook my head, cutting him off. “We can’t let her get between us, Dimitri. She’s trying to divide us, and we’re letting her.”

He looked torn, caught between his duty and the weight of our fractured relationship. “I’m trying, Angel. But everything’s coming apart, and I don’t know how to fix it.”

I stepped closer, reaching for his hand. “We fix it together. But you have to trust me, and I have to trust you. Amara is a threat, but she’s not the real enemy. We are if we keep letting her manipulate us.”

Dimitri squeezed my hand, and for a moment, I felt the strength of our bond, strained but not broken. “We’ll figure it out,” he said, his voice softening. “But we can’t let her win. Not now.”

I nodded, the resolve in his words giving me the hope I needed. We were in this fight together, and no matter what Amara tried, we wouldn’t let her tear us apart. But the path ahead was still treacherous, and with every step, the stakes only grew higher.