Page 58 of Dark Angel

“Next time, I promise, I will be your knight in shining armour and whisk you away from the spiteful, unbearable, wicked, nasty, hateful-”

Matthew names every word used to describe the two girls, but Kora holds up her hands to stop him. “I get it,” a giggle escaping her lips, “no need to recite the thesaurus to me. Perhaps I need a drink.” She peers around, seeing Daisy smiling with Clarence and his friends. She didn’t realise Daisy was already here.

Matthew catches her eyeline and sighs pleasantly. “Ah yes, then there is Daisy who isinfatuatedwith your brother, Clarence.”

“Infatuated?” Kora echoes, staring at Matthew in surprise.

His eyes dart around as if he just told her their deepest, darkest secret. “Yes, she is in love with your brother,” he studies herexpression, making sure she’s not pulling his leg, “how did you not see that?”

Kora blinks at him. Her mind still trying to comprehend the news.

Daisy is in love with Clarence.

Shaking her head at him, Kora backs up a step. “No. No. Daisy can’t be in love with my brother. They have known each other their whole lives. They are just close to one another.”

Lines of confusion etch between Matthew’s brows. “It is quite obvious, Kora. They are always together. The looks they sneak each other when they think nobody else is watching. She’s there speaking with him and his friends over being here with you. She seeks comfort from him over you…” he highlights. “Have you really not noticed all of this?”

Kora’s mouth drops open as if she finally realises for herself. “Daisy is in love with Clarence.” Her words are barely audible.

“Yes, Kora. I believe I just told you that,” Matthew says, sounding bored. He takes another sip of his lemonade.

She blinks at him again. “But how did I not see it?”

Matthew shrugs at her, “It’s not like seeing which Marking someone has to know if they are magical or not,” he tells her, “you would have figured it out at some point, Kora. If I can see it, then I am sure others can as well.”

“This makes so much sense.” She murmurs under her breath.

Matthew nods at her. “Well, now that it’s out in the open, I would like to get a cup of that delicious strawberry pudding everyone is walking around with.”

Kora gives him a look.

“What?”

She’s still never amazed by how Matthew’s attention can turn within an instant.

Matthew wanders off, chasing after one maid walking around carrying bowls of pudding on a golden platter.

Kora takes a breath, her eyes unmoving from where Daisy and Clarence stand laughing together. Clarence’s hand is touching Daisy’s back securely.

How has she been so blind all of this time?

She wanders over to them, a nervous half-smile forming on her lips.

“Kora.” Clarence says when he spots her only a few feet away. His hand drops from Daisy. “Is everything all right?”

Without a word, she pulls Daisy into an embrace.

Daisy hesitates for a second before throwing her arms around her tightly. “Kora, are you well?” She murmurs in a confused tone.

“I am just glad for you, that’s all.” Kora whispers back.

The music is playing loud enough that not even Clarence can hear either of them speaking, despite standing right beside them.

Daisy rests her head on top of Kora’s, closing her garnet eyes. “I take it Matthew finally spilt our secret with you?”

Kora pulls herself away, catching a glimpse of that smile she’s all too familiar with. “He did. But you didn’t need to keep it from me. I would have understood if you had just told me.”

Clarence looks between the two of them. “What is this about?” he questions.

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