Elena finally turned around to face them.
She looked at her stepmother, then slowly shifted her eyes to Lucien. She stared directly at the hand he had used to strike her before.
A year ago, she would have just stayed quiet and endured it. But today, she was desperate. Anders was dying in his secret hospital room, Alaric hated her, and she had nothing left to lose.
Elena let out a soft, cold laugh. It was the same dangerous laugh she had used when she told Lucien he never learned.
"Mother... Lucien..." Elena said softly, her tone almost playful but freezing cold. "You both look so anxious. Are you terrified that if you let me out of your sight for even an hour, I will destroy everything Father built?"
Lucien's face turned red with anger. He took a dangerous step forward, his fist clenching at his side.
"You ungrateful bitch..."
