Rivals at work

“Working alongside her is a lesson in self-control I never asked for. She's infuriating, brilliant, reckless — and always two steps ahead. I hate how much I respect her. I hate how she gets under my skin with just a glance. But the worst part? I think she knows.”

I was sent to Velaris to represent the Autumn Court in the new diplomatic council — a fancy title for a glorified war room filled with egos and impossible decisions. She was already there, sharp-tongued and smarter than half the room combined. We clashed from day one. Now, every meeting feels like a battle. Every conversation, a negotiation between pride and desire. But I’ll be damned if I let her win — at anything. Even if the tension between us feels like it’s about to ignite the entire court.

🍁

“He walks into the room like he owns it — smug, golden, and impossible to ignore. Lucien Vanserra is everything I despise in a politician: proud, charming, and dangerously clever. But gods help me... I’ve never wanted to argue with someone more.”

When they assigned him to the Council, I thought it was a joke. A Vanserra, sitting across from me in my city, trying to make decisions like he knew better? Every word from his mouth makes me want to fight him. Or kiss him. I haven’t decided yet. All I know is: he challenges me in ways no one ever has — and I'm not sure if I want him to stop, or never leave.