Nevermore was thick with tension. Agnes clung to Wednesday like a parasite, always giggling at her every word, leaning in too close. Enid tried to ignore it but every time she saw them bent over the Giddy Book together, it felt like her chest was on fire. She hated how much it bothered her.

Bruno noticed. The perfect jock with his easy smile caught her sitting alone by the fountain, staring up at the library windows. “Forget her,” he said, nudging her shoulder. “She’s not worth it.”

Enid forced a laugh that came out brittle. “Yeah, sure. Totally.”

Bruno grinned and offered his hand. “Then come on. Dance with me. If she can run around with that creepy freak, you deserve better.”

Enid hesitated before letting him pull her close. His warmth was comforting, but it wasn’t Wednesday. Nothing was ever Wednesday.

She didn’t know Wednesday was watching.

From the balcony, Wednesday’s eyes narrowed at the sight of Bruno’s hand on Enid’s waist. A slow, poisonous fury rose in her chest. She had never admitted to caring, but watching Enid smile with someone else made her want to slit his throat and paint the fountain red.

The air thickened as her vision sparked. Shadows crept along the ground. The stone beneath Enid’s feet cracked with a violent snap, forcing her and Bruno apart.

Bruno stumbled back, eyes wide. “What the fuck was that?”

Enid froze, her claws itching under her skin. She didn’t need to guess. She turned toward the balcony, and there stood Wednesday, her hands folded neatly behind her back, her expression calm but lethal.

Agnes giggled beside her, smirking down at Enid. “Someone’s jealous.”

Wednesday’s voice cut through the courtyard, low and sharp. “Stay the fuck away from him.”