Strength alone wouldn't be enough. If I wanted to destroy Liam and Serena, I couldn't just hit harder—I had to play smarter.
Which is why I found myself sitting across from Isadora Wynn.
If Kai was the devil in the ring, Isadora was the queen of manipulation. Elegant. Dangerous. A woman who could ruin a man with nothing but a whisper in the right ear.
"Tell me, darling," she purred, stirring her tea lazily, "what's the difference between power and control?"
I hesitated. The answer seemed obvious, but with Isadora, nothing ever was. "Power means having influence. Control means using it."
Her red lips curved into a knowing smile. "Close, but not quite. Power is an illusion. A man can have all the power in the world, but if I can make him doubt himself? If I can make him hesitate at the worst possible moment?" She leaned in, her eyes gleaming. "Then I control him."
I swallowed hard.
"So, what? You want me to learn how to manipulate people?"
Isadora tsked. "No, darling. I want you to learn how to make them trust you. A woman who is feared is dangerous. But a woman who is loved?" She tapped a manicured nail against her teacup. "She is unstoppable."
I exhaled slowly.
Love. Trust. Deception.
I had been burned by all three.
But if that's what it took to bring Liam and Serena down?
Then I would master them.
I picked up my own cup and met Isadora's gaze.
"Teach me."
She smiled, slow and victorious.
"With pleasure."