"I don't know," she admits. Love and hate felt so similar for so long. She felt both for her father, knew what that emotion was, all squeezed up in her heart and chest. She felt the same for her suitors, terrible as they were. Basile made her entire chest seize in fear sometimes, but he was so gentle in moments. Aloïs' indifference made her angry, but he would say such sweet things. Malo was intense and driven, but the drink made him sloppy and hurtful.

She loved them all. Maybe she hated them, too.