Flashback ( PDFDrive )

“Yeah, bring on the weapons,” Tam agreed.
“You shouldn’t waste your talent on such ordinary defenses,” a
statuesque female told him as she strode into the room, trailed by
Magnate Leto. Her gown and cape were the whitest white Sophie had
ever seen—almost glowing against her warm brown skin, and her
height alone would’ve made her intimidating. But paired with the
angled crop of her shiny black hair and the way her eyes somehow
changed from light to dark blue as she moved, Sophie found herself
fighting an inner war between wanting to stare and wanting to shrink
away.
“This is Lady Zillah,” Tam explained. “My Shade Mentor.”
“Forgive me,” Lady Zillah said in a soft, breathy voice that didn’t
match her piercing stare. “I realize I wasn’t invited to this meeting.
But ever since Tam described the attack, I’ve been longing to test my
theory.”
“What theory?” Tam asked.
“Patience,” she told him as she stretched out her hands.
Her fingers had long curved nails—but they weren’t black,
thankfully. They looked like they’d been dipped in gold.
And as she squinted at Sophie with her strange, shifting eyes,
Sophie definitely understood why Tam had described her as “intense.”
She fought the urge to fidget—or tug on her itchy eyelashes—and was
nearly ready to give in when Lady Zillah clapped her hands and
shouted, “I knew it!”
“I’m assuming you’re going to explain?” Magnate Leto said when
Lady Zillah moved to Sophie’s side and waved her hand over Sophie’s
bandaged arm.