Kaiden turned to look at his little sister. He stared at her for a long, even moment.
Alice's lower lip trembled. Her eyes grew large and dangerously wet.
"Good try," he said, grinning.
"Hmph!" Alice's face crumpled into a pout so aggressive it bordered on structural damage. "You're picking impossible things on purpose! This is foul play! Sadistic big brother!"
"It's not impossible. You just need to pay at least some attention."
"I-I can't! The headpats..." Alice leaned into his hand that was idly tracing her scalp. "They make it impossible..."
"I can stop it if you want."
"Don't you dare!!" Alice cried, reaching up to lock his hand on her head.
"Still as unhinged as ever. Way to go, little sis." Calypso thumped the armrest before turning her attention to Kaiden. "Is it a test?"
"Sort of."
Bastet's tail went still. She was narrowing it down, her golden eyes sharp. "People evaluate you."
"Yes."
"A tribunal."
"No."
Calypso's eyes lit up. "A submission ritual."
"Nope."
