gainst her skin. Her heels clicked against the pavement, each step echoing in the near-empty street. She shou

tch, and shift with a life of its own. She told herself she was imagining it - the adrena

t whispered

er made her pause. Her pulse spiked, and she whipped around.

ed to herself. "It'

ran down her

ide a boutique, a figure stepped forward - tall, cloaked, and still, l

amiliar voice called from t

va

iding toward her, coat collar raised against the night air. His presenc

e said, his voice low, carrying an

d handle it," she admi

d her. Then, without warning, he took her hand, guiding her behind him. The touch was

e asked, nodding

scanned the street, every movement preci

id, the words calm but with a warning

wisted. "Lookin

et hers, sharp and unreadable. "Not a

alley, closer this time. Av

ghtened around h

lights caught a glint of something metallic in their hand

r to run, but she couldn't move - trapped between

expression unreadable.

the alley's line of sight. The sounds of the city faded, replaced by an

her heart still hamm

intense. "Someone who wants answers... and yo

ith it a faint, wild scent - the same scent she'd n

was only the beginning. And you should know..." His vo

ht you understood do

unding, a mix of fear, curiosity, and

them, a faint shadow sh

ill she couldn't shake: th