Chapter 105. Something Wrong

Xerina’s POV

Something was fishy. I could feel it in my bones. The unease crept up my spine, prickling at the edges of my mind. Papa called Rasmus for some introductions, and I found myself alone at the table, the noise of the celebration fading into the background.

I felt a presence beside me. It was sudden, unnerving.

“Alone?”

I jumped, startled, my heart skipping a beat. I turned to see Leon standing there, his eyes glinting with something dark. I hadn’t seen him since that day, the day of the spearing. I wasn’t expecting to see him again, not here, not now.

“I—” I stammered, trying to think of an excuse, anything to get away from him. I tried to sidestep, to move past him, but his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist. His grip was firm, unyielding.

“Care for a dance?” he asked, though it wasn’t really a question.

Before I could deny, before I could even think, he pulled me to the center of the floor. The music swirled around us, but a