As Lysander and I stepped into my bedroom, the air felt charged with tension. The door clicked shut behind us, and it was like the walls were closing in, isolating us from everything outside. The soft light from the lamps created long shadows that only added to the uneasy feeling churning in my stomach.

I tried to calm my breathing, but it was tough with Lysander looming so close. He scanned the room with a detached curiosity, his eyes icy and calculating. I could sense his gaze even ...