|| Lilac’s POV ||

The moment Elias left, I felt a wave of unease wash over me. His invitation for a drive wasn’t just a casual suggestion—it felt calculated, like a move in a game I didn’t fully understand. I needed to talk to someone, to get my thoughts in order. So, I called Elara.

“Hey,” I said as soon as she picked up, my voice low and urgent. “Elias just asked me out for a drive.”

There was a pause on the other end, and then Elara’s voice came ...