Victor's POV

She stood still, her eyes meeting mine with a blend of shock and anxiety. "Are you certain about this?" Her voice was hardly louder than a whisper, yet the quiver in it was undeniable.

I gave a nod. "I wouldn’t mention it if I weren't."

Without delay, she placed the glass on the table, her fingers trembling to the point that it undulated a bit before stabilizing. I stood up suddenly, yanking her up by the arm before she had a chance to protest.

"We must discuss this," I ...