Chapter 8

A TRAP

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 when he wasn’t looking directly at me, and it sent chills down my spine.

“Why did you bring me here?” I asked, attempting to sound more self-assured than I actually felt. My voice trembled a bit, giving away my anxiety.

Finally, Lysander’s eyes met mine, dark and intense. “I wanted to talk about a few things in private. Ava tends to downplay serious issues.”

I let out a sigh, my shoulders drooping. “Ava wasn’t trying to downplay anything. She was just dealing with the situation in her own way.”

For