26

The tension in the room was palpable as Elijah's gaze bore into me. I could feel the others holding their breath, waiting to see how he would react.

"That's a bold accusation, Ana," he said, his voice deceptively calm. "Do you have any proof to back that up?"

I hesitated, suddenly unsure of myself. What if I was wrong? What if I was putting us all in danger by making such a claim?

Damien's hand squeezed my arm, offering silent support. "Ana, if you believe this is a warning, then we need to take it seriously," he said. "We can't afford to ignore any potential threat, especially from the vampire lord."

I nodded, gathering my courage. "I don't have concrete proof, but something about this symbol just doesn't feel right. It's too deliberate, too calculated." I turned to Elijah, my eyes searching his face. "If you have nothing to hide, then why does this symbol feel like a warning against you?"

Elijah's jaw tightened, and for a moment I thought he might lash out. But then, his shoulders