Jacob’s voice rang out sharply, edged with rising anger. "Tell me right now where she is, or I’m calling the authorities and having this investigated. She is the Deputy CEO of Van Empire, after all!"

"Calm down, Mr. Grant," Nigel’s troubled voice followed, controlled yet strained with worry. "I only want to know where my boss is, Mr. Pierce, since you mentioned she had retired early last night."

"I need both of you to calm down," Cillian’s familiar, unhurried voice cut through the tension, far too composed for the situation at hand. "I have nothing to do with this beyond what she told me. I’m sure she is simply asleep... or perhaps she stepped out for a walk."

"I’m certain she would have contacted me if she were awake," Nigel replied, his composure beginning to crack, frustration bleeding into his words.

"I’m not sure how to respond to that, as I don’t keep a daily track of her life," Cillian replied calmly, only making Jacob flare up again.

While the confrontation escalated outside, inside the suite, Aliana froze.

"Oh no..." she murmured, her voice barely above a breath as her gaze shifted from the door to Gavriel, who was already watching her with quiet intent.

Before she could ask anything, he spoke first.

"You should head back to your room. Cillian covered for you last night by telling them you had retired early when they came looking for you."

Aliana parted her lips, only to close them again as though she had changed her mind about speaking. Her brows drew together, her expression turning thoughtful.

The noise outside continued, voices clashing against the door, but it slowly faded in her ears as a far more daring and dangerous idea began to take shape in her mind.

After a few seconds, she finally took a step forward... then another, making Gavriel think that perhaps she had decided to heed his words.

But just as she reached the door, she changed direction, moving to stand directly in front of him instead.

He raised a brow, a hint of curiosity in his expression. "Not planning to leave?"

Aliana took another step closer, until barely inches away from him.

"I will," she said, meeting his gaze without hesitation, "after you promise to help me get out of this supernatural situation I am caught up in." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Gavriel’s lips curved faintly, though the trace of a smile never reached his eyes. "And what makes you think I can help you in any way?"

"I don’t know," Aliana replied, her face perfectly composed. "All I know is that, right now, you are a walking talisman for me."

His eyes narrowed at her, something sharp flickering beneath the surface. "So what now? Am I expected to follow you around every step of the way?"

Though she could taste the stinging sarcasm in his voice, her traitorous heart hammered against her ribs.

She shrugged, her movements elegant and impossibly calm, hiding the tremor in her hands. "Maybe that is exactly what is needed. Unless, of course, you have a better solution you’re willing to share?"

"I think you hit your head harder than I realised." Gavriel’s tone was glacial, stripped of any warmth. He took a single step toward her, his tall frame looming over her like an encroaching shadow.

But Aliana didn’t back down, nor did she cower. She stood rooted to the spot, even as her instincts screamed at her to flee.

"I told you already," he growled, his voice dropping low. "Stay as far away from me as possible. It would do you well to heed that warning before your luck finally runs out."

Aliana knew that... she could feel it.

Every instinct within her screamed at her to run, warning her that the man standing before her was far more dangerous than he appeared.

And yet, despite those warnings blaring in her mind, there was one truth she could not ignore.

He was the only one who could help her... the only one who could protect her.

So she met his gaze fearlessly, "You told me that... but that doesn’t mean I have to listen, does it?"

His brows drew together at her response, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me," she replied evenly. "I’m Aliana Vanderbilt, and I listen to no one but myself. I’m not leaving without making a deal with you."

For the first time in Gavriel’s long existence, his heart skipped a beat when he heard the word "deal" fall from her lips.

His jaw clenched at the weight of her words, and his eyes narrowed as he glared at her.

"Don’t test me, Aliana," he said, his voice low with warning. "There will be no deal. You need to leave. Now."

"And I told you, I’m not leaving without getting what I want. You don’t know... what it’s been like for me. I know this isn’t your problem, and I don’t intend to make it your burden. But right now... there is no one out there who can save me from this."

Her voice tightened, the fear she had been holding back finally surfacing.

"There is nothing that terrifies me more than the thought that the moment I walk out of this room, away from you... I’ll be attacked again, by dozens of those things. That fear alone is enough to freeze my blood."

She held his gaze unflinchingly.

"So no, Gavriel... you do not scare me. And I am not leaving without making a deal with you."

Gavriel’s muscles tensed at her persistence.

Hearing her repeat that word over and over again, insisting on making a deal with him, stirred something dangerously close to anger within him.

It made him want to step out and hunt down every spirit lurking in the vicinity, along with whoever had orchestrated the attack the previous night.

Because he blamed them. Blamed them for putting him in this position. And this woman... she had no idea just how dangerous that word truly was.

Suddenly, he yanked his shirt open.

Aliana’s eyes widened instantly, her lips parting in shock at the abrupt movement. But before she could even react, he pulled the shirt off and, in one swift motion, draped it over her shoulders.

She froze for a moment.

Before glancing down, she saw how the large black fabric swallowed her frame, covering her exposed arms.

Slowly, her gaze lifted back to him, only to catch on the sight before her, which had positively knocked the air out of her lungs. The taut lines of his abdomen, the broad expanse of his chest, every sculpted detail standing out far too vividly before her... until her eyes finally reached his incredibly handsome but expressionless face.

"There will be no deal," his low, gravelly yet icy voice reached her ears.

Before she could argue further, his hands settled firmly on her shoulders, and he stepped forward, forcing Aliana to stumble a step back at his sudden closeness.

But he did not stop.

If anything, he seemed determined.

Already near the main door, he continued advancing, leaving her no choice but to retreat until her back met the cool surface behind her.

Then, a soft click followed, and the door unlocked.

Realisation hit her all at once, ’He’s actually throwing me out!’

With nothing else to grab onto, she reached out and clutched his biceps, her grip tightening as if that alone could anchor her in place.

Unfortunately for her... it did not.

Because in the very next moment, Gavriel took the final step forward, opening the door wide, and stepped out, effectively dragging her along with him.

As soon as they stepped out, "I won’t let you go!" Aliana declared, clinging on with far more determination.

Just then, a series of very loud, very collective gasps echoed, breaking the silence.