After school, Marcus and Alina returned to the mansion. The weight of the impending meeting with the Elders clung heavily to the air. Alina's nerves were frayed, her hands trembling slightly as she paced back and forth. Marcus, ever the calm presence, sat nearby, his gaze steady on her. His very presence seemed to keep her grounded.
"We'll get through this," Marcus reassured her, his voice soft but firm. He stood and pulled her into his arms, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I won't let anything happen to you."
Alina nodded, but the unease in her chest refused to settle. The night ahead felt like an ominous shadow, creeping closer with every passing second.
