Evaline:
The moment Draven's friends caught sight of him walking into the lounge, their voices rose with cheer, laughter, and easy banter that filled the air. But then… their gazes shifted, sliding past him and landing on me.
It was subtle at first, the way their smiles faltered, but I noticed it instantly. Surprise flickered across their faces. Confusion too. Four pairs of eyes moved between me and Draven, as if silently asking - Who is she, and why is she with you?
Before I could shrink under their scrutiny, Draven did something that made my chest tighten - he reached for my hand, entangling his long fingers with mine, and led me confidently toward them. His grip was firm, grounding, like he wasn't ashamed or hesitant, like he wanted me there with him.
"All right," he said with a grin, tugging me closer. "Don't look so shocked, idiots. I want you to meet someone important."
