"I just…know, because he's always by my side," Zayden explained, the words leaving his mouth too quickly.
Lies. It wasn't the truth. What had really drawn his attention was the scent—Ren's pheromones trailing faintly in the air, impossible for him to ignore. The word "attendant" had left his lips before he realized it.
"And he was needed for the plan," he added, as though saying it aloud might make it true—convincing Diana, James, and himself.
"Sure, sure," Diana said lightly, her lips quivering.
James, however, leaned forward, his voice cutting through the air with a weight that silenced the room.
"The Duke plans to use Vinimency at the banquet."
The atmosphere shifted at once. The laughter and ease drained, leaving a heavy tension that settled like a shadow over the table.
Ren blinked, caught off guard. Just moments ago, this room had felt foreign for its warmth. Now it felt foreign for its gravity.
