LILITH

Sensing my silence, Marissa asked hesitantly, “Do you think we're being too indifferent?”

Snapping out of my thoughts, I answered unhurriedly, “No, you were right. I would indeed like to handle this myself.”

She sighed audibly. “I’m glad to know that. For a second, I worried we made the wrong call.”

I smiled, a sincere one. “Rest assured, you didn’t.”

All of a sudden, her voice dropped into a whisper, conspiratorial.

“Don’t worry though. Julian and I have been talking to the attendees of the banquet. If you ever need them to speak up, just tell me and I’ll get it done. We’ve also been digging—”

“Marissa,” a voice...