SAGE

"What the hell are you doing with a vampire?"

Darius' voice, when I ignored his question, was like the crack of a whip, cutting through the night's quiet. His eyes burned then with something sharp—rage, maybe, or disbelief. Either way, it was intense enough to make the air between us hum.

I didn't flinch. I just shrugged, keeping my usual mask of nonchalance firmly in place. "Didn't realize I had to explain my strolls to you," I said evenly. "Mind your business."

But Darius didn't move. His expression didn't soften either. If anything, the tension in his shoulders deepened. He took a step closer, eyes glowing faintly in the...