Raphael froze, his body tensed, ready for an attack.
Elissa pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm the wild pounding of her heart. The room suddenly felt too cold, as if the very air had stilled in anticipation of something inevitable.
— Who’s there? — Raphael’s voice was quiet, but the threat in it was unmistakable.
Silence answered.
Then, from beyond the window, a barely audible rustling sound. Raphael shot Elissa a sharp glance, as if warning her to stay put, before stepping forward in a blur of motion.
In the blink of an eye, he was gone into the night.
Elissa was alone.
She exhaled, retreating toward the wall, trying to steady herself after what had just happened between them. Her lips still burned from his kisses, her skin still remembered his touch, but now a different feeling settled in her chest—unease.
She knew that sound had not been an accident.
And when Raphael returned a moment later, his face was grim.
— We have to go, — he said.
— Who was it?
— I don’t know. But they were watching.
Elissa clenched her fingers.
— They?
Raphael gave her a long look.
— Not ordinary people.
A chill ran down her spine.
— Gabriel said vampires have enemies.
Raphael smirked, but there was no amusement in it.
— People fear us. They hate us. But if someone was bold enough to track me, this isn’t just hunters.
Elissa took a step forward.
— What if it was Gabriel?
Raphael scoffed, something almost amused flashing in his eyes.
— Do you think he’d bother sneaking around? No. If it were him, we’d already be fighting.
Elissa swallowed hard.
— Then who?
Raphael was silent.
— We’ll find out.
He took her hand, and Elissa felt the surprising warmth of his palm.
— Are you afraid? — he asked quietly.
She met his gaze.
— No.
Raphael smiled.
— Lies.