Page 3 of Under His Protection

A sudden tension ripples through him. His entire body stiffens, his shoulders tightening, and his gaze snaps toward the window like a hawk searching the sky.

He's listening.

I can feel it in how his head cocks, eyes narrow, and breath hitches. I follow his gaze, drawn to the window, my pulse throbbing in my temples.

My feet move instinctively, following him as he walks to the window. The cold glass chills my fingertips, but I barely notice. My gaze is drawn to the sleek black car parked across the street. A beast crouched in the shadows—the sedan from before.

The driver is a silhouette against the harsh glare of the headlights, his features obscured, a masked figure in the night. Something about him, the way he sits so still, sends an adrenaline rush through my veins.

A low growl escapes Alexander's throat, his hand instinctively reaching for the gun. His gaze turns toward me. His expression hardens like a granite mask.

"Don't worry. I'll handle it," he says.

But even as he speaks, a flicker of fear dances in his eyes, a raw, primal fear that runs deeper than the shadows we've already encountered.

He pulls out his phone, and the sharp, insistent beeps as he dials the number make my jaw tighten.

"Isaac, the street – there's a black sedan, a possible hostile," Alexander barks into the phone.

Moments later, four figures exit the gates like shadows emerging from the house. The sleek black car's headlights, suddenly burning with a new intensity, speed away.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding, the tension in my body easing slightly.

But the air is thick with a new kind of fear, a realization that has sunk its teeth into my consciousness: This isn't a game anymore. This is real. Someone is hunting us. A man without a face, a man they call The Raven.

Chapter 2

The Couch

The silence between us stretches like a taut wire, ready to snap. I try to meet Alexander’s gaze, but he avoids my eyes. His focus shifts to the golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling, his brow furrowed. “We need to leave Port Haven,” he says, his voice tight.

“What?”

The world around me tilts on its axis like the ground beneath me suddenly becomes unsteady. No way. I close my eyes for a moment, a silent plea for strength. My lips press together in a tight line, “I’m not leaving,” I say.

My job, my parent’s apartment, Sarah.

“He’s coming for us, Ava. For you,” he grunts. His hand closes around mine, his fingers digging into my skin, making the hairs on my arms stand on end.

“Let him come,” I say in a shaky voice.

Do I mean it?

“Ava, listen to me—” He starts to speak again. His jaw tightens, and his eyes glisten with an intensity that makes my breath catch.

“I am listening!” I retort, taking a deep breath. “But if we leave, what then? He’ll find us, won’t he? He’ll hunt us down in another city, another country, another world.”

Alexander doesn’t answer, his jaw clenching and unclenching, a silent struggle playing out on his face. He stares at me, his eyes a storm of emotions, his gaze searching mine for some sign of agreement, some understanding.

“Don’t be stubborn,” he says.

“We fight,” I challenge, a spark igniting my eyes. “We find out who the Raven is. We beat him at his own game.”

Alexander turns his gaze towards the window, the cityscape a blur of lights and shadows. He looks back at me, a question hanging between us. “You want in on this?” His hand tightens the grip on my arm, his knuckles turning white. “You’re being reckless. This is not a game. I won’t let you get hurt.”

“I want in.” I nod, my pulse thrumming in my ears. I capture his hand, placing it against my chest, feeling the heat of his palm searing through the silk of my dress. The thrill of the chase, the adrenaline rush of facing the Raven, ignites a fire within me. A heat spreads through my veins like wildfire, ending between my legs.

“You’re not safe; if we start this, there’s no turning back.”

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