Whispers of Night and Blood

Chapter 6: Shadows of Desire

Lena POV

The opening night was a success. The place was elegant but laid-back, with tropical-themed décor and vibrant lighting. I leaned back into the plush seat, letting out a contented sigh, enjoying the way the cool leather felt against my skin.

But then, just as I was about to take another sip of my drink, I felt it. A soft, almost imperceptible brush against the back of my neck. 

Like someone had leaned in close and breathed against my skin. My entire body tensed, a chill running down my spine.

I whipped my head around, eyes scanning the crowded lounge.

Nothing.

I blinked, confused. 

I could've sworn someone had just touched me....no, breathed on me. The sensation had been so vivid, so real. I sat up straighter, my pulse quickening as I glanced around. People were everywhere, dancing, talking, oblivious to me. 

But no one was close enough to have done that.

I took a steadying breath, my hand instinctively moving to my neck where the feeling had lingered. You're imagining things, I told myself. Maybe it was the lighting, the drinks, or just my nerves from earlier. Still, I couldn't shake the unease creeping up on me.

Ella noticed me shifting uncomfortably and gave me a curious glance.

 "You okay?" she asked, her voice slightly slurred from the alcohol, but her concern was genuine.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile as I turned back toward her. "Just thought I felt something... weird."

She raised an eyebrow, looking around before giving me a playful nudge. "Girl, you probably just need another drink." She waved down the waitress and ordered another round. I tried to laugh it off with her, but the feeling stuck with me. The air around me felt heavier now, almost like something....or someone....was watching me.

I glanced over my shoulder again, scanning the dark corners of the lounge. Nothing. But that didn't stop the prickling sensation at the back of my neck.

My stomach twisted slightly, and I tried to shrug off the tension building inside me. Maybe it was just paranoia. After all, this was a crowded place, and people were always brushing past each other, bumping into one another. It had to be an accident, right?

But why did it feel so... deliberate?

"Come on, loosen up," Ella said, pulling me back into the moment, her bubbly energy breaking through my unease. 

"We're here to have fun, remember?"

I nodded, taking a deep breath and forcing myself to relax. Ella was right. I was just overthinking it. This was supposed to be a fun night, and the last thing I needed was to ruin it with some baseless paranoia.

Still, as I sipped my drink and tried to laugh along with Ella, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

And I couldn't help but wonder....was it just my imagination?

Or was I really being watched?

Adrian POV

I leaned back in my office chair, staring at the information on my phone. One of my men had just sent an update. Lena was at some lounge opening with her friend Ella, and from the looks of it, things seemed... normal. 

For now.

But normal didn't mean safe.

I'd already made sure to have people in place, watching over her from a distance. This wasn't just a matter of curiosity anymore. This was survival. With Thorne finding out that Lena was my mate, that she was the key to everything, he'd stop at nothing to get to her first.