Fatally Yours

Chapter 39

•INDIANA•

The next morning, the soft hum of voices downstairs drew my attention as I finished tying my hair back into a loose ponytail. I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the doorknob, before finally pushing myself to head down.

When I entered the living room, Katarina, Mihai, and Mihai's sister, Daciana, were all standing in a small circle, talking in hushed tones.

The conversation sounded serious—low murmurs, frowns, and quick glances that made me feel like I was walking into the middle of something I wasn't meant to overhear.

"Good morning," I greeted as casually as I could, stepping into the room.

Mihai smiled warmly at me, his sharp cheekbones softening.

"Good morning, Nova. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, thank you," I replied with a polite smile.

Daciana nodded and gave me a small, curious smile.

Dominik and Katarina, however, didn't so much as glance in my direction. Dominik's posture was rigid, his arms crossed over his chest, and his expression was impassive as he focused on the floor.

Not a word, not a flicker of acknowledgment.

The shift in his demeanor hit me like a splash of cold water. He'd slipped back into the Dominik I had first met—the cold, distant, and unapproachable version of himself. The one who didn't even pretend to play nice.

It was clear that whatever had passed between us last night was something neither of us intended to address, especially not in front of others. After we returned home, we hadn't exchanged a single word, both of us retreating to our rooms as if nothing had happened.

And now, his pointed avoidance of eye contact told me that he was determined to erase the entire thing from his mind.

Maybe that was for the best.

I couldn't afford to let myself get caught up in the whirlwind of whatever strange, magnetic pull existed between us. Not here, and certainly not now.

Because as much as Dominik might have been softening in moments like last night, I couldn't let myself forget why I was really here.

Now that we were in Romania, there was a golden opportunity to uncover exactly what Dominik was planning. Something about this trip was significant—I could feel it.

And I needed to stay focused if I had any hope of figuring it out.

So, as much as my chest tightened at his cold dismissal, I told myself it didn't matter. I could play this game just as well as he could.

"So, Dominik showed you around the municipality last night huh?" she said, her grin wide and teasing. "And you two went out to dinner? Alone?"

I froze for a split second, but I quickly forced a casual smile onto my face, willing myself not to react.

"Yeah," I said, shrugging lightly. "It was nice. I love this place so much—it's so beautiful."

Daciana beamed and grabbed my hands, squeezing them excitedly.

"Oh babe, you haven't seen what Sighișoara is really like at night! There's so much more to explore. Tonight, I'll show you all my favorite spots!" She winked playfully, her excitement infectious.

Before I could even respond, Dominik's voice cut through the moment like a knife.

"Daciana," he said sharply, his tone low and warning.