"We need to go, now. They're not here to help us. They're here to delay us, and I believe Lily is getting farther away as we speak."
Lucian's eyes widened in alarm as he absorbed Marie's whispered words. He had trusted her instincts before and knew she wouldn't make such a statement lightly. The weight of their mission bore down on him, the urgency of reaching Lily becoming even more pressing.
Nodding subtly to acknowledge Marie's warning, Lucian shifted his posture, feigning relaxation as he leaned back slightly. "Thank you for your hospitality," he said to the vampire group, masking the urgency in his tone. "We'll take our rest and continue our journey at nightfall."
The vampires exchanged glances, their faces still guarded. Angelus, their apparent leader, maintained a calm facade, bu
