The sudden, shrill ring of Lily's phone shattered the moment. She cursed, recognizing her mother's ringtone. Her heart raced as she fumbled for the device, shooting Caspian a warning glance.
"Not a sound," she hissed, before answering with forced calm. "Mother?"
The tension in her mother's voice was palpable, even through the phone. "Lily, thank the goddess. Are you alright?"
Lily's brow furrowed. "I'm fine. What's wrong?"
A pause, pregnant with dread. "Gideon Thorne has been spotted near your shop."
The blood drained from Lily's face. Her fingers tightened on the phone as if it were a lifeline. "Are you sure?" she whispered, though she already knew the answer.
"Yes, earlier today. A reliable source confirmed it."
"s**t," Lily breathed, then louder, "f*****g hell!"
"Lilith Winters!
