Elara’s POV
The banquet hall shimmered with wealth. Chandeliers dripped with crystals, gold-trimmed tables stretched across the floor, and every corner seemed to whisper money and power. It was easily the most luxurious party I’d ever stepped into—and somehow, that made it worse.
My palm was locked in Alric’s grip, firm and possessive. His presence alone was intimidating, but walking in beside him? I felt like a rabbit being led through a pack of wolves.
Everyone in the room looked elegant—no, beyond elegant. Dresses that glittered under the light, sharp suits tailored to perfection, jewelry that could pay off my rent for five lifetimes. The air was perfumed, polished, pristine. This wasn’t a party. It was a display of the “best of the best.”
And right at the center of it was Alric.
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