CHAPTER NINETY-SIX
The moon hangs like a silver pendant in the sky, its light bathing the festival grounds in an ethereal glow. Laughter bubbles around me, the air thick with the scent of sizzling meats and sweet confections. I weave through the throng of bodies, my senses heightened, not just from the revelry but from the electric presence of Silas nearby.
"Enjoying the festival, Aria?" His voice is a warm caress against the cool night air, and I turn to find those deep brown eyes watching me intently.
"Immensely," I reply, trying to sound casual even though my heart races like prey in the chase. "It's not often we get to relax like this."
Silas steps closer, his tall and muscular form casting a protective shadow over me. There's a tenderness in his gaze that warms me more than any fi
