_Alina's POV_
As we stood in the banquet hall, I could sense that Juliet wasn't comfortable enough to tell me what had really happened in front of Alaric. I needed to get her alone, somewhere she might feel safe enough to open up.
"Alaric," I said while turning to him. "Juliet and I are going to the restroom for a moment. We'll be back soon."
He looked at Juliet and then back at me, concern etched on his face. "Do you need me to come with you?"
I shook my head. "No, I think it's better if we go alone. I’ll make sure that she's alright."
Alaric nodded, though he seemed reluctant to let us go. "Alright. But if you need anything, just call."
I gave him a reassuring smile before leading Juliet towards the restroom. Once inside, I closed the door behind us, ensuring we had s
