The encounter with the masked figure left Sebastian's mind spinning, a thousand thoughts racing through his head. His pulse hammered in his ears, but his focus was razor-sharp. Whoever had followed them knew more than they let on—and worse, they had known exactly where to strike. The masked figure hadn’t simply stumbled upon them; they had been watching, waiting, calculating their every move.
Thalia, her expression tense, moved to Sebastian’s side. Her eyes flickered to the doorway, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. Felix was already at the rear, silently positioning himself as a shield, his instincts sharp.
“What do we do?” Thalia’s voice was low and steady, but the undercurrent of concern was unmistakable.
Sebastian didn’t answer immediately. His mind was still reeling from the implications of the meeting. The plans of the Nine Dragons were far more dangerous than he’d imagined, and now, they knew he was in their midst. They had been discovered.