Although a few had noticed a stunning blonde woman at Jacob’s side earlier in the evening, they hadn’t thought much of it, assuming she was merely a standard plus-one.

"Well, I would love to meet her," Aliana replied, offering a small, gracious smile.

She hadn’t forgotten Gavriel’s conclusions regarding Jacob after the scandal had first surfaced. So she carefully kept her words polite and conversational, fully aware that countless eyes and ears were already hanging onto every exchange between them.

"I will bring her over to introduce you before we head out. I just wanted to make sure I congratulated you both on your engagement first. May you both live a long, happy life together," Jacob said. He kept his tone perfectly light, but the dark, venomous emotions stirring deep within his heart did not escape Gavriel or Cillian.

Aliana glanced at Gavriel, only to find him still staring coldly at Jacob like he was seconds away from murdering him. The tension rolling off him was impossible to miss.

To divert his attention, she quietly slipped her hand over his beneath the table and replied with a warm smile, "Thank you for your wishes, Jacob, and for attending the function today. We truly appreciate it."

Upon feeling her thumb rub gentle, soothing circles against the back of his hand, Gavriel finally shifted his gaze away from the human and looked down at Aliana.

The silent gesture seemed to wash over him like a calming tide, easing the irritation simmering beneath his composed exterior.

Choosing to let the matter drop for her sake, he remained silent, refusing to give Jacob any more of his time.

Taking the opportunity to ease the lingering awkwardness, Alester rose from his seat, "Jacob, if you don’t mind, I’d like to have a word with you regarding tomorrow’s meeting."

"Of course," Jacob replied before shifting his dull yellow eyes to Aliana once more. "Enjoy your evening. I’ll see you around the office."

Aliana gave him a small nod before turning her attention back to Gavriel, who was currently wearing an unreadable expression.

Something told her he was still less than pleased.

Leaning slightly closer to him, she lowered her voice and whispered, "I didn’t want more rumours to start circulating or people to think there’s some sort of rivalry between you two. So I was only being polite. Now can you stop looking at me as though I’ve wronged you."

When he still didn’t respond, maintaining his silent, brooding gaze, she prompted him in her sweetest voice, "Okay, darling?"

She blinked up at him slowly, her beautiful grey eyes melting right through his icy exterior. That single look was all it took for the corner of his lips to finally lift. The faint smile was fleeting, but it was enough.

Seeing his tension fade, Aliana released a quiet sigh of relief inwardly.

With his irritation completely forgotten, Gavriel smoothly picked up his fork once more. Aliana chuckled at him before gladly leaning in to eat the next bite he fed her.

.....

While dinner continued, Reve, who had been watching everyone with his keen eyes from one of the mansion’s large windows, suddenly felt a faint disturbance on the ground behind him coming from the thick greenery that surrounded the property.

His head turned at once, his red eyes narrowing as he sensed an unusual presence lingering within the darkness.

Looking back toward his Master, who was currently occupied with his fiancée and guests, Reve quietly stepped away from his position and followed the presence that seemed to be guiding him deeper into the forest.

As he reached a secluded clearing, he caught the faint rustle of bushes cutting through the stillness of the night.

Without a word, a sword materialised in his hand, its sharp blade gleaming faintly beneath the moonlight as he coldly warned, "Come out now and die, or I’ll come after you, and you’ll die far more painfully."

At his threat, the rustling ceased instantly.

The forest fell silent once more.

Reve waited another second, his grip tightening slightly around his sword.

Then, without warning, something dark and large burst out from the bushes and lunged straight at him.

.....

Back inside the mansion, Aliana had shortly excused herself to use the washroom.

Jade offered to accompany her, but since she was still finishing her dinner, Aliana simply told her, "It’s fine. I won’t be long."

Just as she stood up, Gavriel also rose from his seat. "I’ll come with you," he stated firmly.

Aliana looked at him in surprise, but the look on his face made it clear that he wasn’t asking for permission. She resigned herself to his protectiveness and didn’t attempt to stop him.

However, they had barely taken a couple of steps when Alester’s voice called out.

"Gavriel? If you don’t mind, I’d like to introduce you to a few friends of mine."

Aliana looked towards her father before glancing back at Gavriel, instantly catching the reluctance that flickered across his face.

Not wanting him to leave a bad impression on her father, she offered a gentle smile. "It’s alright."

Gavriel’s blue eyes remained fixed on her for a long moment, as though weighing whether he should simply ignore everyone and accompany her anyway.

When he didn’t move, she said reassuringly, "I’ll be super quick."

That was when he finally replied, "If you don’t come back in ten minutes, I’m coming after you."

Aliana rolled her eyes, though the corner of her lips lifted into an amused smile.

"Look at you being all worried," she teased. "Relax. There is enough security around. Go on, Dad is waiting."

The amusement in her voice softened the stern look on his face, if only slightly.

Without giving him another chance to object, she turned and quickly walked away.

Gavriel watched her retreating figure for a few seconds before his gaze shifted towards the large window overlooking the estate grounds. He instinctively searched for Reve’s presence, knowing that he had been keeping watch from there.

When he didn’t see him, Gavriel deduced that Reve must have already noticed Aliana leaving and slipped away to tail her in secret.

Reassured by the thought, he turned back and stepped toward Alester, who was waiting to introduce him to a group of gentlemen.

Still, a faint restlessness continued to gnaw at him, so he discreetly met Cillian’s eyes across the table.

Seated beside Jade, Cillian immediately understood the silent command hidden behind that brief glance.

Without drawing attention to himself, he politely excused himself from the table and rose from his seat.

However, just as he stood up, something happened that caused him to pause abruptly.