116. Shadows of Doubt

|| Lilac’s POV || We sat down, and the conversation around the table was stilted, the tension palpable. I picked at my food, my appetite gone, as the others exchanged uneasy glances. Alaric tried to lighten the mood, asking Garry about the latest patrol reports, but even his efforts fell flat. As we ate, Alaric suddenly stiffened, his eyes glazing over as he received a mindlink. He excused himself with a quick, “I’ll be right back,” before striding out of the diner, leaving me alone with the others. The moment he was gone, Elizabeth turned to me, her eyes blazing. “So, why are you here?” she asked, her voice sharp and accusatory. I blinked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?” “Are you here to spy on him? Haven’t you done enough damage?” Elizabeth snapped, her tone dripping with venom. I set my spoon down, my hands trembling. “I will never harm him,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. Elizabeth scoffed, leaning back in her chair. “Oh, save it. You never paid a