Alina's Pov
The next few hours were a blur of handshakes, flirtation, and strategic positioning. Nathaniel circled the room like a predator, but his eyes kept landing on me. Each time he lingered longer. Each time Sasha noticed and clung tighter to him.
It was a dance.
A very familiar one.
But this time, I was leading.
Still, as the night drew on, something gnawed at the edge of my focus. I kept scanning the crowd, looking for—
“Beautiful,” Nathaniel murmured beside me, his breath tickling my neck. “But also dangerous. I can’t decide which I prefer more.”
I tilted my head toward him, smiling slowly. “Why not both?”
He chuckled, leaning in closer. “You look like trouble, Ms. Reyes. Dressed to kill tonight. Literally.”
“Only if I need to,” I replied, sipping my champagne. “I’m here to mingle, not murder.”
“Pity,” he said with a smirk, “because I was hoping you'd save all your attention for me.”
That was when I felt it.
A shift in the air and a prickle on my skin.
I glanced over his sho
