"What did you read?" he asked softly.
Alina clutched the phone tighter, her lip trembling.
"Celeste and Riccardo… you already met them, do you remember the man and woman who blocked us after we finished shopping for the babies… they… they died," she whispered, the words fragile and uneven. "Their car fell into the water and… and I'm scared. What if… what if their spirits come here? They hated me when they were alive… what if they—"
Her voice broke.
"Miss Alina," Dante interrupted suddenly, firm but gentle. "Listen to me."
Her breath stilled. "…yes…"
"Turn on all the lights," he said, his tone dipping lower. "Sit on your bed. Keep the call on. Do you understand?"
Alina nodded even though he couldn't see her. "Y-yes…"
"And listen to me carefully," Dante murmured. "No spirit, no creature, no shadow in this world or any other can touch you. Not while I exist."
Alina's breath hitched.
