Just then, a series of very loud, very collective gasps echoed, breaking the silence.
Gavriel and Aliana both turned.
Standing a short distance away were Nigel, Jacob, and Cillian… all staring at them like they had just walked into the most scandalous scene imaginable.
Cillian blinked once before his mouth stretched into a disbelieving grin. "Well…" he drawled, clearly enjoying himself far too much, "that absolutely answers all your questions, and yet somehow raises several new ones."
Nigel looked like he might faint, his eyes wide as saucers while his jaw hung open so wide as though it had forgotten its purpose entirely.
Meanwhile, Jacob looked as though he had just witnessed the tragedy of the century before he whispered in sheer disbelief, "Aliana…?"
Aliana, on the other hand, paled at the sight of the three men staring at them. Slowly, almost mechanically, she turned her head to look at Gavriel.
