The car moved through Crescent City's night like a shadow,quiet, smooth, too controlled for comfort.
Streetlights passed in soft flashes across Elias's face, revealing little pieces of him at a time:
the sharp jaw,
the calm eyes,
the silence that felt heavier than words.
I kept my hands on my lap, fingers twisting nervously.
After a minute, he spoke.
"You're shaking."
My breath caught. "No, I..I'm okay."
"You're not."
His voice wasn't harsh.
Just certain.
Like he could hear things I didn't say.
I looked out the window. "I didn't expect my second day here to turn into… whatever this is."
"A warning," he said.
A chill crawled down my spine. "From who?"
He hesitated ,not because he didn't know, but because he wasn't sure if he should tell me.
"Someone who shouldn't be near you," Elias finally said.
My pulse kicked. "You know him."
Silence.
That was the answer.
I turned in my seat. "Elias… who is he?"
His grip tightened on the steering wheel, just slightly.
Enough to betray something.
Anger,Fear,Recognition?
"You don't need the details," he said.
"I do," I insisted softly. "I deserve to know if I'm…"
"Ava."
He cut me off, voice low, clipped.
"If I tell you who he is, you won't sleep tonight."
My throat tightened. "Then tell me what I should do."
Elias looked at me,really looked at me for the first time since we entered the car.
"You stay close to people," he said.
"You don't walk alone. You don't go out at night. You don't ignore your instincts. And you tell me the moment you feel him again."
The way he said me, instead of Rowan or anyone else, made my stomach twist.
"Why you?" I whispered.
He didn't answer.
Not with words but the way his gaze held mine…
It was protective,Dangerous,Too much.
Finally, he tore his eyes away. "Because I'm the only one who can handle him."
My breath froze.
"What does that even mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like," he said.
The rest of the ride was quiet, humming with unspoken things,fear, tension… and something else I didn't want to name yet.
When we reached my apartment, Elias parked but didn't turn off the car.
He looked at the building, scanning it like he was memorizing exits, shadows, everything that could go wrong.
"Is anyone waiting for you inside?" he asked.
"No."He hummed, something thoughtful, something displeased.
"You live alone.
It wasn't a question.
"I've always lived alone," I said.
"That doesn't mean you should," he murmured.
Heat rose to my cheeks not from fear this time, but from the strange softness in his tone.
Before I could speak, Elias got out and came around to my side.
He opened the door for me.
But he didn't step back.
He leaned down slightly, not touching me, but close enough that the air felt different.
"Ava."
"Yes?" I whispered.
"If you see him again…"His voice lowered, darkened.
"…you call me. Immediately."
I swallowed. "Elias, I don't even have your…"
He took my phone from my hand in one smooth movement.
His fingers moved fast, controlled.
A moment later, he returned it.
My screen showed a new contact:Elias Hale , Do Not Ignore
My heart skipped.
"You're serious about this," I murmured.
He held my gaze.
"I'm serious about you being safe."
My cheeks warmed again, and Elias noticed … because of course he did.
His voice dropped even lower. "And Ava…"
His eyes trailed over my face, intense, unreadable.
"…you don't need to be scared of me."
I wasn't sure if he was reassuring me or warning me.
I nodded slowly. "Goodnight, Elias."
He stepped back, letting me go "Goodnight, Ava."
I walked toward my apartment door But I could feel it.
His gaze.
Following me,Watching me,Protecting me.
And somewhere in the shadows of the street…
someone else
was watching too.
Not Elias,Not Rowan,Someone darker.
Someone who didn't disappear this time.
Someone who waited.