Arianna/Thea

My stomach churned with nerves as I stealthily made my way to the other end of the narrow shop. The weight of Athos's distrust bore down on me, evident in the way his eyes followed my every move. I couldn't afford any slip-ups; my situation was becoming increasingly precarious.

The shelves on either side of the shop seemed to close in around me, their contents a blur as my mind grappled with the letter Cassie had sent. So much was happening, and I felt overwhelmed, not knowing how to confront the barrage of new problems that lay ahead.

As I continued to explore the shop, my ears caught the distant murmur of voices. My curiosity piqued, I followed the sound, drawn to see who else might be present besides the lady conversing with Athos.