Page 96 of Mine To Hunt

I glance down at the glass again. The liquid catches the light, shimmering faintly. It smells sweet, fruity, harmless.

"Okay." I say finally, reaching for it. "Just a few sips."

The glass is cool in my hand. I lift it slowly and take a cautious sip. Sweet. Then warmth spreads down my throat, stronger than I expected.

I swallow and blink. "Okay… that’s actually good."

A few of them grin like they’ve won something. I take another small sip. That’s when I notice someone approaching the table.

At first it’s just movement in the corner of my eye. A dark shape weaving through the crowd. My attention shifts without me meaning it to.

The person is wearing a hoodie. My breath catches instantly.

The world seems to narrow. The music fades into something dull and distant. My fingers tighten around the glass, my pulse jumping hard in my throat.

For a split second…Him.

The memory flashes sharp and fast in my mind. The mask. The stillness. The way he appears without sound. My body goes completely still.

The figure gets closer. Closer. My heart is pounding so loudly I can feel it in my ears.

Then he reaches the table… and pulls the hood down. Not him. Just a normal face. A guy. Smiling. Sound rushes back into my ears all at once.

"Justin! You made it!" One of the guys shouts, standing halfway to clap him on the shoulder.

Justin laughs and drops into the open seat beside the table. "Wouldn’t miss it." He says easily. "How’s everyone doing tonight?"

My grip on the glass loosens slowly. I force myself to breathe normally again, hoping no one noticed how stiff I went.

One of the guys leans toward Justin and murmurs something into his ear, his hand partly shielding his mouth. I can’t hear what he says over the music. Justin nods once.

Something passes quickly between their hands under the table. Small. Fast. Subtle enough that I almost think I imagined it.

Justin straightens and looks up. His gaze lands on me. It lingers for a while. Not just a glance. Not casual curiosity. His eyes move slowly over my face like he’s memorizing it, then drift lower for a second too long before returning to my eyes again.

A faint chill runs down my spine. I shift slightly in my seat without thinking, my fingers tightening around the glass again.

He’s still looking at me. Smiling.

Later, when the drinks have loosened everyone’s voices and half the group has drifted toward the dance floor, Justin slides into the booth beside me.

I don’t notice him at first. I’m watching the crowd, letting the music blur into the background, trying to stay calm in the middle of all the noise and flashing lights.

Then I feel the seat dip slightly and catch the smell of alcohol and cologne mixed together. I turn my head, and he’s already there, sitting closer than I expected.

"Hey, Iris, right?" He says, smiling like we already know each other well. "Al’s told me a lot about you. You look like you could use some company tonight."

Something in his tone makes my shoulders tense immediately. I shift a little farther along the seat, creating space between us without making it obvious. "I’m fine, thanks." I say politely. "I’m just here with friends."

He doesn’t move back. If anything, he leans closer, his arm resting along the back of the booth behind me like he’s claiming the space. I can smell the alcohol on his breath when he talks.

"You seem tense." He says, lowering his voice as if he’s saying something personal. "Let me help you relax. Want another drink? Or maybe something stronger? We can dance? I’ll be gentle."

I shake my head, keeping my voice calm but firmer. "No, I’m okay. Really. I don’t feel like dancing right now."

He smiles wider, like he thinks I’m being shy instead of serious. His fingers brush lightly against my arm, like it’s accidental, but they linger a second too long to really be an accident.

"Come on." He says softly, leaning closer again. "You’re too pretty to sit here alone. Dance with me. I promise I’ll be gentle."