Chapter 121

• My face flushed with frustration as I grabbed Cassandra’s arm, pulling her aside from the group. My grip was tight, my jaw clenched with a mix of anger and worry.
• “Cassandra!” I snapped, my voice rising. “You know she’s been taken, and you won’t do anything about it? What do you mean by that? Do you know where she is?”
• Before she could respond, Violet, ever the fiery force, stepped forward with a sharp, commanding presence. She raised her hand and, with a swift motion, snapped the tension-filled silence like a whip. The gesture alone was enough to force me to release my hold and take a step back.