Evie felt something shift in the air around Ren. The light, casual atmosphere vanished, replaced by a suffocating heaviness that made it hard to breathe.
She peeked from under her lashes and caught the gleam in his eyes — cold, sharp, and murderous. Her brows furrowed slightly. What on earth was that look for? Did Roni do something unforgivable, like kill his pet or insult his ancestors? Whoever this guy was, Ren clearly wasn't on friendly terms with him.
Roni, however, didn't notice the tension thickening between them. If anything, his grin only grew wider when their eyes met, as if he'd just spotted easy prey. He was no longer afraid because of the circulating news that Ren was doomed.
The air tightened even more. Evie swore she could almost hear the hum of hostility in the space between the two men. She opened her mouth to introduce herself, hoping to ease the situation before someone exploded.
But Ren's voice cut through first.
