"Another step and-," the masked figure growled, his voice sharp and steady, a chilling contrast to chaos firing in my mind.
Julian went rigid beside me, his protective instinct kicking in as he subtly moved in front of me. Jasper, however, didn't flinch. His eyes were fixed on the intruder, calculating.
"Skylar, stay behind us," Julian said, low but firm.
I took a backward step, weighed down by the heavy feeling of my fear. "What do you want?" I tried to ask in a clear voice, while my hands were shaking.
The figure cocked their head slightly; there was a flash of something metallic when they shifted their weight. "It's not about what I want. It's about what your uncle wants."
Jasper sneered, taking one step closer. "Let me guess. He's too big a coward to face her herself, so he sends someone like you?"