Eve POV:
I stared at the bag, my heart thundering in my chest. "Lucius, what the hell?" I hissed, feeling a pang of panic. "Why are you—?"
Before I could finish, I heard a familiar, startled sound—like a cat who's just seen a mouse it wasn't expecting. Salem shot up from his spot on the couch, his fur bristling. His eyes locked onto Lucius, and he did what any self-respecting feline would do when it felt threatened. He hissed.
The sound made the air feel even more charged. Lucius didn't flinch, not even a little. He just stood there, casually looking at Salem with a raised eyebrow, completely unphased by the angry little creature now baring its teeth at him.
"Easy there, Salem," I said quickly, trying to diffuse the situation, but I could tell it was already too late. My familiar, despite his bravado, was visibly on edge, his hackles raised, his back arched in a way that showed he felt every inch of the tension in the room.
