Jasmine's POV
The hallway immediately felt colder the second I read the message.
YOUR TRUSTED ALLIES ARE NOT WHO YOU THINK.
The words kept blinking on my screen like they were mocking me.
My breath caught.
My heart raced once… hard… then refused to settle.
Ares noticed first.
He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "Jasmine… what is wrong?"
I could not speak immediately. My fingers tightened around my phone until my knuckles hurt.
Elias and Claire stood behind us, waiting, watching. The lights overhead flickered softly. The broken tablet lay at Claire's feet.
I forced my voice out. "Someone… someone just sent me a message."
Ares frowned. "Let me see it."
I hesitated… one second, maybe two… but that was enough for him to notice.
"Jasmine," he said, softer. "Show me."
I turned the phone toward him.
His expression hardened instantly. "Someone is playing with us."
Claire sucked in a sharp breath. Elias lowered his head slightly, thinking fast.
