Chapter 149: SHADOWS IN THE GARDEN (2)

The whispers ceased abruptly as Xina entered the garden. Her eyes darted across the moonlit expanse, but the murmuring that had drawn her there was nowhere to be found. The lilacs swayed gently in the breeze, their fragrance mixing with the chill of the night. Xina felt a shiver as she walked deeper into the garden, heading toward the fountain at its center. It was there she saw him—a man with his back turned. Xina furrowed her brow, trying to place him. The shadows from the moonlight behind him rendered his form only a dark silhouette, but she could discern that he was smiling. “Who are you?” she called out, her voice trembling slightly as a cloud obscured the moon, momentarily plunging the garden into darkness. When the light returned, she saw him more clearly— a tall figure with shoulder-length black hair and piercing golden eyes. His strong jaw and thin lips formed a smile that made Xina’s stomach clench. “Hello, Xina,” the man