"Don't be afraid. Ace can't do anything to you until Xavier is here & Xavier won't do anything to you. I know. "

Adrian whispered. Xavier was about to say something when Ace stepped & gripped Adrian's collar, who gripped Ace's collar in exchange.

The room was as thick with tension, the kind that crackled in the air and made the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Xavier opened his mouth to intervene, to say something that might defuse the situation, but the words were caught in his throat when a booming voice cut through the chaos.

“Get off each other, you two!”

Everyone froze, the authority in the voice unmistakable. But Ace’s grip didn’t waver, and Adrian’s eyes didn’t leave Ace’s, each testing the other’s resolve.