AFTER arriving on Auralis, Astrid, Ellis, and the rest of the Polaris staff went straight to their booked hotel. They weren't there to rest—they were there to get Astrid ready. The final viewing party would start in just thirty minutes. Even though Astrid planned to attend secretly, he still needed to be styled like a celebrity. Especially since he would be holding another autograph session right after.
Just like at the other two viewing parties, Astrid had no trouble getting inside the venue. But as he walked toward the front row of the theater, he suddenly felt eyes on him. He glanced around, but with so many people, it was impossible to tell exactly where the stare was coming from.
What surprised him was that the gaze didn't feel threatening. It wasn't hostile or cold. Instead, it felt… hungry. Like someone looking at something they wanted to devour.
