Selina kept apologizing to the innkeeper, her voice full of guilt. She told her not to take it to heart, said Anthony had lost his mind, and even apologized for the trouble he caused. Natalie watched her quietly, one eyebrow lifting. That cursebug must be strong, she thought. Even after being humiliated like that, she's still this calm? But the one acting most insane was clearly Anthony. Even if a guy cheats, he usually tries to be discreet. That one went full maniac in front of everyone. Natalie smirked, her eyes glinting. She was looking at the innkeeper. "You must be something special, huh?" Her tone was light, but every word dripped with sarcasm. Everyone could feel the chill behind it. Guinevere slammed her fork down with a loud thud. "Hey! Don't start crap! This has nothing to do with her!" Natalie gave her a cold look. "When did I say it did? I said she's got charm. You don't understand plain language?" Guinevere's face flushed red. "You—" Selina cut in fast. "Stop it, both of you. It's Anthony's fault, not hers. Let's just drop it." But Natalie didn't plan on letting it go. She wasn't here to play nice. She was here to get answers. She leaned forward slightly. "You said all the doors were locked. Then how did he leave?" Guinevere shot her a glare so sharp it could cut glass. They had just said they didn't want to talk about him, and she brought him up again. Can't she just sit still like everyone else and shut up?Just eat and keep quiet! Selina saw her friend's anger flare and quickly shoved a sausage into her mouth. Then she turned to Natalie. "He might've gone out the window." Natalie's voice dropped lower. "The window?" Selina nodded. The innkeeper spoke with a gentle smile. "The first floor's ceiling isn't high. The second-floor windows are low enough. It's easy to climb out. If he didn't use the door, then that's the only way." Natalie raised an eyebrow. "He ignored the door and used the window instead?" Guinevere slapped the table. "Why are you questioning everything? If he didn't go through the door, then what? You think he got dragged away by ghosts?" Natalie didn't even look at her. Her gaze slid straight to the innkeeper and her husband. The innkeeper avoided her eyes, turning to Selina instead. "Don't stress, sweetheart. He'll come back soon." Guinevere jumped in, eager to back her up. "Yeah, Selina. Don't freak out. He's probably just cooling off. He'll show up." She glared at Natalie again, her annoyance burning in her eyes. Thanks to her, Selina looked tense all over again. The innkeeper worked so hard to calm them down earlier, but it was all for nothing now. Selina gave a stiff smile. "I'm not worried. Why would I worry about that jerk? He's not worth a second of my time. He can live or die, I don't care." She picked up another sausage and bit down. "Let's just eat."The innkeeper clapped her hands gently. "Yes, yes, eat before your oatmeal gets cold." Then she turned back toward Natalie. "Are you sure you don't want some?" Natalie shook her head. "No." The innkeeper nodded, her eyes flicking toward the stairs. "Your boyfriend's still asleep? I'll save him some. There's plenty left." That made twice she'd brought him up. Natalie met her gaze. "He doesn't like oatmeal." "Oh, really?" The innkeeper's tone was soft. "Then what does he like? Maybe I can make something special for him." Natalie's smile widened a little. A custom order? In the middle of an apocalypse? Now that's suspicious. No one gave without wanting something back. She answered without hesitation. "He likes honey glazed ham, saintbrew, grilled shrimp, risotto, chicken soup with mushrooms." She paused. "And king crabs." The table went silent. Everyone stared at her like she'd grown another head. She's actually making orders? What does she think this place is? A Michelin restaurant? Natalie frowned. "What's the look for? Did I say something wrong?" Guinevere clenched her jaw. Every part of her wanted to punch that smug face. But her gut told her this woman wasn't someone she could touch. Anyone who could survive the apocalypse for so long as strong. This woman looked healthy and well-fed. She was obviously powerful. If she tried anything funny, she would lose.She sat still and forced herself to breathe. The innkeeper smiled again, not missing a beat. "We don't have fancy food like that anymore, but I'll make sure your boyfriend gets something warm and filling." She brushed her hair aside, her voice sweet as honey. "It's too cold to travel right now anyway. Since there's nothing to do, why don't you bring him down later? We can chat, maybe play some games. It'll pass the time." That was the third time she'd mentioned Cassian. Natalie's eyes narrowed slightly. Something about it wasn't right. Why does she want Cassian here so much? Her mind flicked back to Anthony—and the cursebugs. Maybe those things react stronger to men, she thought.