I narrowed my eyes at Mia. “What exactly are you looking for?”She tilted her head, studying me with a faint smile. “Nothing much. I just want to look around.”I gave a short, humorless scoff. “There’s nothing to see.”“Then you shouldn’t have a problem letting me in,” she countered, her tone light but her eyes locked on mine.I opened my mouth to fire back but hesitated. “Well… it’s a mess,” I lied, rubbing my palm across my jeans.Mia crossed her arms, clearly unconvinced. “A mess? You? I don’t believe that for a second.”“I haven’t unpacked yet,” I muttered.“So?” Her smile widened. “I don’t mind.”I felt my jaw tighten. “It’s… private.”That earned me a smirk. “Kael, have you ever let a woman into your place before?”I stiffened at her teasing. “That’s not—”Before I could finish, she leaned in slightly, one hand braced against the doorframe like she owned it.I sighed, feeling my last ounce of patience slip away. There was no winning against her when she decided to be stubborn. I

Delacroix’s reach ran deeper than anyone liked to admit. If Lucien moved to settle a score, it wouldn’t be me who felt the first strike — it would be Darren. My chest tightened at the thought.Then my phone buzzed in my pocket.Ring. Ring. Ring.Evenlyn’s name lit the screen — Eagle’s sister. I thumbed it open before my brain had finished sorting the danger wordless in my gut.“Yeah?” I said.“Kael… please… save me…” Her voice was a thin rope, frayed and shaking.I tightened my fingers around the phone. “Where are you? What happened?”A man cut in, smooth and cold as ice. “Kael George, I warned you this isn’t over.”The voice was one I knew — and hated. It didn’t have to shout to carry menace.“If you want to save the girl,” he said, “come to—” He barked an address, clipped and final.I didn’t wait for more. I shoved the phone back into my pocket and stood so fast my chair screeched.“Kael?” Mia’s voice followed me, small with worry. I didn’t answer. There was no time. Eagle was burie

Mia looked so frustrated as she pushed her hands free from my grip. Her movements were sharp and restless, like she was trying to shake off everything she was feeling at once. Her face was flushed, her brows drawn together, and there was a fire in her eyes that I’d seen only a few times before."Did you get this from the girl you visited?!" she yelled, her voice cracking with a mix of anger and hurt.I sighed, dragging a hand down my face before pinching the bridge of my nose. The dull throb at the back of my skull pulsed in time with my heartbeat. "Mia, it's just a cut. I'll be fine," I said to her, trying to keep my voice even.But she didn’t agree.She scoffed loudly, spinning on her heel so quickly her hair whipped behind her. She stormed back into her apartment without another word. For a second, I thought she was done throwing a tantrum, and I turned back to my door, ready to disappear into my own space.But before I could even touch the knob, she returned.And this time, she ca

Seraphina glides into the room like she owns every inch of air she takes. The door closes behind her with a soft click, but the sound of it seems to snap the whole place into focus. For a second the room feels smaller — the light harsher, the smell of blood and sweat more honest — because she’s there and she doesn’t waste a breath.Her eyes sweep the room the way a surgeon’s hand finds a wound. They land on Darren first. He’s slumped, bound, shirt ruined and dark with blood. The bruise swelling over his eye looks like someone stamped a fist into him. Seraphina’s mouth tightens; the line of her brow is the only thing she allows herself to show. Then her gaze slides to me and, just for a breath, there’s something like calculation and something like pity mixed in that look.I shift my shoulders almost imperceptibly — the tiniest shake of my head. Don’t mention the contract, I say to her without words. She catches it. She knows what that could do to Darren if Lucien twists it into leverag

I left the office, my thoughts still echoing with Emily’s urgent voice from the phone. I didn’t tell my brother where I was going—just gave him a nod and disappeared into the quiet city streets, chasing another unknown.When I arrived at the small house on the corner of Maple and Fifth, I saw a travel case sitting by the doorway. It was old, worn around the edges, and packed full. A few papers were tucked into the side pocket, and a jacket was draped over the handle. Emily stood just beside it, arms folded.She turned when she heard my footsteps.“Ryder,” she said softly. Her voice was tired—no edge, no mystery. Just a girl at a crossroads.“I wasn’t sure you’d actually come.”I looked at the suitcase, then at her.“You’re leaving?”She nodded. “I’ve decided to accept the scholarship. The one they’ve been offering me for months now.” She gave a small, hollow laugh. “Guess it took death and a mountain of chaos for me to finally realize I can’t keep staying here.”Her voice trembled sli