The city below stretched like a web of steel and stone, the morning light catching the towers, streets, and bridges in a pale gold. From the rooftop of the newly claimed Rose estate, Ethan stood beside Evelyn and Cole, his blade sheathed but his presence radiating authority. Behind him, Mia clutched his arm, a silent anchor to the world he had fought to protect.For the first time in years, the Shadow Heir surveyed not a battlefield, but a city poised on the brink of change. Hale was gone, his empire scattered, and yet the echoes of fear lingered in the alleys, in the whispers of those who had served him.Evelyn’s voice cut through the dawn. “You’ve done more than survive, Ethan. You’ve taken control of your destiny. And now… the world will feel the weight of the Roses again.”Ethan didn’t respond immediately. His eyes swept over the rooftops, over the streets, over the skyline of a city that didn’t yet know what had changed. “Control isn’t enough,” he said finally. “We need loyalty.

The night was unusually still over the city, a deceptive calm that masked the stirrings of those who refused to accept Hale’s fall. In the shadows, whispered conversations traced through back alleys, abandoned warehouses, and forgotten underground networks. A single word spread like wildfire: Rose.Ethan stood atop the Rose estate balcony, Mia at his side, Evelyn just behind him. His eyes scanned the city, sharp and calculating, every pulse, every flicker of light a signal to him. Cole had left earlier to gather intelligence, leaving the trio to face the calm before the storm.“They’re already moving,” Evelyn said softly, her eyes narrowing. “Hale’s remnants aren’t just going to vanish. They’ll strike when they think we’re weakest.”Ethan’s jaw tightened. “Then we show them there is no weakness. Not here. Not ever.”Mia’s hand found his, a gentle anchor. “And if they come for us first?”He glanced down at her, calm yet resolute. “Then they’ll regret it.”The silence of the city was sh

The city’s streets were quiet, almost unnervingly so. The Rose estate loomed over the skyline like a silent guardian, shadows stretching across rooftops, alleys, and corners, as if marking territory. But Ethan knew better than to trust calm. Hale’s remnants had fled, yes, but their silence was not peace—it was plotting.Ethan stood in the estate’s control room, monitors flickering with feeds from across the city. Cole and Evelyn flanked him, each alert, each ready. Mia lingered near the door, hands clasped, heart hammering, but eyes sharp.“They’re organized,” Ethan said, voice low, scanning the screens. “Hale’s cells weren’t just soldiers—they were trained, intelligent, resourceful. And they’ve learned from tonight.”Evelyn’s eyes narrowed. “You expected anything less? Power attracts cunning enemies. Those who survive do not forgive. They strike when you’re vulnerable.”A sudden flicker on the monitors caught Ethan’s attention—a warehouse in the industrial district, lights on, shadow

The city woke slowly, unaware of the war tightening around its throat.Morning light spilled across glass towers and quiet streets, but inside the Rose estate, tension lingered like a bruise that refused to fade. Ethan stood at the floor-to-ceiling window of the strategy room, staring out at the skyline without truly seeing it.Serpent’s voice echoed in his mind.You still have a weakness.Behind him, Mia sat on the edge of the couch, wrapped in a blanket she didn’t need. Her hands trembled despite the warmth of the room. Cole paced, restless. Evelyn stood near the table of holographic maps, silent and calculating.“He wanted her afraid,” Evelyn said at last. “That wasn’t a mistake. It was strategy.”Ethan’s jaw clenched. “He used her as leverage.”“Yes,” Evelyn replied calmly. “And he will do it again.”Mia looked up sharply. “I won’t let him.”Ethan turned instantly. “This isn’t your fault.”“I know,” she said quietly. “But pretending I’m not part of this won’t protect anyone. Serpe

Power never announced its price up front.It waited—quietly—until the moment you were already committed.Ethan felt it in the stillness that followed his offensive. The city had gone quieter, not safer. Like a held breath. Like a predator crouched just beyond sight.He stood alone in the lower strategy chamber, staring at a map that no longer felt theoretical. Each red mark represented a dismantled node of Serpent’s network.Each one also represented someone who would want revenge.“You’re burning bridges,” Evelyn said from the doorway.Ethan didn’t turn. “I’m collapsing corridors.”She stepped closer, eyes sharp but not unkind. “There’s a difference. Bridges can be rebuilt. Corridors trap people when they panic.”“That’s the point,” Ethan replied. “Serpent thrives on escape.”Evelyn studied him for a long moment. “And what happens when you need one?”Ethan finally faced her. Shadows rested easily around him now—not reactive, not volatile. Obedient.“I won’t.”The words were calm. Cer