Cassius appeared at the gates of Clearwater Manor without warning.Nick turned, momentarily caught off guard. He hadn't expected the Tempest Warlord to show up here, much less to come looking for him. The night air was cool against his skin, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the garden hedges that lined the gravel drive."You came all this way?" Nick asked, his brow lifting slightly.Cassius looked him over from head to toe, tension easing from his shoulders once he confirmed Nick was unharmed. "I heard you went to Beaconfire Manor. Given the crowd they had waiting for you, I thought I'd check if you made it out in one piece."He let out a low breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "Looks like I worried for nothing."Nick gave a dry shake of his head. "I dealt with everyone on site. The problem is, I still don't know who orchestrated the whole thing."He recounted the night's events in brief, the ambush, the wave of killers, and the confrontation

The next morning, Nick made a simple excuse to Celia and the others, he needed to travel to the Southeastern Territories for a few days on personal business. They didn't press him for details, only reminded him to come back soon and check in so they'd know he was safe. He felt a pang of reluctance looking at them but forced it down. Now wasn't the time for sentimentality. He had something far more important to do.He needed to find Nolan Walton and get answers about his own origins.Nick boarded an express train heading southeast, carrying nothing but the clothes on his back. While other passengers hauled suitcases through the aisles and stuffed overhead compartments, he settled into his seat and closed his eyes.He had barely drifted into a light rest when a subtle, expensive floral fragrance reached him. The rustle of fabric against the neighboring seat told him someone had sat down. He cracked one eye open.The woman was stunning, tall, with curves accentuated

The moment Nick agreed, a quiet satisfaction bloomed in Ashlyn's chest.She had known it all along. No man alive could resist her when she turned on the charm. At first she'd pegged Nick as one of those infuriatingly rigid types who let every flirtation slide off him like water off polished stone, but even he had surrendered in the end. The way he'd swept in to save her at the station was textbook: play hard to get, then swoop in as the hero. A classic misdirection she'd seen through from the very first beat.What she didn't realize was that Nick hadn't spared a single thought for her private calculations. His mind was fixed on one objective: get through this shopping trip and reach the Court Gardens as quickly as possible.Unfortunately, he had badly underestimated the endurance of a woman with unlimited access to fitting rooms.Three full hours crawled past. Ashlyn cycled through dozens of ensembles in silk, lace, and tailored wool until the initial spark of ad

Ashlyn Winters felt her breath catch the instant Cassius Stormwell crossed the threshold. She hadn't anticipated his arrival, not tonight, not here. The Stormwell family stood several tiers above the seven prominent families of the Southeast, their influence stretching far beyond local boundaries. Even the Seven Heirs would lower their gazes and measure their words carefully in his presence.His voice sliced through the murmur of conversation like a blade through silk. "I'll concede that Damien acted without proper restraint today. But the instant you permitted violence against him, you declared yourself an adversary of the entire Stormwell family."Ashlyn's stomach twisted into a cold knot. She'd known he'd come hunting for satisfaction, and the last thing she wanted was for her involvement to pull Nick into the crossfire. "Cassius, if you'd just listen, there's context you're not..."He lifted one hand in dismissal, severing her words before they could gain momentum

"Before I kill Nolan Walton, I can deal with all of you first."Killing intent spilled openly from Nick Crane's gaze."Insolent!" Ezra Kingsley roared, his voice shaking the room. "You're staring death in the face and you still refuse to repent!"Ashlyn Winters tugged urgently at Nick's sleeve, her expression stricken with panic. "Nick! Stop talking!"Aldric Stormwell's eyes darkened to something cold and venomous. "What a reckless mongrel. You dare disrespect the Walton family. You dare profane their name." His voice rose to a commanding bark. "Stormwell guards, hear my order! Take this animal's life!"Squads of well-trained bodyguards materialized from every doorway, filing into formation with practiced efficiency. Ashlyn's face drained of color. She hadn't expected the Stormwell guards to arrive so quickly.Every member of that guard force was a Martial Warrior cultivated at enormous expense by the Stormwell family. They were called bodyguards in nam