The night settles over my estate like a shroud, thick with the weight of secrets. The corridors are silent except for the faint whisper of the wind against the towering windows. A storm is brewing in the distance—lightning flashing like fractured veins across the sky, the scent of rain clinging to the air.
I stand before my full-length mirror, adjusting the cuffs of my black silk blouse. The reflection staring back at me is unreadable, as it should be. My gaze drops briefly to the silver dagger lying on the vanity, its blade polished to perfection. I pick it up, running my thumb along the cool metal. A gift from an old enemy. A warning. A promise.
There are things I need to do tonight. Deals to negotiate. A war to prepare for.
But first, a meeting with Kade.
A soft knock comes at the door. Not Celeste—she never bothers knocking.
"Enter," I say.
Elara steps inside, her presence as measured as always. She's wearing her usual neutral expression, but there's something careful in the way she holds herself.
"She's asleep," she informs me.
Lily.
I nod, setting the dagger down. "Good."
"She asked about you before bed," Elara continues, her voice softer now. "Wanted to know if you were coming to say goodnight."
I hesitate for only a fraction of a second before fastening the last button of my blouse. "She'll get used to how things are."
Elara's expression doesn't change, but I catch the flicker of something in her eyes—an unspoken challenge. She disapproves of my distance.
It doesn't matter.
"I'll be back late," I say instead. "Ensure nothing disturbs her."
Elara dips her head in understanding, but I know she has more to say. She never does.
I move past her, stepping into the dimly lit hall, where Celeste is already waiting. She leans casually against the wall, dressed in sleek black, her expression unreadable.
"You're late," she murmurs.
"I was occupied."
Celeste eyes me as if debating whether to push for more details. She doesn't. Instead, she falls into step beside me as we make our way down the grand staircase.
"Everything is in place?" I ask.
She nods. "Our contact confirmed the location an hour ago. Neutral ground."
Neutral ground means nothing in a world where power determines the rules. But tonight, I'll play along.
We exit through the estate's side entrance, where a sleek black car is already waiting. The driver opens the door, and I slide into the backseat, Celeste following closely behind.
As we pull onto the darkened road, I glance out at the city.
The storm is getting closer.
A fitting omen.
The Meeting
The warehouse is an abandoned relic of a forgotten era—rusted metal beams stretching toward the ceiling, dust swirling in the low glow of flickering overhead lights.
A man stands at the center of the vast space, waiting. He is tall, broad-shouldered, with the air of someone accustomed to power.
Kade.
Celeste tenses slightly beside me, but I don't falter as I step forward, my boots echoing against the concrete.
"Kade," I greet smoothly. "You couldn't choose a more appropriate location for us to meet? I feel so irritated being" i taunt
His lips curve into a smirk, but his eyes are sharp as they rake over me. "Lilith."
I don't stop until there's barely a foot of space between us.
"You wanted my attention," I say, tilting my head. "You have it."
His smirk widens. "You wound me. Can't I simply want to see you?"
I arch a brow. "You and I both know you didn't come here for pleasantries."
Something flickers in his gaze—something dark, hungry. "No. I didn't."
He steps closer, his voice dropping. "You're making a mistake, Lilith."
I hold his gaze, unflinching. "Am I?"
Kade reaches out, brushing a finger along the sleeve of my blouse. A deliberate, taunting gesture. "You're playing a dangerous game. Siding against me, staying away from me… How long do you think you can keep this up before the walls come crashing down?"
I smile, slow and sharp. "I don't play games, Kade. I win them."
His expression hardens. "You think you can stand alone? That the empire you've built is untouchable? You've forgotten who I am, Lilith."
"I never forget," I murmur. "But I don't bow, either."
Kade watches me for a moment, his jaw ticking. Then he exhales a short laugh, but there's no amusement in it. "Come back to my side, Lilith. While you still can."
I tilt my head, feigning thought. Then I lean in, close enough that my breath brushes his cheek. "No."
His eyes darken, the muscles in his jaw flexing. "This is your last chance."
I step back, smiling. "Then you've already lost."
The air between us is a battle of wills, a silent war in itself.
I turn without another word, walking away. Celeste falls into step beside me, but I can feel Kade's gaze on my back, searing into me.
This isn't over.
Not by a long shot.
The Ride to the Next Meeting
The car's interior is silent except for the rhythmic hum of the tires against the asphalt. The storm has drawn closer, lightning streaking across the sky in jagged, silver veins.
Celeste sits beside me, her arms crossed, staring out the window. "Why does Kade always have to be so dramatic?" She suddenly blurts out. " I mean he could have easily just said all that over the phone"
I smirk briefly. Kade has always been a dramatic thing. He has a flare for theatrics . glance at her, considering for a moment before asking, "How did your date go last night?"
Celeste's head turns slightly, surprise flickering across her face. Then, to my greater surprise, she smiles.
It's a rare thing.
I arch a brow. "That good?"
She exhales, shaking her head slightly. "It was… different."
"Different?" I echo.
Celeste's eyes darken with thought. "I actually enjoyed myself. He wasn't trying to impress me, he wasn't playing games. Just… honest conversation."
I watch her for a moment. Celeste is sharp, a weapon honed over years of survival. It's rare to see her let her guard down, even slightly.
"You're smiling," I note.
She scoffs. "Don't get used to it."
I smirk, turning back to the window.
The city blurs past us, lights smearing like watercolors against the rain-streaked glass.
And then, finally, we arrive.
The Real Meeting
The underground lounge is hidden beneath the shell of an abandoned art gallery. The entrance is an unmarked steel door, guarded by two men who barely spare me a glance before stepping aside.
Inside, the air is thick with cigar smoke and whispered conversations. The kind of place where alliances are formed and enemies are made.
A man waits for me in a dimly lit booth, his fingers tapping a slow rhythm against his glass of whiskey. His hair is streaked with silver, his face lined with the weight of old sins.
Igo Vanyin.
He glances up as I approach, a smirk playing on his lips. "You kept me waiting."
I slide into the seat across from him. "You wanted an audience. Now you have it." Also, don't you cannot be coming in and out of my home as you please, the only reason I did not plunge a dagger in your heart that night was because you said you have an offer for me that I cannot refuse, let's be guided next time"
Igo chuckles, taking a sip of his drink. "Straight to business. I like that about you, Lilith."
I say nothing, waiting.
He sets his glass down. "I have something you want. Or rather, something that will bring down what you want to destroy."
I rest my chin on my hand. "Do go on."
Igo leans in, his voice a conspiratorial whisper. "Kade has a weakness. And I know exactly where to strike."
Interest flares in my chest, though I keep my expression bored. "And what do you want in return?" I know how things work in our world. And I know this is a quid pro quo situation.
His smile widens, sharp as a blade. "A favor. One I'll collect when the time is right."
A dangerous proposition. But I've never feared danger.
I lean forward, matching his gaze. "Tell me more."