I obeyed. Because for now, I still had a role to play.
But as I walked past him, the key dug into my palm, and I knew this stage was almost ready to burn.
The estate was glowing with light when I stepped back inside, chandeliers spilling gold over silk gowns and polished marble. Laughter rippled through the air like the soft notes of a violin, masking the quiet tension that had been stalking me since the night began. Lucien's men lingered at the edges of the room, blending into shadows, their eyes fixed on me as if I were the main act of some elaborate performance.
And maybe I was.
My fingers closed tighter around the tiny square Kael had slipped into my hand. It felt heavier now, more dangerous, as though it carried the weight of every choice I hadn't yet made.
Lucien was still at my side, his presence as commanding as the music itself. "You disappeared," he murmured, his voice low enough for only me to hear.
"I needed air," I replied evenly. "Your parties are… overwhelming."
His lips curved into something between amusement and suspicion. "Overwhelming can be dangerous, Zaria. It makes people forget where they belong."
I tilted my head toward him, giving him the smallest, sharpest smile I could muster. "And where do I belong, Lucien?"
His eyes glittered. "Exactly where I put you."
I swallowed my retort and let him lead me deeper into the party, every step feeling heavier than the last. My heart wasn't here — it was in the shadows, searching for Kael, clinging to the promise of escape that felt so close I could almost taste it.
Two nights. That's what Kael had said.
Two nights until everything changed.
But sometimes, plans have a way of catching fire before you strike the match.
It began with the faintest flicker — the lights dimmed for a breath, then flared back to life. A murmur rippled through the guests, and I saw Lucien's brow crease for the first time all evening. He scanned the room, and I followed his gaze… straight to the far balcony.
Kael was there.
Only for a second, his face half-hidden behind a mask of one of the servers, but it was enough. Our eyes locked, and in that look was every unspoken word — Be ready.
The music swelled again, and the moment shattered. Kael was gone, lost in the tide of guests. But the spark had been lit inside me.
An hour later, Lucien excused himself to speak to one of his advisors. It was the moment I'd been waiting for. I drifted toward the garden doors, every step a careful dance between appearing graceful and disappearing entirely.
Outside, the air was cold and clean, a sharp contrast to the heavy perfume and politics inside. The moon hung low, and the fountain gurgled softly at the center of the courtyard.
That's when I heard it.
"Zaria."
Kael's voice, barely above a whisper.
I turned. He was in the shadows between two hedges, dressed in black, his eyes fierce and urgent.
"You weren't supposed to be seen tonight," I said, stepping closer.
"I wasn't," he replied, "but plans have changed. We don't have two nights anymore. We have hours."
My heart slammed against my ribs. "What happened?"
He glanced toward the mansion. "Lucien's moving something tonight — something dangerous. If we wait, the chance will be gone. But…" His gaze searched mine. "If we move now, you might not make it out without him knowing."
I clenched the key tighter. "Then we make it so he does know."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "You want him to see you leave?"
"No," I said, a slow heat rising in my chest. "I want him to think I'm walking straight into his hands. And when he reaches for me—" I looked toward the glowing windows of the ballroom. "—I'll set fire to the stage he's built."
Kael was silent for a long moment. Then, a faint, dangerous smile touched his lips. "Alright, Zaria. Let's burn it."
We moved quickly. Kael slipped me a small comm earpiece, hidden behind the curl of my hair. His voice was in my ear now, guiding me even when he wasn't near.
Step one was simple: get back into the party before Lucien noticed I was gone. Step two… was less simple.
Lucien's "stage" wasn't just the party — it was the network of alliances, secrets, and intimidation that kept everyone under his control. Tonight, those alliances were in one place. Tonight, one wrong whisper could send everything into chaos.
Kael had planted that whisper.
By the time I reentered the ballroom, I could feel the shift in the air. Conversations had grown sharper, eyes darting toward corners, toward rivals. I slipped back to Lucien's side just as his attention was drawn to a heated exchange near the center of the room.
"What happened?" I asked, feigning innocence.
He didn't answer — his jaw was tight, his gaze locked on the brewing argument.
In my ear, Kael's voice was calm, deliberate. Good. Now get him to the west wing. That's where it ends.
I touched Lucien's arm. "You should take me somewhere quieter. This is… uncomfortable."
For a moment, I thought he'd refuse. But then, his expression softened — or rather, it became the kind of softness that was all calculation. He led me out of the ballroom, down the long corridor toward the west wing. Every step echoed with the knowledge that I was walking straight into the lion's den.
The west wing was darker, quieter, the air cooler. Lucien stopped before the large double doors of his private study and turned to me.
"You're nervous," he said.
"I'm cold," I lied.
He reached for the door — and that's when the lights cut out completely.
Shouts erupted in the distance. The faint smell of smoke drifted through the corridor.
Lucien stiffened. "Stay here."
He moved to leave, but I caught his wrist. "Lucien—"
The key was in my other hand.
And in that instant, I slid it into the lock of his study. The door clicked open.
Inside was exactly what Kael had described: shelves lined with ledgers, safes built into the walls, and in the center, a desk with a single black folder on top.
My fingers trembled as I opened it. Inside were documents, photographs, and coded accounts — proof of the trades, the bribes, the disappearances. Everything.
In my ear, Kael's voice was urgent now. Zaria, you need to move. The fire's spreading faster than I thought.
I grabbed the folder and ran.
The smoke was thicker now, alarms beginning to wail. Guests were screaming, guards shouting orders. Through the chaos, I caught a glimpse of Lucien, his expression dark with rage as he searched for me.
I didn't hide.
I let him see me.
And then I disappeared into the smoke.
Kael was waiting in the garden, two black motorcycles gleaming in the moonlight. I swung onto one, clutching the folder to my chest.
Lucien burst out of the mansion just as Kael revved the engine. Our eyes met across the chaos — his full of fury, mine full of something he hadn't expected.
Freedom.
The fire behind him roared higher, flames licking the night sky, devouring the stage he had built.
I smiled.
And then we were gone.