The evening was cold, biting through the heavy stone walls of the mansion like a whispered threat. Elior stood on the balcony, the city sprawled beneath him like a web of lights flickering in the darkness. The wind tugged at his long coat, but his gaze remained fixed, unwavering.
Beside him, Malik's presence was a silent anchor, steady and sharp-eyed. The moon hung high, casting pale silver over their faces, sharpening the lines of worry and anger etched deep.
"They're closing in," Malik said, voice low but urgent. "The rival clans have caught wind of Elle's blood. They're circling like wolves. Not just hunters… scavengers."
Elior's jaw clenched so tightly it ached. He wanted to crush something, the stone beneath his boots, the very air that carried this threat, but instead, he breathed slowly, forcing the storm inside to stay contained.
"She's mine," Elior's voice was calm but thunderous underneath. "I'll protect her. Even if it means burning this whole city to ash."
Malik's dark eyes flicked toward Elior, understanding the fierce, violent promise woven in those words. "Then we prepare. We don't let them get close."
Elior's hand clenched into a fist on the balcony railing, nails digging into stone.
"They will regret the day they crossed me."
Meanwhile, Elle and her friends went out for a coffee.
The small café was tucked away on a quiet side street, its windows glowing softly with warm light against the cool evening breeze. Inside, the scent of roasted coffee beans and freshly baked pastries mingled with the low murmur of easy conversation.
Elle sat at a corner table with Adara and Kemi, the three of them tucked into plush chairs with their drinks and small plates scattered in front of them. The bustle of students and locals filled the space but to Elle, it felt like a safe bubble, away from the dark whispers of her other life.
Adara nudged Elle, grinning. "You look like you haven't had a proper laugh in ages. Spill it, what's going on in that head of yours?"
Elle smiled shyly, stirring her cappuccino. "I don't know. It's been... a lot lately."
Kemi reached across and squeezed Elle's hand. "Well, you've got us. We'll help you carry the weight."
Before Elle could respond, the bell above the café door jingled, and a man stepped in. He was tall, with a confident stride and eyes that glinted like they knew secrets.
Adara whispered, "Watch this."
The man glanced around and spotted their table. With an easy smile, he approached.
"Mind if I join you?" he asked, voice smooth.
Elle blinked, surprised. "Uh, sure."
He slid into the chair next to Kemi, eyes warm but sparkling with mischief. "I'm Adrian. I've been watching you laugh from across the other cafe and thought I'd try to earn an invitation."
Elle's cheeks flushed as her friends giggled softly.
"Adrian, huh?" Adara teased. "Do you come here often, or just when you spot someone worth charming?"
Adrian grinned. "Only when the company's this interesting."
Elle felt a flutter of nervous excitement but remained blissfully unaware that Adrian's friendly charm was a carefully aimed arrow.
As the night went on, they talked about everything and nothing, music, dreams, silly childhood stories. Elle found herself relaxing more than she had in weeks.
Her friends exchanged glances, amused and hopeful. They could see the beginning of something, but only time would tell if it was real.
---
The study was dim, lit only by the flickering fire that cast long shadows on the high, dark wood walls. Elior sat behind his antique desk, hands folded in front of him, his expression calm but unreadable. The manor's silence pressed in around him like a physical weight. Outside, rain pattered softly against the windows.
The quiet was broken by the soft click of the door opening. Malik stepped inside, his steps measured, his face serious. He closed the door with deliberate care, not wanting to disturb the fragile calm too abruptly.
Elior's eyes lifted, piercing and sharp, immediately fixing on Malik with a predator's intensity. "You found him," he said, voice low, demanding confirmation.
Malik didn't hesitate. "Yes. The man at the café."
Elior's fingers twitched subtly. "Describe him."
Malik's gaze darkened. "Smooth. Confident, the kind who knows exactly what to say and how to say it. Not loud or brash. Instead, he lingers in the background, the way a snake waits before striking. He's not just looking at Elle, he's assessing her, learning her habits. Watching her laugh with her friends, the way she tucks her hair behind her ear, the way she bites her lip when she's nervous. It's a look of possession, but twisted. Like he thinks he has a claim she doesn't even know about yet."
Elior's jaw clenched, the muscles tightening beneath pale skin. "A fool who forgets who she belongs to."
Malik lowered his voice. "I don't think he knows."
Elior's eyes flashed with something cold and terrifying. "Then I'll remind him. And anyone else who thinks she's theirs for the taking." His voice dropped, a slow, lethal promise. "They will learn what it means to cross me. I will rip them apart, bone by bone, and burn what's left so no one will ever find the pieces."
Malik exhaled slowly, steadying himself. "You think he's dangerous."
Elior shook his head, a small, bitter smile curling the corner of his mouth. "No. He's just a nobody from another clan . But a nobody who forgets that the world has creatures far older and far more deadly than himself."
Malik's eyes glinted with understanding. "I'll watch him."
"And if he steps closer...."
"His last mistake," Malik finished for him.
Elior rose, tall and imposing, the firelight catching the sharp angles of his face. He moved toward the window, hands pressed flat on the cold glass as he stared out at the storm-rippled cityscape. "She's mine," he murmured. "Not because I claimed her, but because no one else will. I won't let anyone take her, not while I breathe."
Malik stepped beside him. "We will keep her safe."
Elior's voice was soft but deadly. "Good. Because if she's hurt again… I will burn this world down."
A long silence stretched between them, filled only by the rain and the crackle of the fire.
---
Meanwhile, across town, Adrian laughed quietly, the perfect gentleman, as Elle and her friends chatted happily over coffee. His gaze lingered on Elle just a moment longer than usual, his smile tightening with an unreadable promise beneath that charm.
Malik's shadow fell unseen in the distance, watching.