Returning to the Romano estate, Elena encountered Adrian in the dimly lit lounge. He poured two glasses of whiskey and slid one toward her.
You're learning quickly, he said. But there's a danger in efficiency. Pride can be fatal.
Elena studied him carefully. And you? How do you avoid falling into your own traps?
Adrian's smile was dangerous, laced with something Elena couldn't name. Desire? Challenge? Threat? Perhaps all three.
You don't, he murmured, closing the space between them. The air thickened with unspoken tension. In the Romano world, loyalty, power, and seduction often intertwined and tonight, Elena felt the full weight of that truth.