The next morning, Seren woke to a quiet house. No alarms, no unusual activity. The calm made her uneasy. She dressed quickly, keeping her movements silent. Even after days in the mansion, she still felt like an intruder in someone else's world.
Alaric had not come to her room yet. That was unusual. Normally, he checked in at least once in the morning, either with instructions or just to see her.
Her phone buzzed. A message from Rowan:
They're moving faster than we thought. Someone close is compromised.
Seren's stomach tightened. The quiet in the house was dangerous. She tucked the phone away and went downstairs, staying alert.
Alaric was in the kitchen, reading papers. His tie was loose, sleeves rolled up. Even casual, he radiated control. She tried not to be distracted.
"You're early," he said without looking up.
"I didn't sleep well," she replied.
He nodded, finally glancing at her. "Neither did I."
There was something different in his eyes today. A hardness. A warning.
"You have to understand," he said, setting the papers down. "What's coming will test you. Not just your patience. Not just your skills. Your life."
"I know," Seren said. "I've waited too long to turn back now."
He leaned against the counter, arms crossed. "Good. But don't underestimate the cost."
---
By afternoon, the first warning arrived. A delivery at the main gate—ordinary on the surface. Seren watched from the window as guards examined it.
When it was opened, it contained a small, black box. No note. No name.
Inside: a single silver bullet.
Alaric's expression did not change. But Seren felt the cold seep into her bones.
"They're sending a message," he said quietly. "This isn't about you. Not yet. It's about fear. Testing boundaries. Seeing how far we'll let them go."
Seren held her breath. "And if they cross the line?"
Alaric's gaze met hers. "Then we cross it back."
---
That night, the mansion was tense. Guards patrolled hallways more frequently, cameras moved on automatic sweeps, and Seren couldn't stop glancing over her shoulder.
Alaric entered her room quietly. No knocking.
"You need to understand something," he said, sitting on the edge of her bed. "This house is secure. But outside, you're vulnerable. Even someone close could betray you. Even me."
Seren's stomach twisted. "You don't trust me?"
"I don't trust anyone," he said simply. "Including you. And that's how you survive."
She clenched her fists. "You underestimate me."
"Perhaps," he said. "But underestimation can kill."
---
Later, Seren wandered through the mansion's halls, drawn to the study. She needed to feel control. To understand what she was walking into.
Alaric's office was quiet. The folder with Harlan Cross's information was open on the desk. Seren went to it.
She traced the lines of connections between names, dates, transfers. Patterns emerged. Betrayal. Lies. Secrets hidden for years.
Her fingers lingered on one name. A reminder of the cost she was about to pay.
A sound behind her made her spin. Alaric stood there, closer than she expected.
"You're digging deeper," he said. "You think this helps you. But it exposes more than you know."
"I can handle it," she replied, her voice firm.
"Can you?" His tone was low, almost a challenge.
Before she could answer, a loud crash came from downstairs. Shouts followed. Alaric was already moving, his body tense, every step precise.
Seren followed instinctively. They reached the main hall. A group of men had slipped past the first guards. Chaos erupted instantly.
Alaric's eyes scanned the intruders. "Get out of the way!" he barked. Guards moved. Seren froze for half a second, heart hammering.
Then she remembered Rowan's words: Use his trust. Use his blind spots.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, grabbing a nearby metal rod. She didn't know if it would help, but she would not be useless.
Alaric moved like a shadow, precise and lethal. Seren moved beside him, hesitant but determined.
The intruders had underestimated the mansion. They would not underestimate them again.
As the last man fell and the doors were locked behind the guards, Seren realized one thing clearly: survival would not be enough. She needed power.
And in Alaric Vale's world, power came with a price.