THE FIRST TEST

By the time Julian reached the medical room, the estate had fallen into an uneasy silence. The alarms had stopped, but the quiet that replaced them felt worse. Every few seconds, voices drifted through the corridors, followed by the distant movement of security personnel. Julian walked beside Kaelen without speaking, his eyes moving over every door they passed. He had spent years knowing the estate as his home, yet tonight every hallway seemed unfamiliar. Every closed door carried a question. Every person they passed could be the person who had opened the way for the attackers.

When they reached the medical room, Kaelen pushed the door open and stepped inside. Julian followed, then immediately pointed toward one of the chairs.

Sit!

Kaelen glanced at him. I'm fine.

You said that already.

Because it's true.

Julian crossed his arms. Then prove it by letting someone look at the wound.

Kaelen studied him for a moment before finally sitting. The medic hurried toward them, already carrying a tray of supplies.

Sir, can i treat that.

Kaelen nodded once and rolled up his sleeve. The cut was deeper than Julian had expected. Blood had soaked through the fabric, leaving a dark stain along his arm. Julian watched silently as the medic cleaned the wound. Kaelen didn't react when the antiseptic touched his skin. Not even a flinch.

How did you get this? Julian asked.

A knife.

During the attack?

Yes.

Who threw it?

Kaelen's eyes lifted toward him. Someone who missed.

Julian frowned. You make everything sound simple.

It usually is.

Not tonight.

Kaelen said nothing. Julian looked at the medic instead. How bad is it?

Not serious. He'll need stitches, but there's no major damage.

Good. The word left Julian's mouth before he could stop it. Kaelen noticed. Their eyes met, and Julian immediately looked away. He wasn't going to give Kaelen another opportunity to read him. Not tonight. Not after everything that had happened.

The medic finished dressing the wound and

stepped back.

You should rest.

Kaelen stood. I don't need rest.

Julian gave him a look. You really enjoy ignoring medical advice.

I'm working.

You're bleeding.

I'm still working.

Julian shook his head. Fine.

Then work.

Kaelen's expression remained unreadable. What do you want?

Julian looked toward the door.

To walk.

Kaelen immediately moved beside him.

Where?

The east wing.

No.

Julian turned.

Why?

Because it isn't secure yet.

You just said the estate was secured.

The estate is secured. The eastern wing is still being searched.

Julian watched him carefully. Then that's exactly where I want to go.

Kaelen's eyes narrowed.

Why?

Julian shrugged. Because I'm tired of being told where I can and cannot go. It was only partly true. He wanted to see the damage himself, but there was another reason. He wanted to see how Kaelen reacted.

The bodyguard stared at him for several seconds before finally saying, Stay behind me.

Julian smiled faintly. There you are again.

They left the medical room together. This time Julian paid attention to every detail. He noticed which guards were stationed at each entrance, which doors had been sealed, and which corridors remained empty. Kaelen moved with the same controlled awareness he always carried, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. Julian had once found that reassuring. Now he wondered how much of that awareness was actually directed toward him and how much was directed toward the people around them.

They reached the eastern corridor, where several guards stood near the damaged security door. One of them immediately straightened when Kaelen approached. Sir.

Kaelen nodded. Status?

The area has been cleared. We're waiting for the technical team to examine the system.

Anyone missing?

Not yet.

Julian stepped closer. I want to see the security panel.

The guard hesitated before looking at Kaelen. Julian noticed. So did Kaelen.

Let him through, Kaelen said.

The guard moved aside. Julian approached the panel and stared at the damaged screen. The system had been disabled from the inside. He could still see the faint remains of the access sequence on the display. His eyes narrowed. This is the code I saw earlier.

Kaelen came to stand beside him.

Yes.

Who used it?

We're still trying to determine that.

Julian glanced at him. You already know something.

Kaelen didn't answer.

You keep doing that.

Doing what?

Giving me half an answer and expecting me not to notice.

Kaelen's gaze remained on the panel. You notice more than you should.

Julian almost smiled. Maybe that's the problem. He stepped away from the panel. Maybe everyone has been assuming I don't notice anything.

Kaelen looked at him then. For a second, something unreadable crossed his face. Julian couldn't tell whether it was concern or approval. He wanted to ask, but he stopped himself. Not yet. Instead, he walked farther down the corridor.

A security officer approached them carrying a tablet. Mr. Thorne, we recovered footage from one of the backup cameras.

Kaelen took the tablet. Show me.

The officer opened the recording. The screen showed a narrow service corridor. The footage was grainy, but the timestamp was visible. Julian leaned closer. A figure appeared at the end of the corridor. The person wore a security uniform and moved quickly toward a restricted access door. Julian couldn't see the face.

Can you identify him? Kaelen asked.

We're working on it.

Julian studied the image. Stop.

The officer paused the footage.

Go back.

The recording moved backward. Julian pointed at the screen. There. A small object was visible in the person's hand.

What's that? Kaelen leaned closer.

A phone.

No.

Julian shook his head. Look at the case.

The officer zoomed in. The image blurred, but a distinctive silver mark became visible. Julian's heart skipped. He had seen that before. That's Marcus's.

Kaelen's expression changed. Julian looked at him. You said his records were clean.

They are.

Then why is someone carrying his phone?

Kaelen took the tablet from the officer. We need to verify it.

How?

Find Marcus.

The officer immediately left. Julian watched him disappear around the corner. You don't seem surprised.

Kaelen looked at him. I don't trust coincidences.

Neither do I.

They stood in silence. Julian looked back at the footage. There was something about the figure's movement that bothered him. The person had walked through the corridor like they knew exactly where they were going. No hesitation. No searching.

They hadn't looked around once. They knew the estate. They knew the security system. They knew the blind spots

.

Julian turned toward Kaelen. How many people have access to that corridor?

Sixteen.

And how many know the security schedule?

Fewer.

How many?

Kaelen's eyes remained on him. Eight.

Julian nodded slowly. Then we start with eight.

Kaelen's expression hardened. You don't start anything.

Julian stared at him. Why?

Because this isn't a game.

I know.

Then act like it.

Julian stepped closer. I am acting like it. That's why I'm asking questions.

Kaelen lowered his voice. And that's why you're becoming a target.

I was already a target. The answer silenced him. Julian held Kaelen's gaze. The difference is that now I know it.

Something shifted between them. Kaelen looked as though he wanted to say something, but instead he glanced toward the end of the corridor. Julian followed his gaze. A guard was approaching.

Sir, the man said. We found Marcus.

Kaelen's posture changed immediately. Where?

His quarters.

Bring him here.

The guard hesitated. He's unconscious.

Julian's stomach dropped. What?

We found him on the floor.

Kaelen was already moving. Julian followed despite his earlier warning. They reached Marcus's quarters within minutes. Two guards stood outside the door. One stepped aside.

Marcus lay on the floor beside his desk, his breathing shallow. A broken glass was scattered near his hand. Kaelen crouched beside him and checked his pulse. He's alive.

Julian looked around the room. Nothing appeared disturbed. The bed was untouched. The desk remained organized. The window was locked. There were no signs of forced entry. What happened? Julian asked.

Kaelen looked toward the broken glass. Poison.

Julian's face went pale. How do you know?

The smell.

Julian stared at him. You can smell poison?

Some of them. Kaelen stood. Don't touch anything.

Julian stepped back. Then whoever did this wanted him alive.

Kaelen looked at him. Maybe.

If they wanted him dead, they would have finished the job.

Kaelen said nothing. Julian looked at Marcus again. The man who had served his family for years was unconscious on the floor, and suddenly the possibility that Marcus had been framed seemed much more real. Someone had used his phone. Someone had used his access. Now someone had tried to silence him.

Julian's thoughts moved quickly. If Marcus was the traitor, why leave evidence pointing directly toward him? If he wasn't, someone wanted them to believe he was. And if someone had access to Marcus's phone, they might have access to more than that.

Julian turned toward Kaelen. I want to see the security logs again.

No.

Why?

Because you're tired.

I'm thinking clearly.

You're angry.

I'm both. Kaelen stared at him. Julian didn't look away. Take me back to the command room.

Kaelen finally nodded. They walked back through the corridor, but Julian remained silent. He had made his decision. He wasn't going to wait for someone else to tell him what was happening.

When they reached the command room, most of the security team had already left. Only a few officers remained. Julian walked directly toward the main console. Open the access logs.

The security chief looked at Kaelen before responding. Mr. Thorne?

Kaelen gave a small nod. The logs appeared. Julian studied them carefully. Names. Times. Access points. Then he remembered something. He looked toward the security chief. Can you show me the logs from yesterday?

Why?

Just do it.

The man complied. Julian scanned the list. Nothing unusual. He went back another day. Then another. Still nothing. He frowned. Show me the maintenance access records.

The security chief hesitated. Those aren't part of the standard logs.

Then access them.

Kaelen watched Julian closely. The records appeared after several seconds. Julian's eyes moved down the list. Then he stopped. One entry had been created two days before the attack. His heart began beating faster. What is that?

Kaelen stepped closer. Julian pointed to the screen. A temporary administrative clearance.

The security chief leaned over. That's impossible.

Why?

Because temporary clearances require authorization from the head of security.

Julian looked at Kaelen. Who authorized it?

The security chief opened the record. The name appeared. Julian's expression changed. Kaelen's face became completely still.

It wasn't Marcus. It wasn't the security chief. It wasn't Arthur. The clearance had been authorized under a name Julian knew very well. His own.

That's not possible, Julian whispered.

Kaelen looked at him. Who created it?

The security chief's voice dropped. The system says you did.

Julian stared at the screen. He knew he hadn't. He had never requested temporary access. He hadn't even known such a clearance existed. Then his phone vibrated inside his pocket. He pulled it out and looked at the screen. One new message.

Stop looking.

Julian's blood went cold. He slowly raised his eyes toward Kaelen.

Someone was watching them.