Third POV
Cassiel turned, meeting his gaze. "You tell me."Julian stepped forward, voice low. "I went into your study because I needed to see if what I suspected was true.""And?""You tell too many lies with too calm a face."Cassiel slipped his shirt on. "Then stop trusting me."Julian flinched. "Maybe I already have."The silence that followed was sharper than any argument. Cassiel finished dressing, adjusted his collar, and walked toward the door."Where are you going now?" Julian asked.Cassiel paused, looking over his shoulder. "To finish what you just made harder."And then he was gone.Julian sank onto the bed, the quiet roaring in his ears.He had poked the sleeping typhoon.And now the storm was coming.It was well past midnight when the screech of iron gates raked through the silence of the estate. Julian, stretched out on the leather couch in the sitting room, didn’t move. He’d been there for hours, unmoving, eThird POVJulian lay on his side, watching the shadows dance across the ceiling. Cassiel’s breathing beside him was slow, steady, the rise and fall of his chest almost hypnotic. He looked peaceful in sleep — something that seemed ironic considering the kind of man he truly was.Julian exhaled quietly and glanced at the clock.3:17 AM.He waited a few more minutes, letting time stretch as he lay perfectly still. Then, slowly, he turned to Cassiel. He reached a hand over his sleeping form and waved it softly in front of his face. No reaction. Cassiel’s breathing didn’t hitch. His eyes didn’t flutter.Julian allowed himself a tiny sigh of relief. Slipping the duvet aside, he planted one foot silently on the floor, then the other. His bare feet padded soundlessly on the cold hardwood. He tiptoed toward the door, his hand closing around the brass handle —"Going off to sniff through my computer again?" came the low, unmistakable voice
Third POVThe bed beside him was empty.He had known it would be. He'd woken up earlier than usual, his internal clock already attuned to the routine that had settled between them. It was a routine that kept the silence from becoming too uncomfortable, the distance from becoming too obvious. Cassiel had always been an early riser, his movements graceful yet purposeful as he left the bed. Julian, on the other hand, had become accustomed to lying still until the weight of reality pulled him fully awake.Rolling over onto his side, Julian stared at the empty space where Cassiel had been moments ago. The absence was familiar, like the echo of a song long forgotten. It wasn’t that Julian expected anything different, but some mornings, the emptiness felt more pronounced. He ran a hand over his face, rubbing the sleep from his eyes before swinging his legs over the side of the bed.He stretched his arms above his head, the muscles in his back a
Third POVWhat could Cassiel be up to? Why hadn’t he said anything? Was there something more going on — something Julian wasn’t being told?The questions circled in his mind, and he found himself at the base of the grand staircase without remembering how he’d gotten there. He paused, staring up at the darkened hallways above, wondering what he might find if he went looking.He’d always been good at reading people, at picking up on the smallest details. But Cassiel… Cassiel had always been an enigma, a puzzle he couldn’t quite figure out. And that frustration, the constant tug of curiosity, made it difficult to let go. To accept that some things weren’t meant to be understood.He closed his eyes for a brief moment, willing the thoughts to quiet down. But they didn’t. They only grew louder, more insistent.Something was happening. And Julian wasn’t sure if he was ready to find out what.As the morning stretched on, Julian found him
Third POVJulian’s head throbbed. His vision blurred, not from any injury, but from how tightly the panic coiled his chest. His arms were shaking, lips trembling, and no amount of wiping could stop the tears. They just kept falling—fast, hot, and helpless.He barely registered the harsh tug on his arm until he stumbled, dragged by Enzo toward the sleek black car waiting just outside the warehouse. His legs moved, but his mind didn’t. He was just… floating in a nightmare.Cassiel sat in the back seat. Hands clasped, expression cold, jaw locked. Not even a blink as Julian was shoved into the seat beside him like a broken toy.The door shut.Julian didn’t look at him. Couldn’t. He stared ahead. Still seeing Bash. Still hearing him scream. Still smelling burnt flesh.Cassiel leaned forward slightly. “Drive.”Enzo didn’t say a word. He obeyed immediately, tires screeching as they pulled onto the road.The silence in the car was brutal. Suffocating. Ju
Third POVFour cloaked men sat around the round stone table, the flicker of candlelight casting distorted shadows on the walls of the underground chamber. The air was thick with dampness and secrecy. None of them spoke for a while, only the rustling of their cloaks and the occasional creak of an old chair filled the silence.The man seated at the far end leaned forward. “He’s gone too far this time.”A second man turned his head. “You mean Cassiel?”He nodded. “Burning the boy alive in front of his own brother? That was reckless. Emotional. Not like him.”“He dug his own grave,” the third one murmured. “Cassiel’s slipping. He’s letting sentiment drive him now. That’s dangerous.”The fourth one chuckled slowly. “Sentiment? He was proving a point. That’s what he does best.”“No,” the first man cut in sharply. “That wasn’t Bash. It was Arnold.”A stunned silence settled like a bomb had just gone off.“You’re sure?” the second man asked slowly.
Third POVSmoke curled into the air, dancing lazily toward the ceiling of the dimly lit study. Cassiel leaned back in his leather armchair, legs crossed, a half-burnt cigar resting between his fingers. Enzo stood across from him, hands clasped behind his back, eyes fixed on the large monitor on the wall.“I still don’t understand why we’re not moving Bash out of the state,” Enzo said, breaking the silence. “We’ve already created an airtight trail. Documents, IDs, handlers. It’s all ready.”Cassiel took a long drag from the cigar and exhaled. “He’s staying here.”Enzo blinked. “Why?”“Because I want him close. I trust no one. Not even you,” Cassiel replied without looking up.“You think I’d mess with Bash’s transport?” Enzo raised a brow.“I think you’d do what’s necessary if the time ever came.” Cassiel set the cigar down and reached for the iPad resting beside him. “That’s why you’re valuable. That’s also why you’re dangerous.”Enzo gave a small
Third POVBack at the estate, Cassiel was in his study again, shirt half-unbuttoned, eyes on the monitors. He didn’t even look up when Enzo returned.“Gregor took it,” Enzo said.“Of course he did.”“Think Marco will fall for it?”Cassiel chuckled. “He’s already falling. This just gives him permission.”Enzo leaned on the edge of the desk. “And if he doesn’t bite?”Cassiel turned his gaze to the screen showing Bash’s hidden chamber. The figure on the screen sat still, unmoving.“Then we kill him anyway.”The next day, Marco was pacing in one of the surveillance offices, the flash drive burning in his palm. He’d stolen it from Gregor’s coat when the fool left it unattended. Or so Marco believed.He plugged it into the secure laptop, scanned through the contents, and his eyes widened.Manifest. Flight route. Photos of what looked like Bash, sedated and cuffed, being prepared for movement.“This can’t be real…” he muttered.But i
Third POV“Then you should’ve trusted me,” Julian said. “I would’ve played along. I would’ve helped.”“I couldn’t risk it. You wear your heart too open.”Julian scoffed. “That’s rich coming from the man who kills with a smile.”Cassiel turned sharply. “Don’t push it.”Julian folded his arms. “Then tell me where Bash is. I want to see him.”“No.”“What?”“It’s not safe.”Julian’s brows knitted. “Not safe? From who?”“We’re being watched. Closely. There are spies inside this estate. Possibly even staff. If anyone finds out Bash is alive—”“I won’t tell anyone!”Cassiel stepped forward, lowering his voice. “It’s not about you telling. It’s about someone seeing. One slip, one wrong door opened, one misplaced word—and he dies for real this time.”Julian’s lips quivered. “So what am I supposed to do? Pretend like none of this happened? Smile? Sleep beside you like nothing’s wrong?”“Yes,” Cassiel said without flinching. “Exactly
Third POV“Then you should’ve trusted me,” Julian said. “I would’ve played along. I would’ve helped.”“I couldn’t risk it. You wear your heart too open.”Julian scoffed. “That’s rich coming from the man who kills with a smile.”Cassiel turned sharply. “Don’t push it.”Julian folded his arms. “Then tell me where Bash is. I want to see him.”“No.”“What?”“It’s not safe.”Julian’s brows knitted. “Not safe? From who?”“We’re being watched. Closely. There are spies inside this estate. Possibly even staff. If anyone finds out Bash is alive—”“I won’t tell anyone!”Cassiel stepped forward, lowering his voice. “It’s not about you telling. It’s about someone seeing. One slip, one wrong door opened, one misplaced word—and he dies for real this time.”Julian’s lips quivered. “So what am I supposed to do? Pretend like none of this happened? Smile? Sleep beside you like nothing’s wrong?”“Yes,” Cassiel said without flinching. “Exactly
Third POVBack at the estate, Cassiel was in his study again, shirt half-unbuttoned, eyes on the monitors. He didn’t even look up when Enzo returned.“Gregor took it,” Enzo said.“Of course he did.”“Think Marco will fall for it?”Cassiel chuckled. “He’s already falling. This just gives him permission.”Enzo leaned on the edge of the desk. “And if he doesn’t bite?”Cassiel turned his gaze to the screen showing Bash’s hidden chamber. The figure on the screen sat still, unmoving.“Then we kill him anyway.”The next day, Marco was pacing in one of the surveillance offices, the flash drive burning in his palm. He’d stolen it from Gregor’s coat when the fool left it unattended. Or so Marco believed.He plugged it into the secure laptop, scanned through the contents, and his eyes widened.Manifest. Flight route. Photos of what looked like Bash, sedated and cuffed, being prepared for movement.“This can’t be real…” he muttered.But i
Third POVSmoke curled into the air, dancing lazily toward the ceiling of the dimly lit study. Cassiel leaned back in his leather armchair, legs crossed, a half-burnt cigar resting between his fingers. Enzo stood across from him, hands clasped behind his back, eyes fixed on the large monitor on the wall.“I still don’t understand why we’re not moving Bash out of the state,” Enzo said, breaking the silence. “We’ve already created an airtight trail. Documents, IDs, handlers. It’s all ready.”Cassiel took a long drag from the cigar and exhaled. “He’s staying here.”Enzo blinked. “Why?”“Because I want him close. I trust no one. Not even you,” Cassiel replied without looking up.“You think I’d mess with Bash’s transport?” Enzo raised a brow.“I think you’d do what’s necessary if the time ever came.” Cassiel set the cigar down and reached for the iPad resting beside him. “That’s why you’re valuable. That’s also why you’re dangerous.”Enzo gave a small
Third POVFour cloaked men sat around the round stone table, the flicker of candlelight casting distorted shadows on the walls of the underground chamber. The air was thick with dampness and secrecy. None of them spoke for a while, only the rustling of their cloaks and the occasional creak of an old chair filled the silence.The man seated at the far end leaned forward. “He’s gone too far this time.”A second man turned his head. “You mean Cassiel?”He nodded. “Burning the boy alive in front of his own brother? That was reckless. Emotional. Not like him.”“He dug his own grave,” the third one murmured. “Cassiel’s slipping. He’s letting sentiment drive him now. That’s dangerous.”The fourth one chuckled slowly. “Sentiment? He was proving a point. That’s what he does best.”“No,” the first man cut in sharply. “That wasn’t Bash. It was Arnold.”A stunned silence settled like a bomb had just gone off.“You’re sure?” the second man asked slowly.
Third POVJulian’s head throbbed. His vision blurred, not from any injury, but from how tightly the panic coiled his chest. His arms were shaking, lips trembling, and no amount of wiping could stop the tears. They just kept falling—fast, hot, and helpless.He barely registered the harsh tug on his arm until he stumbled, dragged by Enzo toward the sleek black car waiting just outside the warehouse. His legs moved, but his mind didn’t. He was just… floating in a nightmare.Cassiel sat in the back seat. Hands clasped, expression cold, jaw locked. Not even a blink as Julian was shoved into the seat beside him like a broken toy.The door shut.Julian didn’t look at him. Couldn’t. He stared ahead. Still seeing Bash. Still hearing him scream. Still smelling burnt flesh.Cassiel leaned forward slightly. “Drive.”Enzo didn’t say a word. He obeyed immediately, tires screeching as they pulled onto the road.The silence in the car was brutal. Suffocating. Ju
Third POVWhat could Cassiel be up to? Why hadn’t he said anything? Was there something more going on — something Julian wasn’t being told?The questions circled in his mind, and he found himself at the base of the grand staircase without remembering how he’d gotten there. He paused, staring up at the darkened hallways above, wondering what he might find if he went looking.He’d always been good at reading people, at picking up on the smallest details. But Cassiel… Cassiel had always been an enigma, a puzzle he couldn’t quite figure out. And that frustration, the constant tug of curiosity, made it difficult to let go. To accept that some things weren’t meant to be understood.He closed his eyes for a brief moment, willing the thoughts to quiet down. But they didn’t. They only grew louder, more insistent.Something was happening. And Julian wasn’t sure if he was ready to find out what.As the morning stretched on, Julian found him
Third POVThe bed beside him was empty.He had known it would be. He'd woken up earlier than usual, his internal clock already attuned to the routine that had settled between them. It was a routine that kept the silence from becoming too uncomfortable, the distance from becoming too obvious. Cassiel had always been an early riser, his movements graceful yet purposeful as he left the bed. Julian, on the other hand, had become accustomed to lying still until the weight of reality pulled him fully awake.Rolling over onto his side, Julian stared at the empty space where Cassiel had been moments ago. The absence was familiar, like the echo of a song long forgotten. It wasn’t that Julian expected anything different, but some mornings, the emptiness felt more pronounced. He ran a hand over his face, rubbing the sleep from his eyes before swinging his legs over the side of the bed.He stretched his arms above his head, the muscles in his back a
Third POVJulian lay on his side, watching the shadows dance across the ceiling. Cassiel’s breathing beside him was slow, steady, the rise and fall of his chest almost hypnotic. He looked peaceful in sleep — something that seemed ironic considering the kind of man he truly was.Julian exhaled quietly and glanced at the clock.3:17 AM.He waited a few more minutes, letting time stretch as he lay perfectly still. Then, slowly, he turned to Cassiel. He reached a hand over his sleeping form and waved it softly in front of his face. No reaction. Cassiel’s breathing didn’t hitch. His eyes didn’t flutter.Julian allowed himself a tiny sigh of relief. Slipping the duvet aside, he planted one foot silently on the floor, then the other. His bare feet padded soundlessly on the cold hardwood. He tiptoed toward the door, his hand closing around the brass handle —"Going off to sniff through my computer again?" came the low, unmistakable voice
Third POVCassiel turned, meeting his gaze. "You tell me."Julian stepped forward, voice low. "I went into your study because I needed to see if what I suspected was true.""And?""You tell too many lies with too calm a face."Cassiel slipped his shirt on. "Then stop trusting me."Julian flinched. "Maybe I already have."The silence that followed was sharper than any argument. Cassiel finished dressing, adjusted his collar, and walked toward the door."Where are you going now?" Julian asked.Cassiel paused, looking over his shoulder. "To finish what you just made harder."And then he was gone.Julian sank onto the bed, the quiet roaring in his ears.He had poked the sleeping typhoon.And now the storm was coming.It was well past midnight when the screech of iron gates raked through the silence of the estate. Julian, stretched out on the leather couch in the sitting room, didn’t move. He’d been there for hours, unmoving, e