For the first time in five years.

~My mouth wants to do naughty things to you.~

Arcane's POV:

The glow of my phone illuminated the dim room, casting an eerie shadow against the walls. The headlines screamed from the screen, a harsh juxtaposition to the silence that now enveloped me.

"Xavier Jones: From Ice to Fists." The words seemed to taunt me, each letter a reminder of the chaos that had unfolded. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic rhythm matching the whirlwind of thoughts in my head.

When I saw the image of Xavier, his face contorted in anger, it was like a punch to the gut. This wasn't the man I knew. The Xavier I remembered was composed, controlled, a master of his emotions. This was a stranger, a fractured reflection of the person I held in my heart.

And then, I saw the face of the other person involved – Ethan. The name alone sent shivers down my spine. It was a name I hadn't spoken or thought of in years, a name buried beneath layers of time and distance.

My grip tightened on the phone, knuckles tur