The morning came with a quiet that felt wrong. Even after last night, the mansion seemed to hold its breath, as if the walls themselves were waiting for something to happen. I moved cautiously through the halls, every step deliberate, every sound magnified in my ears. Dante appeared in the doorway of the main hall like he always did—calm, unshakable, a presence that made the air heavier. I stopped, suddenly aware of how exposed I felt in my simple clothes, hair loose, hands empty. He didn’t speak at first. He just watched me, his gaze assessing, protective, calculating. “You’re tense,” he said softly, but there was a steel under his voice I couldn’t ignore. “I…” I hesitated. “I’m fine.” He didn’t accept that answer. He stepped closer, and I felt the familiar pull in my chest that made my knees almost weak. “You’re not,” he said. “You’re frightened. And you have a reason to be.” I swallowed hard. I was frightened, yes. Afraid of enemies lurking outside, of shadows hiding knives,
Last Updated : 2026-04-25 Read more