Morning sunlight filtered through the slightly parted curtains, casting a warm golden glow across the hotel room. The soft hum of the city outside barely reached inside, muffled by thick glass and expensive walls. Liam slowly opened his eyes, blinking away the last traces of sleep as he stared up at the ceiling for a few seconds.

Then he looked down.

Kelly was still wrapped up in his arms.

Her head rested comfortably against his chest while one arm was draped lazily around his waist as if even in sleep she had no intention of letting him escape. Her dark hair was slightly messy from sleep, spreading across the pillow and brushing against his skin every time she breathed. The peaceful expression on her face made the corners of Liam’s lips lift into a small smile.

After the passionate night they had shared, they had eventually ended up showering together before finally collapsing into bed from pure exhaustion.

Kelly especially had been completely spent.

Even now she remained fast asleep, breathing softly against him without the slightest intention of waking up anytime soon.

Liam gently brushed a few strands of hair away from her face before leaning down and pressing a soft kiss against her forehead.

"Sleep some more," he murmured quietly.

Kelly shifted slightly at the sound of his voice, pressing closer unconsciously, but never opened her eyes.

Liam carefully untangled himself from her embrace and slowly got off the bed, making sure not to wake her.

He stretched his arms above his head.

Crack.

His joints popped pleasantly.

His gaze drifted toward Kelly again.

Even asleep, there was something calming about seeing her there. Just a woman enjoying peaceful sleep after spending the night with the man she loved.

He smiled to himself.

One month.

That was all.

Thirty days before everything changed.

Thirty days before another world.

Thirty days before facing a danger so great that even Mary, a woman who rarely showed fear, had warned them to say their goodbyes.

Liam glanced toward Kelly again.

He had every intention of making those thirty days count.

Pushing those thoughts aside for now, he picked up his clothes scattered around the room and dressed quickly. Within minutes he looked like his usual self again.

Well.

Almost.

His hair was slightly messy.

His expression looked too refreshed.

And there was an unmistakable relaxed satisfaction lingering around him.

After one final glance toward the sleeping Kelly, Liam quietly opened the room door and stepped outside into the hotel hallway.

The hallway was silent.

Soft carpet absorbed every sound while elegant lights illuminated the expensive corridor.

Liam had barely taken three steps before he froze.

"...Huh?"

Standing several meters away was Dickson.

Their eyes met.

For a brief second, neither moved.

Dickson’s jaw dropped open.

Liam blinked.

Then his eyes slowly traveled downward.

Crutches.

Neck brace.

One arm heavily bandaged.

Several bruises decorating whatever skin remained visible.

He looked less like Liam’s best friend and more like someone who had survived being used as a football.

Liam stared.

Dickson stared.

Then...

"Oh shit!"

Dickson immediately spun around.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!"

The panic in his voice echoed through the hallway.

Without another word, he started trying to escape.

If one could even call it escaping.

His crutches clicked awkwardly against the floor while he awkwardly hopped forward with all the speed of a wounded turtle.

Liam’s mouth twitched violently.

Then he burst out laughing.

"Dickson!"

"Oh hell no!"

"Dickson!"

"Stay the fuck away from me!"

Liam immediately ran after him.

The chase lasted approximately three seconds.

Because honestly...

How fast could a crippled man run?

Within moments Liam caught up and casually stepped in front of him.

Dickson froze.

Liam slowly looked him up and down.

Then circled around him once.

Then twice.

By the third lap around his injured friend, Liam wasn’t even trying to hide his amusement anymore.

The satisfying smile on his face was absolutely infuriating.

Dickson’s eye twitched.

"What the fuck are you laughing at?" he snapped. "You goat fucker."

Liam chuckled.

"What happened to you?"

Dickson immediately rolled his eyes.

"Got hit by a car."

Liam’s eyes widened dramatically.

"You bastard."

He pointed accusingly.

"What would it cost you to tell the truth? Lilith did this to you, didn’t she?"

The moment Lilith’s name left Liam’s mouth, Dickson’s eyebrows jumped.

Just slightly.

But Liam saw it.

And that tiny reaction told him everything.

A grin spread across Liam’s face.

"Wooooow."

"Lilith?" Dickson scoffed loudly. "Who the fuck is that?"

He adjusted his crutches awkwardly before glaring at Liam.

"I can’t take you seriously."

Liam folded his arms.

He slowly walked around Dickson again.

His smile only widened.

"She really did a number on you."

"DIDN’T YOU HEAR ME THE FIRST TIME, MOTHERFUCKER?"

Dickson nearly exploded.

"Lilith had nothing to do with this!"

He puffed out his chest as much as his neck brace allowed.

"Damn! Do you know how strong I am? You really think Lilith could mess me up like this?"

Liam looked at him.

Then at the crutches.

Then at the neck brace.

Then at the bandaged arm.

Then back at Dickson.

"...You want me to believe you’re strong and at the same time believe a car did this to you?"

Dickson opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Coughed awkwardly.

Then looked away.

"Listen, motherfucker..."

He shifted uncomfortably.

"It wasn’t a car, alright?"

Liam’s grin became terrifying.

"Oh?"

Dickson scratched his cheek.

"It was a truck."

Liam blinked.

"A truck?"

Dickson immediately nodded.

"Yeah."

"The kind that can level a whole building in seconds."

Silence filled the hallway.

Liam stared at him.

Dickson stared back with complete seriousness.

Then Liam slowly raised one eyebrow.

"...So Lilith drove a truck into you?"

"FUCK OFF!"

"Listen, it was a big truck, okay!" Dickson snapped, looking increasingly irritated. "Not Lilith. For fuck’s sake, stop saying the name Lilith."

He tightened his grip on the crutches and puffed out his chest as much as his injured body would allow.

"And if Lilith did this to me..." he said with a scoff, forcing confidence into his voice. "Then be sure that I did to her times ten."

"Oh wow."

Dickson’s entire body froze.

The color drained from his face so quickly that Liam almost laughed.

Because it hadn’t been Liam who spoke.

That voice...

That cold, silky voice that somehow managed to sound beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

Dickson knew it instantly.

His fingers tightened around the crutches.

His neck slowly stiffened.

He didn’t even have the courage to turn around.

The hallway suddenly felt colder.

"Did I hear you say..." Lilith’s voice floated through the air behind him, dangerously calm. "That you want to beat me up?"

Dickson stopped breathing.

He genuinely stopped breathing.

His eyes slowly shifted toward Liam.

The expression on his face screamed one thing.

I’m fucked, ain’t I?

Liam looked back at him.

Then his gaze dropped to the neck brace.

The crutches.

The bandaged arm.

Then back to Dickson’s horrified face.

His expression practically replied.

My friend...

You are fucked.

Dickson closed his eyes.

After a few seconds, he slowly lifted his head toward the ceiling.

He accepted his fate.

"...Tell my future children I died bravely," he muttered.

"Future children?" Lilith repeated.

Her boot clicked softly against the floor as she approached.

"Interesting."

Dickson wanted to cry.

The sound of those steps had become his personal nightmare.

Liam finally looked past Dickson.

Lilith stood there in all her elegance.

Her golden-blonde hair framed her breathtaking face perfectly, feline-like eyes fixed solely on her unfortunate cousin. She wore a fitted black outfit that hugged her figure effortlessly, looking every bit as beautiful as she was dangerous.

And judging by the murderous smile slowly appearing on her lips...

Dickson’s funeral was about to commence.

Lilith rolled up one sleeve.

"You know," she said thoughtfully, "I was wondering if I was too harsh last time."

Dickson nearly collapsed.

"Turns out..." Lilith continued sweetly, "I wasn’t harsh enough."

Before she could take another step...

Liam moved.

He slipped between them instantly.

One arm wrapped around Lilith’s waist, pulling her back against him before she could launch herself at her cousin.

Lilith blinked.

Dickson blinked.

Liam tightened his hold.

He could literally feel the urge radiating off her.

The desire to beat Dickson unconscious again.

"Liam," Lilith said calmly.

Too calmly.

"Let me go."

"Nope."

"Liam."

"Nope."

"Liam..."

Her smile widened dangerously.

"Move."

Liam held her tighter.

"Where were you last night?" he asked casually.

Lilith immediately tried to free herself.

"Where else would I be?" she replied while struggling against his grip. "In my room, of course."

She glared at Dickson over Liam’s shoulder.

"Now let me go, baby."

Her voice softened toward the end.

"I need to teach my cousin another lesson. It seems the last one didn’t quite enter his head."

Dickson looked ready to pass out.

Liam lowered his head slightly.

Lilith was still trying to escape his grasp.

Then suddenly...

He kissed her.

Lilith froze.

Completely.

The hand she’d been using to pry his arm away slowly dropped.