[Central Fortis, 1.45 PM]

Blake sat in his office, reviewing the files of recent investment offers his company had received.

There were not many but considering the new ventures he has been exploring it was natural for the old investors to hesitate.

Thankfully, he hadn’t remained bedridden for long, sparing the directors and investors from second-guessing their decisions.

Astortia’s family has already been walking on a dangerous wedge, a single mistake or his absence would cost them dearly. Maybe, to the point of no return this time.

Even so, despite handling matters crucial to the company, his thoughts kept drifting elsewhere, circling back to what he would do in a month.

He had promised his brother that within that time, he would carve out a position strong enough to openly stand against the government.

Once Kyle reveals his secret to the world, he needs to stand beside him and let the central authority know that the Astortia clan is very firm when it comes to Kyle.

Yes, the Astortia clan was barely holding together, and Blake had yet to be named the official Patriarch.

He couldn’t address the clan’s fragile state immediately, but he could overthrow his father and claim the throne.

For that, he needed the old man to make a single mistake. One opening was all it would take for Blake to seize the position Astortia Mathew had long monopolized.

’I need to bring the old ones to my side.’ There were a few elder ministers who once wielded immense influence within the clan, and even now, they held an unknown depth of assets and authority beneath the surface.

Mathew had all but disregarded their presence, choosing instead to prioritize his ties with the government. This change was brought about thirty years ago, around the time when Mathew was in his prime.

Blake wouldn’t call that decision irrational, but he knew he would need every ounce of support he could gather to take full control of the clan.

Yes, there was a long, carefully laid plan for how he would elevate their status. After all, he couldn’t live with the constant threat of another lower tier clan of overtaking them.

But for now, his focus was elsewhere. Right now, his priority was finding a way to support Kyle.

Bzz

His phone vibrated. Blake glanced at the screen and smirked. "Talk about the devil." He picked up the call, expecting gratitude for the house. Instead—

{Blake, it’s fucked up. Ava seems to have wired this new house too.}

"!!!" His eyes widened as he shot to his feet. "What are you saying? That’s impossible."

{I checked the house. Not just cameras, there were Genesis sensors planted as well....and since I used a spell...}

Shit! How... can that be? His mind blanked for a moment.

Ava discovering the new house should have been nearly impossible unless she had forced information out of his secretary or the head of finance. But both were fiercely loyal to him. Then how—

No. Forget that.

"Where are you right now? Are you with someone?"

{Yeah. Amanda’s with me. We’ve left the building and we’re in the parking lot, inside the car.}

Blake nodded, already moving toward the door. "Tell Amanda to drop you in an alley where no camera can catch you, then head straight to the warehouse. Kyle, if Ava gets her hands on you now, things will spiral. You understand me?"

{I understand. I’m heading there.}

The call disconnected.

Blake stared at his phone, a curse slipping under his breath. How had she reached that place too? And the security system...

’Did I underestimate you, Ava Klaus?’

.....

"What? But Kyle, I want to be with you." Amanda protested as soon as she heard the plan.

Kyle shook his head. "No, Amanda. I can’t risk you being there. For you, the safest option is your father. He can protect you from being taken into custody."

Amanda had been seen with Kyle at the house, which already made her an accomplice to a rogue Nightwalker. Under these circumstances, Ava could detain her. But not if the Maylith Patriarch stood in her way.

"Then you come with me too."

Kyle shook his head again. "You don’t understand, Amanda. It’s not that simple. You expect me to explain everything to your father and have him stand against the government for me?"

"I’m the one they’re after. Do you understand that? If it comes to it, Ava might even go against a top-ranked clan just to get me."

The central government had given her full authority to arrest him by any means necessary. Veronica had already informed him of that. And if it meant clashing with the Maylith clan, Ava wouldn’t hesitate. What Amanda suggested simply wasn’t an option.

Still driving, Kyle reached over and held her hand. "Amanda, trust me. I’ll be safe. That place is secure and completely isolated. Unless someone already knows where it is, it’s impossible to find."

Amanda pressed her lips together, her eyes trembling faintly. "I have a bad feeling about this, Kyle."

Kyle glanced at her briefly, a small smile forming on his lips. "Don’t make that face, Amanda. I promise I’ll be safe. And if anything happens, Blake will get me out somehow. He always does."

He sounded certain, steady as ever, but her heart refused to settle.

Before she could argue further, Kyle slowed the car and brought it to a stop beneath a tree. Turning toward her, he leaned in, pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, and whispered, "I’ll call you once I get there."

Then he stepped out.

He didn’t look back.

In the next moment, he was already moving, disappearing into the alley at a sprint.

The warehouse was still about two kilometers away, which meant he had no time to waste.

There was a strong chance Ava hadn’t gone far after planting those cameras. She could already be tracking them.

He had driven faster than usual, but would that be enough to shake someone like her? Unlikely.

That was why he needed speed. Pure speed. He had to reach the warehouse before she closed the distance.

He took multiple detours along the way, assuming she might already be on his trail.

Yet every time he scanned his surroundings with God’s Eye, the system reported the same thing.

No one was following him.

It left him both confused and relieved.

Maybe... he had overestimated her.

It took him half an hour to finally reach his destination, despite moving far faster than he ever could before.

Breathing heavily, he steadied himself. First, he needed to get inside the warehouse. Only then would he call Amanda, Blake, and Veronica.

Veronica especially.

He had to inform her about this. She might be able to figure out where Ava was and what she was planning.

Kyle reached for the lock, flipping it open. Just as he was about to enter the password—

A hand rested on his shoulder.

He froze.

His entire body locked up as a soft whisper brushed against his ear.

"Eager to sneak into your hole?"

The corner of his eyes caught a crimson shade.

Ava.

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading. If you have reading the story so far, drop a review.