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“No,” I said, walking past him. “But it is practical.”

I stepped into the elevator and turned to face him. “I expect it to be done by tomorrow. Full security clearance. Guard training. Comms. The works.”

Vale stared at me like he was watching a building catch fire and politely wondering whether insurance covered stupidity.

“He hasn’t agreed to this yet.”

“My mate needs to be protected,” I said. “He just volunteered for the job.”

“That is a generous interpretation of events.”

“That’s my favorite kind.”

Vale’s jaw flexed. “And if he refuses?”

I smiled beneath the mask.

“Then he’s smarter than he looks.”

The elevator doors began to close.

“Lux,” Vale said.

I paused.

“You cannot hire every man she trusts because you’re jealous.”

“No,” I said as the doors slid shut between us.

The elevator dropped.

My reflection stared back at me from the polished steel. Black mask. Black suit. Gift tucked under one arm. Kalon’s file inside my coat. A normal man might have paused at the image and reconsidered several recent life choices. Instead, I adjusted my cuffs.

The driver was already waiting when I reached the garage. Vale had clearly warned him. The man kept his eyes forward and his breathing shallow.

We made our way to the old North District, New Abaddon blurring past in rain-slick black and neon red. Kalon’s house sat behind iron gates, ancient trees, and enough inherited wealth to make restraint look decorative. The wards around the property were old, Deathdrinker magic layered cold and clean throughout the ironwork.

My shadows slipped beneath the gate first, tasting the magic. They pushed through, and I followed under the trees, the gift beneath my arm, letting the dark cover me from the house and the cameras and whatever expensive little security system Kalon trusted to keep monsters out.

Olivia looked down at the water glass she was holding.

Then toward the window.

Her gaze touched the trees.

Moved away.

Came back.

Her eyes kept finding the window. She kept asking the same question.

Would I?

Would I follow her out of the apartment? Out of my hidden corners? Out of the walls and into another man’s light?

I stepped out from beneath the trees and let the warm light catch the edge of my mask.

Just enough.