282The next morning, Lily stood before her bedroom mirror, a soft hum escaping her lips as she carefully applied a final coat of gloss to her lips. The faint smell of lavender lingered in the air from the candle she had lit, and the sun streamed through the half-drawn curtains, bathing her room in a golden glow. Her heart fluttered with anticipation, thinking about the day ahead.Her eyes darted to her phone on the dresser. She picked it up, frowning slightly when she saw no new notifications.“That’s odd,” she murmured, her fingers brushing the screen as she checked the time. It wasn’t like Allvar to stay silent for so long.She tapped the screen and called him. The line rang once, twice, then a third time before going to voicemail. Lily let out a frustrated sigh, setting the phone back on the dresser.“He’s probably busy,” she reasoned aloud, though her voice sounded less certain than she intended. “I’ll give him some time.”Walking to her closet, she rummaged through her collectio

284Allvar’s wrists burned where the coarse ropes dug into his skin, but he refused to show any sign of pain. The dim light from a single bulb overhead cast harsh shadows across the cold, damp warehouse. Tobias, sitting in a battered wooden chair a few feet away, exuded the smug confidence of a predator toying with its prey. His cup of coffee steamed lazily, the rich aroma almost mocking the stale, metallic tang of the room.Tobias swirled the dark liquid in his cup, his eyes locked on Allvar. “You know, it’s almost poetic,” he began, his tone light but laced with malice. “The mighty Allvar, reduced to this. Tied up, powerless, and completely at my mercy.”Allvar forced a smirk despite the throbbing ache in his ribs. “If this is your idea of poetry, Tobias, I’m not surprised your love life is non-existent. Must be hard to charm anyone with that face.”Tobias’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second before he masked it with a low chuckle. “Still got that sharp tongue, huh? Let’s see

286Allvar strained against the ropes, his wrists raw from the effort. The room had gone eerily quiet since Tobias left, but his mind was anything but. Every word Tobias had said replayed in his head, fueling the anger that churned in his chest. The image of Lily—bright, innocent, and utterly unaware of the danger—was etched into his mind. He couldn't afford to fail her.He twisted his wrists again, wincing as the frayed ropes bit deeper into his already blistered skin. The chair creaked beneath him, but the bindings held firm. The faint scent of damp wood and iron filled the air, mingling with the coppery tang of blood from his wrists. Allvar's breathing was labored, the heat of his frustration making his heart pound even faster. He needed a way out, and he needed it now.The door creaked open again, and Allvar’s head snapped up. His sharp gaze locked onto Tobias’s scarred henchman as he sauntered in, a smug look plastered across his face. The man held a phone to his ear, his tone ca

288Back in the warehouse, Allvar’s fury burned brighter with every passing second. He couldn’t let Tobias get away with this. He had to escape, no matter what it took.The ropes around his wrists were tight, but they weren’t unbreakable. Gritting his teeth, he began to twist and pull, ignoring the pain as the fibers bit into his skin. Blood trickled down his arms, but he didn’t stop. The sting of the ropes only fueled his determination.“Come on,” he muttered under his breath, his voice strained, a low growl escaping his lips. “Come on.”The coarse fibers dug deeper into his skin, leaving a raw burn in its wake. His hands were already bruised from earlier, but this pain felt like nothing compared to what Tobias had done. The way he had betrayed him—his old friend, someone who once fought beside him like a brother. Allvar's mind raced, the adrenaline surging as he focused on the task at hand. The knot was too tight, but Allvar wouldn’t stop until he had freedom in his grasp.“Just a l

290The men scrambled to comply, their fear propelling them into action. But Tobias wasn’t finished. His eyes locked onto one of them, the closest to him, as he advanced slowly, his footsteps deliberate and menacing.“You,” Tobias spat, his voice like ice. “You were supposed to keep him contained. What the hell happened?”The man’s breath hitched as he swallowed hard, eyes darting nervously. “I—I’m sorry, Tobias,” he stammered, taking a hesitant step back, his body tense, as though he were anticipating the strike. “We didn’t—”Before the man could finish, Tobias’s hand shot out, the blade flashing in the low light. He didn’t hesitate. The knife buried itself deep into the man’s neck with a sickening sound, blood spraying across the floor. A gurgling sound escaped the man’s throat as he collapsed to the ground, his hands twitching desperately in his final moments.The remaining men froze, their eyes wide in horror. The air in the room thickened, filled with the scent of blood and terro