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I crept through the shadows of the opulent mansion, my steps light and silent thanks to the stealth spells woven into my sleek black catsuit.

The glittering throng of oblivious partygoers made a convenient distraction as I made my way toward the vault where I knew Rossi kept his most prized magical relics—including the Amethyst Grimoire I planned to liberate tonight.

“You’re looking good, Kae,” Ryn’s voice crackled over my earpiece.

“Two more turns and you should reach the vault entrance. I’m looping the security feed ... now.”

My lips curved into a smile.

Ryn’s high-tech wizardry never failed.

I slinked down the marble hallway, my keen panther senses on high alert.

Notable mages from every discipline were in attendance tonight—necromancers, shadow mages, and others whose power I didn’t care to tangle with.

But they were all too busy schmoozing and politicking to notice little old me.

“Rossi really needs to update his security,” I murmured into my comm as I approached the heavy vault door, etched with glowing runes.

“This is almost too easy.”

“Don’t get cocky,” Ryn warned.

“I’m reading some funky energy signatures in there. Could be wards.”

I smirked.

Wards were child’s play for a thief of my caliber.

Reaching into my belt, I pulled out a matte black disc—one of Ryn’s more ingenious inventions.

I placed it over the rune-lock and it whirred to life, glowing lines racing across its surface as it overrode the magical encryption.

With a nearly inaudible click, the vault door swung open.

I grinned and palmed the disc.

“I’m in. Now to grab that grimoire and get the hell out of here.”

“Be careful, Kae,” Ryn said, their voice unusually serious.

“Something doesn’t feel right. Watch your tail.”

I paused, my panther instincts prickling.

Ryn was rarely wrong about these things.

But I was already inside.

No turning back now.

I prowled into the vault, my senses reaching out for traps, both magical and mundane.

There, sitting on an ornate pedestal in the center of the room, was the Amethyst Grimoire.

The ancient leather binding seemed to drink in the light, the gems set into the cover glinting with arcane power.

I felt a thrill rush through me.

After tonight, Rossi would have one less ill-gotten treasure in his collection.

And I’d be one step closer to my goal.

Freedom.

And with this treasure away from the nouveau-magique, a balancing of the scales.

I reached for the book, my breath tight with anticipation.

Just a little bit further .

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My fingers brushed the soft leather cover—and an uncanny silence descended, as if the very air had been sucked from the room.

I froze.

Something was wrong.

A familiar, honeyed voice sliced through the shadows.

“Hello, Kaelen. It’s been a while.”

Ice shot down my spine.

I knew that voice, knew it in my bones.

My soul would never forget it.

Slowly, I turned to face the figure emerging from the darkness, a glimmer of silver dancing around her fingers.

Arisya Dain.

Witch-mage of the Nightshade Order.

Sworn Blade to the High Priestess herself.

And once, not so long ago, my lover.

She looked just as I remembered, sleek and deadly in her black leathers, raven hair pulled back in a severe braid.

Her spell-soaked eyes met mine, a bright lilac color in the exact shade of my favorite flower, creating a startling contrast to her golden skin.

A thousand memories crashed through me—tangled sheets and breathless laughter, the electric thrill of her touch, the shattering pain of her absence.

“Ari,” I managed, my voice rough.

“What are you doing here?”

Her lips curved in a smile that held no warmth.

“I could ask you the same question, love. But I think we both know the answer, don’t we?”

She nodded at the grimoire, still sitting on its pedestal.

Unease churned in my gut as the pieces fell into place.

The lax security, the artifact here instead of in Rossi’s main vault .

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“It was a trap,” I said flatly.

“You set me up.”

Arisya laughed, low and mocking.

“Oh, Kaelen. So quick, yet so slow.” She took a step closer, magic crackling at her fingertips.

“Did you really think it would be that easy? That I would let you just waltz in and take what you wanted, like always?”

Her words were blades, each one seeking the chinks in my armor.

I bared my teeth, anger rising to mask the ache in my chest.

“What happened to you, Ari? When did you become Rossi’s lapdog?”

Something flashed in her eyes, gone too quick to read.

“We all do what we must to survive.” Her voice hardened.

“Now, step away from the grimoire. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”

I shifted my stance, readying for a fight.

Like hell I was going to roll over and surrender.

Not to Rossi.

Not to the Nightshade Order.

And not to her.

Not anymore.

“Kae, listen to me,” Ryn said urgently in my ear.

“You need to get out of there, now. I’m picking up major power fluctuations in the wards. This whole thing stinks of a setup.”

I knew they were right.

But the grimoire was right there.

And backing down now, with Arisya watching me, her judgment a tangible weight …

It rankled, scraped against the tattered remnants of my pride.

I had to try.

Even if it meant facing the full might of Arisya’s power—and the aching chasm of our shared past.

Slowly, deliberately, I reached for the grimoire once more.

Arisya’s eyes narrowed.

“Last chance, Kae. Walk away.”

I met her gaze, defiant.

“Make me.”

Her answering smile was a blade in the dark.

“Darling,” she purred, gathering her magic to her in a shimmering aura, “I thought you’d never ask.”