Kane wasn't supposed to be back.
Everyone knew that.
The guards at the palace gates looked at him like he had lost his mind.
"You've already been warned," one of them said, blocking his path. "You can't just walk in here again."
Kane didn't move.
"I'm not here to walk in," he replied calmly. "I'm here to stay."
The guards exchanged looks.
"That's not your choice."
Kane's jaw tightened.
"It is," he said. "Because I'm not leaving my sister here alone."
There was something different about him this time.
Earlier, he had come as a desperate brother.
Now—
He looked like someone who had already made a decision.
"And what exactly do you think you'll do inside?" the guard asked. "This is the royal palace."
Kane took a step forward.
"I'll do whatever I have to."
Before the situation could escalate—
A voice cut in.
"Let him in."
The guards immediately stepped aside.
Kane turned.
Scott.
Leaning casually against one of the stone pillars like he had been watching the whole thing.
Which he probably had.
"You again," Kane said.
Scott pushed himself off the pillar, walking closer.
"Me again."
Kane studied him carefully.
"You're one of them."
Scott shrugged.
"Depends on what you mean by 'them.'"
"The people who think they own everyone else."
Scott's lips curved slightly.
"I don't think that."
Kane didn't look convinced.
Scott glanced at the guards.
"He's with me," he said simply.
That was enough.
The guards stepped back fully this time.
Kane frowned.
"You can just… do that?"
Scott started walking.
"Come on."
Kane hesitated for a second.
Then followed.
—
Inside the palace, Kane couldn't help but look around.
Everything felt… controlled.
Too clean.
Too quiet.
He didn't like it.
"Relax," Scott said without looking at him.
"I am relaxed."
"You're not."
Kane didn't respond.
Scott glanced at him briefly.
Then smirked.
"You're worried about her."
Kane's expression hardened.
"Of course I am."
Scott nodded once.
"Good."
That caught Kane off guard.
"Good?"
"Yeah," Scott said. "She needs someone like that."
Kane looked at him again.
Trying to figure him out.
"You don't seem like the others."
"I'm not."
"That's what they all say."
Scott chuckled softly.
"Fair."
They walked in silence for a moment.
Then Kane spoke again.
"Where is she?"
Scott's expression shifted slightly.
"With Devon."
Kane stopped walking.
"What?"
Scott turned to face him.
"She's under his control."
Kane's fists clenched.
"That's not happening."
Scott raised a brow.
"It already is."
Kane stepped forward.
"Take me to her."
Scott watched him for a second.
Then nodded.
"Alright."
—
Meanwhile—
Tania was still in the room Devon had taken her to.
She hadn't moved much since they got there.
Her mind was still trying to catch up with everything.
The power.
The way her body reacted.
The way Devon looked at her.
None of it made sense.
She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her hands.
"What am I…" she muttered.
The door opened.
She looked up immediately.
Devon.
Of course.
"You left," she said.
"You wandered."
"I needed space."
He stepped inside.
"You don't have that."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Then stop following me."
He ignored that.
Instead, he walked closer.
"Show me again."
Tania frowned.
"I told you I don't know how."
"Try."
"I'm not your experiment."
Devon stopped in front of her.
"You're something," he said. "We just don't know what yet."
That annoyed her.
"I'm a person," she snapped.
His gaze didn't change.
"We'll see."
Before she could respond—
Another knock.
Devon didn't turn.
"Enter."
The door opened.
Scott stepped in.
And behind him—
Kane.
Tania's eyes widened.
"Kane?!"
He didn't wait.
He crossed the room in seconds and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Are you okay?" he asked quickly.
"I'm fine," she said, though her voice softened a little.
"You don't look fine."
"I said I'm fine."
Kane pulled back slightly, looking at her properly.
His jaw tightened when he noticed the faint marks on her neck.
"Who did that?"
Silence.
Tania hesitated.
Then—
"Nothing," she said.
Kane didn't believe that for a second.
His gaze snapped to Devon.
"You."
Devon didn't react.
"She's under my authority."
Kane stepped forward immediately.
"No, she's not."
Scott sighed quietly.
"This is going to be messy…"
Tania grabbed Kane's arm.
"Stop," she said.
He looked at her.
"I'm not leaving you here."
"I didn't ask you to."
"I don't care."
Their eyes locked.
Same stubbornness.
Same fire.
Tania shook her head slightly.
"You shouldn't have come back."
"And leave you alone here?" Kane scoffed. "Not happening."
Something in her chest tightened.
Not in a bad way.
Just…
Real.
Devon watched the entire exchange.
Silent.
But his expression had changed again.
His gaze moved between them.
Too close.
Too familiar.
He didn't like it.
Not one bit.
"Enough," he said.
Both of them looked at him.
Kane stepped slightly in front of Tania.
Protective.
Instinctive.
"I'm not going anywhere," Kane said.
"You don't decide that."
"I do."
The tension in the room spiked again.
Scott leaned against the wall, watching quietly.
This was getting interesting.
Tania stepped forward before things could get worse.
"Stop it," she said.
Both of them looked at her this time.
"I'm not some prize you're fighting over," she added. "I can speak for myself."
Kane exhaled slowly.
"Then say it," he said. "Do you want to stay here?"
Tania opened her mouth—
Then paused.
Her eyes flickered briefly toward Devon.
Then back to Kane.
"I…"
She hesitated.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
Kane noticed.
Devon noticed.
Scott definitely noticed.
And that small pause—
Changed everything.
"I'm not leaving yet," Tania said finally.
Kane stared at her.
"What?"
"I said I'm not leaving."
"Why?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Because she didn't fully understand it herself.
The power.
The connection.
Devon.
Everything was pulling her in different directions.
"I just… can't," she said quietly.
Kane shook his head.
"That doesn't make sense."
"I know."
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Then Devon spoke.
"He stays."
Everyone turned to him.
Kane frowned.
"What?"
"He stays in the palace," Devon repeated.
Tania blinked.
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
Kane looked between them.
"You're letting me stay?"
"You wanted to stay," Devon said. "Now you are."
Scott pushed off the wall, smiling slightly.
"Well… this just got more interesting."
Tania let out a slow breath.
This wasn't what she expected.
Not at all.
But something told her—
This was only going to get more complicated.
Because now—
It wasn't just her trapped in the palace.
Kane was in it too.
And somehow…
That made everything more dangerous.