LThe elevator moved down slowly.
Brevis Draven stood inside alone, hands resting casually in his coat pockets.
But his mind was far from calm.
Adrian Kross.
A man confident enough to walk straight into Nocturne and demand Luna.
Brevis had met many dangerous men in his life.
Crime bosses.
Assassins.
War criminals.
But something about Adrian was different.
Cold.
Controlled.
The kind of man who didn't need to raise his voice to be dangerous.
The elevator doors opened.
Brevis stepped into the lobby of the building.
His guards immediately straightened.
"Sir."
Brevis nodded slightly.
"Where is he?"
One of them pointed toward the glass entrance.
"Outside."
Brevis walked toward the doors.
Through the glass, he could already see him.
Adrian Kross stood on the sidewalk, perfectly calm, as if he had all the time in the world.
A black car waited behind him.
Two men stood nearby, clearly his bodyguards.
But Adrian himself looked relaxed.
Like a man waiting for an appointment.
Brevis pushed the doors open and stepped outside.
Cool evening air greeted him.
The city buzzed quietly around them.
Traffic passed.
People walked by.
But the space between the two men felt like the center of a storm.
Adrian smiled faintly.
"I was wondering how long you'd make me wait."
Brevis stopped a few steps away.
"You're lucky I came at all."
Adrian glanced up at the building.
"So she's here."
Brevis didn't respond.
Adrian chuckled quietly.
"I'll take that as confirmation."
Brevis crossed his arms.
"You're very confident for someone standing in my territory."
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"And you're very calm for someone protecting something that belongs to me."
Brevis smiled slowly.
"Luna doesn't belong to you."
Adrian's expression didn't change.
"She used to."
Brevis stepped closer.
"Well… she doesn't anymore."
A brief silence stretched between them.
The kind of silence filled with quiet hostility.
Adrian finally spoke again.
"Bring her down."
Brevis shook his head.
"No."
Adrian sighed.
"You're making this more complicated than it needs to be."
Brevis chuckled.
"That's funny."
"Why?"
"Because you're the one who walked into my city demanding things."
Adrian's eyes sharpened slightly.
"You think this city protects her?"
Brevis leaned slightly closer.
"Yes."
Adrian smiled faintly.
"That's optimistic."
Brevis didn't move.
"And what are you planning to do if I refuse?"
Adrian looked completely relaxed.
"Eventually… you'll get tired."
Brevis laughed softly.
"That's not going to happen."
Adrian studied him for a moment.
"You like her."
Brevis didn't deny it.
Adrian noticed.
"That's unfortunate."
"Why?"
"Because Luna destroys people who get close."
Brevis shrugged.
"That's her problem."
Adrian's smile faded slightly.
"You really don't understand."
Brevis's voice dropped lower.
"And you really don't scare me."
For the first time…
Adrian's calm expression cracked slightly.
Not anger.
Interest.
"You're different from what I expected."
Brevis smirked.
"I hear that a lot."
Adrian took a few steps forward.
Now they stood face to face.
Only inches apart.
"You think this is a game," Adrian said quietly.
Brevis replied calmly.
"No."
"Then you know what happens next."
"Yes."
"And?"
Brevis smiled slowly.
"You're leaving."
Adrian laughed.
"You're very bold."
Brevis didn't react.
"And you're very persistent."
Adrian looked toward the building again.
"You know she's listening."
Brevis frowned slightly.
"What?"
Adrian glanced upward.
"Luna."
High above them—
In the penthouse window—
Luna Vale stood watching.
She couldn't hear every word.
But she could see everything.
Brevis noticed the window too.
Adrian's smile returned.
"You see?"
Brevis didn't respond.
Adrian looked back at him.
"She always watches."
Brevis spoke quietly.
"You're not taking her."
Adrian's voice became colder.
"That's not your decision."
Brevis stepped even closer.
"Yes, it is."
The tension between them exploded.
Adrian suddenly grabbed Brevis's collar.
Brevis reacted instantly.
His fist slammed into Adrian's jaw.
The two men crashed into each other with brutal force.
Adrian recovered quickly and threw a punch back.
Brevis blocked it and shoved him backward.
The guards from both sides moved immediately—
But both men raised their hands.
"Stop," Brevis ordered.
"Stand down," Adrian said.
The guards froze.
Brevis wiped a small line of blood from his lip.
Adrian touched his jaw.
Then he laughed.
"Well."
Brevis smirked.
"You started it."
Adrian nodded slightly.
"That was refreshing."
Brevis adjusted his coat.
"Next time I won't hold back."
Adrian smiled.
"Good."
They stared at each other again.
But now something had changed.
Respect.
Dangerous respect.
Adrian spoke quietly.
"You know she'll leave eventually."
Brevis shook his head.
"No."
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
Adrian looked toward the penthouse window one last time.
Then he turned back to Brevis.
"Tell Luna something."
Brevis crossed his arms.
"What?"
Adrian's voice softened slightly.
"She can run from me…"
He paused.
"But she can't run from what she did."
Brevis didn't answer.
Adrian walked toward his car.
But before getting inside, he looked back one last time.
"You should also remember something, Brevis."
Brevis waited.
Adrian's eyes darkened slightly.
"This isn't your war."
Brevis smiled slowly.
"It is now."
Adrian nodded once.
Then he entered the car.
The vehicle drove away into the city traffic.
Brevis stood there for a moment, watching it disappear.
Then he looked up.
Luna still stood at the penthouse window.
And even from thirty floors below…
He could see the worry in her eyes.
Because she knew something Brevis didn't.
Adrian Kross had never lost a hunt in his life.
And now…
He was hunting again.
This time—
For her.