Adrian's phone buzzed.
It wasn't loud, but in the middle of everything—broken walls, tension in the air, the aftermath of things that shouldn't exist—it felt out of place.
He stared at it for a second before pulling it out.
Unknown number.
Short message.
**"Come to this address. Now. —Dad."**
Below it was a location pin.
Adrian didn't say anything at first.
He just looked at the message again.
Then again.
"…Of course," he muttered.
Lirael stepped slightly closer. "What is it?"
Adrian turned the screen toward them. "My father."
That alone changed the atmosphere again.
Kael moved closer, glancing at the address. His expression tightened slightly.
"…That's not just a house," he said.
Adrian looked at him. "Yeah? What is it?"
Kael exhaled once. "That's one of the Cole family estates."
Adrian stared at him for a second.
"…You're serious."
"Yes."
Adrian let out a quiet breath and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
"Guess I'm going home," he said.
Selene's gaze lingered on him. "You're walking into something prepared."
"Yeah," Adrian replied. "I figured."
Niamh tilted her head slightly. "Do you trust them?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
"…I trust that they knew what they were doing," he said finally.
"That's not the same thing," she said softly.
"No," Adrian agreed. "It's not."
Lirael stepped forward. "We're going with you."
Adrian nodded once. "Yeah. That's happening whether I say yes or not."
Kael added, "I'm coming too."
Adrian glanced at him. "You're still just a friend in this situation, right?"
Kael gave him a flat look. "Don't make it weird."
"…Just checking."
—
The address wasn't far.
But the closer they got, the more the city changed.
Not physically at first.
Just… cleaner.
Quieter.
Less crowded.
Then the buildings shifted.
From normal apartments and shops—
To private roads.
Tall walls.
Gates.
Security that didn't look like normal security.
Adrian slowed slightly as they turned the final corner.
And then he saw it.
"…No way," he said under his breath.
The estate wasn't just big.
It was ridiculous.
A massive villa sat behind a high iron gate, surrounded by perfectly maintained grounds. The architecture wasn't flashy—but it carried that quiet kind of wealth that didn't need to prove anything.
It didn't look like something his family could own.
It looked like something his family would *own other things from*.
Adrian stopped walking.
"…This is a joke," he said.
"No," Kael replied. "It isn't."
Adrian stared at the place for a few more seconds.
Then exhaled.
"…Alright."
He walked up to the gate.
Two guards stood there.
Not normal guards.
Adrian could feel it immediately.
Awakened.
Watching.
Assessing.
One of them stepped forward.
"Yes?" the guard said.
Adrian didn't hesitate. "I'm here to see Elias Cole."
The guard looked him up and down.
Slowly.
Taking in the worn clothes. The dust. The fact that Adrian looked like he had just walked out of a fight—which, technically, he had.
"…Do you have an appointment?" the guard asked.
Adrian stared at him.
"…I'm his son."
A pause.
The guard didn't react the way he expected.
Instead, his expression stayed neutral.
Then—
"I'm going to need you to step back."
Silence.
Adrian blinked once.
"…Excuse me?"
The second guard spoke this time.
"This is a restricted estate," he said. "We don't allow trespassers."
Adrian let out a short breath.
"…You think I'm lying."
The first guard didn't answer.
Which meant yes.
Adrian looked back at the estate.
Then back at them.
"…You're serious."
"Yes."
Lirael shifted slightly behind him, her presence dropping just enough to change the air.
Selene's shadows darkened along the edges.
Niamh didn't move—but the space around her felt… wrong.
Kael just watched quietly.
Adrian raised a hand slightly.
"Relax," he said without looking back.
They stopped.
Not because they had to.
But because of how he said it.
Adrian stepped forward again.
The guards tensed immediately.
"Sir," one of them warned, "you need to—"
Adrian stopped just in front of the gate.
Not aggressive.
Not threatening.
Just… there.
"…Look at me," he said.
The guard hesitated.
Then did.
For a second—
Nothing happened.
Then the bond pulsed.
Not violently.
Not like before.
Controlled.
Focused.
The air shifted just slightly.
The guard's expression changed.
Confusion.
Then hesitation.
Then—
Recognition.
Not logical.
Instinctual.
"…Wait," the guard said quietly.
The second guard frowned. "What is it?"
The first one didn't look away from Adrian.
"…Open the gate."
The second guard blinked. "What?"
"I said open it."
"…On whose authority?"
A pause.
Then—
"…His."
Silence.
The gate clicked.
Then slowly began to open.
Adrian didn't move immediately.
He just stood there for a second.
Then exhaled quietly.
"…Yeah," he muttered. "That's about right."
He stepped forward.
Past the gate.
Into the estate he was never supposed to see like this.
The guards didn't stop him again.
Behind him, Lirael, Selene, and Niamh followed without hesitation.
Kael walked in last, hands in his pockets like he had been here before.
Adrian glanced around as they moved deeper in.
The place wasn't just large.
It was controlled.
Every detail.
Every movement.
Every presence.
And now—
All of it was aware of him.
"…So this is where they've been hiding," he said quietly.
No one answered.
Because ahead—
The main doors of the villa opened.
And someone was already waiting for him.
Adrian's expression didn't change.
But his eyes—
Went colder.
"…Guess it's time," he said.