Streets of Ravetham

The tension in Elara’s apartment thickened like smoke, choking the room as Elara stirred from the couch. Her body still throbbed with pain from the earlier fight, every movement an unpleasant reminder. She groaned softly, but when her eyes finally landed on Vex, her expression hardened instantly.

“Bullshit,” she spat, her voice rough, laced with venom and hurt. There was no masking the raw disdain that filled each word. “If he won, why the hell does he look half-dead?”

She paused, realizing she had let too much slip, but the damage was done. Her face contorted into a sneer, the bitterness rolling off her in waves. “Alright, fine. I’ll admit it. I called your brother, Kaelen. Told him to hurry the fuck up so we could split the reward for turning you in.” Her words came sharp, cutting through the room like a dagger, each syllable deliberate. “How bad could it be? You, sitting as proxy king of the Under Dark. We could’ve been rich.” She scoffed, the sound harsh, hollow. “But this? Telling me you lost to Vex, and now I’m supposed to date him?” Her voice cracked, teetering on the edge of rage and disbelief. “That’s low, even for you.”

Kaelen’s heart felt like it had been ripped from his chest, the betrayal seeping in, wrapping around his thoughts like a vice. For a brief moment, he had considered forgiving her, thought maybe—just maybe—Elara wasn’t like the others. He had allowed himself to hope, something he rarely did. But now, her confession slammed into him like a hammer. Every word added weight to the heavy pit growing in his stomach. It wasn’t just anger he felt—it was the sting of realizing he had been wrong about her.

Vex, lounging smugly in the corner, had been waiting for his moment. “Bitch, a bet’s a bet,” he barked, his grin wide and dripping with arrogance. “Your ass better get ready to call me ‘babe’ from now on.”

That did it.

Kaelen’s patience, already threadbare, snapped. “Enough!” His voice thundered through the room, sharp and commanding, slicing through their petty bickering. “Where is Delphinus attacking, and when?”

Vex’s grin faded instantly, his bravado shrinking as he winced, easing himself onto a chair near the doorway. He exhaled slowly, the smirk replaced by the reality of his pain. “He’s hitting a charity event,” Vex muttered, his tone subdued now. “Cygnus set it up at the Grand Meridian Hotel. 3 PM, today.”

Kaelen’s head snapped to his watch. 2:20 PM.

“Shit.” Panic surged in his chest, mingling with adrenaline, propelling him into action. His eyes darted to Loren. “We need to go—now. Maybe we can record Delphinus or whoever’s behind this. Catch him in the act.”

Loren was already moving, nodding as she sprinted beside him out of the apartment. The narrow hallway swallowed their quick, desperate footsteps. Their boots echoed like gunshots against the walls, racing against time.

“Kaelen,” Loren called, her voice tense but steady, “he might be pulling this stunt to distract you. Keep you away from the meeting with Zagoth tonight.”

The mention of the dragon made Kaelen stumble for a heartbeat, his mind quickly flashing through the possibilities. His eyes widened as realization hit him. “You think he found out? About the meeting?”

“Last night, when he ambushed us,” Loren explained, her tone darkening. “He said he got all the information he needed before vanishing. We weren’t careful enough. He’s in our heads, Kaelen. We need to guard our thoughts better around him.”

They skidded to a stop at the exit, Kaelen’s hand poised on the door handle, hesitation freezing him in place. Loren was beside him in seconds, her breath still steady despite the tension crackling between them. She placed a firm hand on his arm, forcing him to meet her gaze.

“Kaelen, wait.” Her voice softened, almost pleading now. “This feels wrong. Delphinus never speaks out loud unless he’s certain no one can hear him. He’s calculated, careful. And for Vex to just overhear his plans? Something’s off.”

Kaelen frowned, the gears in his mind turning as he replayed Vex’s words. Loren had a point—it all felt too easy, too convenient. The unease gnawed at him.

Loren’s grip tightened as she continued. “Let me go to the charity event. I’ll record whatever happens, and if it’s real, we’ll have our proof. But if it’s a trap… I’ll handle it.”

Kaelen’s chest tightened. The idea of letting Loren face this alone gnawed at him. For a moment, he hesitated. Then, it hit him—he cared about her, more than he realized. Red Dot had drilled it into him from a young age: Never get attached. But this… this was different. Loren was different. He wasn’t trained for this feeling.

After what felt like an eternity, Kaelen exhaled, his shoulders sagging in defeat. He nodded, his voice strained, betraying the storm of emotions raging beneath the surface. “Alright. You drive.” He handed her his keys, the weight of the decision heavy in his hand before he let go. The sensation of helplessness settled deep into his bones, gnawing at him. He hated it. Hated the feeling of letting her go alone. But they didn’t have the luxury of time to argue.

Loren, sharp as ever, was already pulling out her phone. Without missing a beat, she dialed Valerian. “Hey, Valerian,” she began, her voice calm despite the turmoil surrounding them. “I need a favor. Would you mind letting Kaelen stay with you for a bit? Also, that meeting with Zagoth later tonight—bring him with you.”

Kaelen could hear Valerian’s voice, quick and warm through the speaker. “Of course, Loren. Kaelen is always welcome here. I’ll make sure he’s safe. And don’t worry—we’ll be ready for the dragon.”

Kaelen felt weird sitting in the passenger seat, still wearing the orange jumpsuit from his arrest. The drive was uneventful, but the weight of what was happening pressed heavily on his mind.

Loren pulled up to Valerian’s sprawling estate within minutes. The towering iron gates opened as they approached, revealing manicured gardens and the grand house beyond. The sight was as imposing as it was elegant, a sanctuary hidden behind high walls. Waiting for them by the door was a druid butler, his wolfish ears and tail a striking contrast to the perfectly tailored suit he wore.

Kaelen grabbed a bag of clothes from Loren’s car, his mind still half on the conversation, half on the growing knot in his chest. The druid butler inclined his head respectfully, his voice smooth and unhurried. “Welcome, Mr. Valrath. This way, please.”

Kaelen shot a final glance at Loren. Her face was set, determined, but there was something else—something unspoken—in her eyes. Something he couldn’t place. And then she was gone, driving off into the distance, leaving him alone with his thoughts.