The Bride they burned

"Some betrayals don't come with blades.

They come dressed as protection."

---

AARAV – KRAY'S SAFEHOUSE, DAWN

The door wasn't locked.

That was Kray's first mistake.

I waited until the morning light cut soft yellow bars across the floor, packed my sketchbook, and slipped out barefoot.

No alarms.

No guards.

Just the quiet hum of a man who thought I was too afraid to run.

But I wasn't afraid.

Not anymore.

I had her face memorized—burned into my brain like a second skin.

My mother was out there.

And I was done hiding.

---

NYRA – PENTHOUSE, 8:17 AM

The knock on my door came too loud.

Too angry.

> "I got it," I called, adjusting the robe over my tank top. Celeste was still asleep, her leg dangling off the couch like a model in a crime scene.

I opened the door—

—and Leo Varma walked in like a storm on heels.

> "Good morning," I said, not smiling.

He didn't reply.

Instead, he dropped a photo on the kitchen counter.

It was me and Kray. At Pier 13. Talking. Close. Too close.

I didn't flinch.

> "Who gave you that?"

> "Don't play games with me, Nyra."

> "I'm not. But you are—acting like you didn't once walk away from me when I was bleeding."

His jaw locked.

> "Kray was there when Ravian broke you. He helped."

> "And then he let me go."

Leo slammed his hand on the counter.

> "So you're what? Letting him in again? Letting him close?"

> "Why do you care?" I snapped.

Silence.

Tension pulled between us like wire.

> "Because I should have burned the world to get to you," he said softly. "And I didn't."

I turned.

> "You didn't even look."

> "I did," he whispered. "Every day. But someone paid a high price to make you disappear. And now that I have you back… I'm not losing you to a man like him."

> "Then don't lose me."

> "What do you mean?"

I stepped closer.

> "Fight. Leo. Not with logic. Not with law. Fight dirty."

> "I don't know how."

> "Then learn. Or Kray wins."

---

CELESTE – BALCONY, 9:02 AM

She heard everything.

Every word. Every confession. Every crack in Nyra's wall.

Celeste's nails dug into the wine glass until it shattered in her hand.

Blood dripped, unnoticed.

> "You don't get to want her," she whispered. "She was mine first."

She pulled out her phone.

One number saved under a false name.

She didn't know why she texted it.

Only that her fingers moved faster than her thoughts.

> "She's getting close to Kray. And Varma's unraveling. Make your move."

Message sent.

A moment later, it was marked Read.

No reply.

But she didn't need one.

---

RAVIAN – UNKNOWN LOCATION

He stared at the message for a long time.

Then he smiled.

> "She's surrounded by wolves. Perfect."

He turned to the man beside him.

> "Prepare the girl."

> "Which one?"

Ravian chuckled darkly.

> "The one who thinks she's her savior."

---

AARAV – TRAIN STATION

I bought the ticket using the last cash Kray left me.

A random destination.

I didn't need coordinates.

I needed connection.

Somewhere out there, she existed.

The woman in my dreams.

The woman whose lullaby still lived under my skin.

I just hoped she remembered me too.

---

NYRA – ROOFTOP, NIGHTFALL

I stood at the edge of the world.

The sky above choked with stars. The kind I used to name when I couldn't sleep.

Kai stood nearby, silent as always. His presence was a comfort I didn't want to admit.

> "You okay?" he asked quietly.

I didn't answer.

> "Leo's watching you. Celeste's not sleeping. Kray's… everywhere. You sure you want to walk this path alone?"

I looked at him.

> "I was always alone."

> "Not anymore."

His hand brushed mine.

Gentle. Cold.

And then—electric.

I didn't pull away.

---

TO BE CONTINUED…