Lachlan was completely at ease. Coming to Dune from Langford with the Moncrief family name behind him, he could do whatever he wanted with little resistance.

  Take Callum, for example—just mentioning his background was enough. The man practically bent over backward to accommodate him, eager to please without Lachlan having to say much.

  That was the power of real influence.

  So, Cassia’s situation? Hardly a challenge. Of course, he could have simply ordered his men to drag her out of here and sent enforcers to re-establish control over Dune’s underground. That would have worked too.

  But it would have been a long, bloody process. Outsiders couldn’t just waltz into Dune and take over—not without significant casualties.

  Cassia, on the other hand? As the fiancée of his idiot brother, she was already positioned perfectly to act as a puppet.

  That made things far more convenient. And Lachlan didn’t mind spending a little extra time securing his pieces.

  Cassia walked down the hallway, her heart pounding as they approached the interrogation rooms. Through the one-way glass, she saw Drayke sitting tensely, eyes darting around, his usual sly expression betraying an undercurrent of fear.

  Storm and Benjamin sat in exhausted silence, their faces heavy with fatigue. Then, finally, they stopped at Axel’s room.

  Lachlan stepped inside, Cassia following close behind. The moment her eyes landed on Axel, her breath caught.

  He looked the worst out of all of them—beaten, bruised, blood crusted along his temple. But what unsettled Lachlan wasn’t Axel’s appearance.

  It was his expression. Calm. Steady. Unshaken.

  His lips curled slightly. Interesting.

  "So," he said, nodding toward Axel, "this is the one who orchestrated everything."

  Truthfully, Lachlan found it somewhat impressive that this ragtag group had managed to take down Orion and Griffin—two first-tier Awakeners. Not bad. But in the end? They were still just kids.

  What caught his attention more was the way Cassia looked at Axel. Not just concern—something deeper. Something personal.

  Good. That makes things easier. Lachlan stepped forward and pointed at Axel, not even bothering to acknowledge him directly.

  "Cassia," he said smoothly, "think carefully before you decide." He let the words settle. Then, with a small, knowing smirk, he added: "His life is in your hands."

  Cold. Calculated. It was one thing to threaten someone—it was another to force them to make the choice themselves.

  Would she still refuse when the person she cared about was sitting right in front of her? Even if Lachlan didn’t kill Axel outright, would she really be able to live with herself after looking him in the eyes and choosing not to save him?

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  That was the real question. Cassia’s breath came faster, her body tense, teetering on the edge of breaking. Lachlan had seen this moment countless times before—the precise second when a person realized they were powerless.

  Axel, however, barely reacted. Instead, he studied Lachlan, his gaze sharp and calculating. He didn’t know exactly who this man was yet, but it wasn’t hard to guess.

  Someone connected to Orion. No. Someone with far more power than Orion ever had.

  A man like this could have the police detain two Awakened people without justification. Could stand here, inside a police station, and openly issue death threats.

  Orion had been nothing but a pawn to him. Axel knew he couldn’t take on a force like this. Not yet.

  But that didn’t mean he wasn’t completely at peace. Because today was special. Today, of all days, Axel was expecting someone. And his extraordinary friend was already on their way to Dune.

  "Cassia."

  Axel’s voice cut through the tense atmosphere. Cassia flinched slightly, her beautiful eyes clouded with helplessness as she turned to face him. But what greeted her was a steady, reassuring gaze—warm, unwavering.

  “No matter what he offers you, don’t agree to it. Trust me.”

  Axel’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried the weight of absolute certainty. Like a firm hand pulling her up from drowning, his words stripped away the suffocating pressure of the choice looming over her.

  Lachlan’s expression darkened as he finally turned his gaze toward Axel. “If you’re putting on an act, I have to admit—you’re damn good at it.”

  But the shift in Cassia’s demeanor was undeniable. She wasn’t breaking. In fact, her resolve had only hardened. That realization left a bitter taste in Lachlan’s mouth. He didn’t like when things didn’t go according to plan.

  “Fine, then. Let’s see how this plays out.” He sneered, his voice cold and detached. “You’ve got other friends, after all.”

  The veiled threat hung in the air, but Axel remained unfazed. He lifted his head and met the man’s gaze, speaking in an even tone. "Before you make any moves, maybe you should let me make one first.”

  Lachlan blinked, then let out a sharp laugh. He stepped closer, lowering his head just enough to meet Axel’s eyes. “Alright. Let’s see what kind of bottom-feeding bastard you think can save you.”

  With a flick of his hand, he signaled his men. Callum and his crew moved in, seizing Cassia once more, while another group grabbed Axel. “Take him to Black Rock Prison.”

  Cassia stopped in her tracks, her breath hitching as she watched Axel being hauled away, shoved into the back of a police vehicle. She kept watching until the car disappeared into the night.

  Lachlan sat down again, his face returning to its usual icy indifference. He flicked open his newspaper. “Let’s wait and see what your decision ends up costing you.”

  Black Rock Prison, a fortress holding Dune’s most dangerous criminals.

  Cassia clenched her fists, her mind racing. She knew Axel had applied for Bloodstone Warfare Academy, and that alone should have been enough to keep Lachlan from making a reckless move here. If Axel was accepted, the higher-ups would be watching—any mistreatment could bring serious consequences.

  But this… this was different. Being locked up with the worst of the worst? That was a whole new level of danger. Panic settled in.

  “I agree! Just don’t hurt him!” Her voice cracked with desperation as she rushed toward Lachlan. But before she could get close, two men in black materialized, blocking her path.

  It was only then that she realized—she never stood a chance. Even if she had tried to use her awakened abilities to kill Lachlan, she wouldn’t have made it past his guards.

  Lachlan didn’t even look up from his newspaper.

  “Seems you still haven’t learned.” His voice was calm, detached. “I told you—actions have consequences. You should witness the outcome first, and then decide.”

  He turned a page, completely unbothered by her desperation. “This time, though, the choice involves a few more lives.”

  Cassia’s knees hit the floor. Tears streamed down her face. "Please… just don’t kill him."

  She regretted everything. No matter how confident Axel had sounded, she regretted it all.

  .....

  Under the dim station lights, the crowd had thinned. Cart vendors had taken over the platforms, their stalls flickering under neon signs.

  A train pulled in. Passengers spilled out, eager to leave. But amid the rush, a group of four emerged from the empty special access lane, walking with an unhurried, deliberate pace.

  Two men. Two women. All strikingly good-looking.