The midday sun cast a warm glow over the slums of Xylodia, illuminating the winding alleys and bustling streets. The scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the ever-present aroma of damp stone and unwashed bodies, a signature of the lower districts. Tara and Kannie moved through the marketplace, their pace leisurely but their eyes always scanning, always aware.

  It had been over a year since Tara had left behind her noble life and joined Orion’s family. No one outside of her new family knew where she had come from—everyone in the slums assumed she was just another orphan, one of many who had found their way into the shadows of the city. She had adapted well, her knowledge of the noble district and artifacts proving invaluable. Though she was still adjusting to the unpredictable nature of life in the slums, she had grown sharper, more perceptive. And thanks to Kannie, she had learned how to navigate these streets with confidence.

  Kannie, on the other hand, was as carefree as ever. She hopped along the uneven cobblestones, her rabbit-like ears twitching slightly, always alert despite her bubbly demeanor. “Oh, oh! Look at that stand, Tara!” she pointed excitedly to a vendor selling golden, honey-glazed pastries. “You have to try these. They’re so good it’ll make you wanna kiss me.”

  Tara laughed, shaking her head. “I’ll take your word for it.”

  Kannie pouted. “You’re no fun. You’ve been hanging out with Orion too much. You’re getting that serious face.” She mimicked Orion’s usual stoic expression, narrowing her eyes and crossing her arms.

  “I do not look like that,” Tara protested, but Kannie only grinned wider.

  Just as Tara reached into her pouch for some coins, a voice interrupted them.

  Unfortunately, they weren’t the only ones walking these streets.

  “Kannie. Tara.”

  The voice made both girls stop in their tracks.

  It was Jace.

  The air seemed to shift, the warmth of the marketplace turning stale as Kannie tensed beside her. Tara turned slowly, her heart hammering against her ribs. Jace stood a few paces away, his usual smug grin plastered across his face, flanked by his goons. His dark hair was slicked back, and a fresh scar ran across his cheek—probably from another fight he’d picked. His eyes locked onto them, gleaming with amusement and something more dangerous beneath.

  The voice made both girls stop in their tracks.

  Jace stood leaning against a wall, his arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips. He was taller now, nearly seventeen, his lean frame giving him an air of effortless menace. His dark eyes gleamed with amusement as he watched them. Behind him, his gang—twelve strong, ranging from fifteen to seventeen years old—stood in a loose formation, watching their leader like loyal hounds waiting for a command.

  Jace was the self-proclaimed ruler of the old business district, one of the most dangerous slums in the kingdom

  This was Jace’s territory, a self-proclaimed ruler over the lawless sector, his gang acting as enforcers of his dominance. The old business district had once been a thriving marketplace, but after years of neglect, it had become one of the harshest areas in the kingdom. Controlled by those who knew how to manipulate, steal, and intimidate, Jace and his gang had carved out their own empire within the ruins of the past.

  Kannie, as always, was unbothered. “Wow, Jace, I forgot how ugly you were. Good thing I got reminded today.” She grinned, hands on her hips, her playful tone masking the fact that she was on high alert.

  A few of Jace’s gang chuckled, but Jace himself simply exhaled sharply. “Still got that sharp tongue, Bunny?” He took a step forward, his eyes flicking toward Tara. “And you… Haven’t seen you much lately. Orion keeping you locked away?”

  Tara met his gaze without flinching. “I’ve been busy.”

  Jace tilted his head, feigning curiosity. “Oh? Busy planning jobs for your little crew?”

  Kannie narrowed her eyes. “What’s it to you?”

  Jace ignored her, his focus staying on Tara. “You know, you don’t really belong in the slums. I’ve been wondering for a while now… where exactly did Orion pick you up?”

  Tara forced herself to remain calm, her expression neutral. No one in the slums knew she had come from the noble district. As far as they were concerned, she was just another orphan that Orion had taken in. And she needed to keep it that way.

  “You know how it is,” she said smoothly. “Some of us don’t have a choice in where we end up.”

  Jace’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. “That so?” He stepped forward, the air between them charged with tension. “Because I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to you than you let on.”

  Kannie moved, placing herself between them. “If you’re done being creepy, we’ll be going now.”

  Jace smirked, but his eyes were cold. “Go ahead. But let me make something clear.” He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. “You think Orion runs things down here? Think again. This is my district. You work in it, you pay your share. No exceptions. You and your little ‘family’ don’t get special treatment.”

  Kannie snorted. “Oh, is that what this is about? You want a cut of what we take? Please, Jace, you’d have better luck asking a rat for charity.”

  Jace’s smirk disappeared, his patience thinning. “I’m not asking.”

  Tara knew this was trouble. Jace wasn’t just some thug looking for an easy win. He was calculating, dangerous. He had already crushed several smaller gangs that had tried to resist his rule. And now, he was setting his sights on them.

  “We’ll think about it,” Tara said, trying to diffuse the situation. “But we’re not making any deals today.”

  Jace stared at her for a long moment, then exhaled, shaking his head as if disappointed. “You know, you two should really consider switching sides. Orion’s way won’t last forever.”

  Kannie scoffed. “You think we’d betray our family?”

  Jace’s lips curled into a smirk, but there was something darker lurking beneath his amusement. "I wouldn’t call it betrayal, Bunny," he said smoothly. "I’d call it survival."

  Kannie rolled her eyes. "Yeah? Well, we’re surviving just fine without you and your pack of losers."

  That was the last straw. Jace’s expression twisted into something ugly as he stepped closer, his hand suddenly lashing out to grab Kannie by the wrist. He pulled her roughly toward him, his grip ironclad. "You think you're so damn special, don’t you?" His voice dropped lower, his fingers tightening. "You act like you’re untouchable. But the slums have rules, and you’re still just a little rabbit in a city full of wolves."

  Tara stiffened, her pulse quickening. She knew Jace had always had a thing for Kannie, but this was the first time he’d ever put his hands on her. And Kannie, for all her usual playfulness, froze for a split second, her mind processing the sudden shift from banter to threat.

  Then, without hesitation, she acted.

  With a brutal efficiency only someone like Kannie could pull off, she brought her knee up and drove it directly into Jace’s groin.

  The effect was immediate. Jace let out a choked gasp, his grip loosening as he doubled over in pain. His gang erupted into shocked murmurs, some even taking a step back as their leader staggered.

  "You son of a—!" Jace growled, his face red with rage.

  Kannie didn’t wait for him to recover. "Run!" she shouted, grabbing Tara’s hand and yanking her forward.

  They bolted.

  Behind them, Jace’s furious shout rang through the alley. "GET THEM!"

  The old business district was a maze of collapsed buildings, abandoned stalls, and narrow passageways. Kannie and Tara weaved through the alleys with the ease of those who had lived their lives navigating the slums, their feet pounding against the dirt and cobblestone. But Jace’s gang was fast, and they were gaining.

  "They’re catching up!" Tara panted.

  "Not if we take the long route!" Kannie countered. "Hold on!"

  She pulled Tara down a narrow gap between two buildings, barely squeezing through. The boys chasing them hesitated, their bigger frames making it harder to fit. That bought them a few seconds—but not enough.

  They sprinted into the open market street, dodging carts and startled merchants. People shouted in protest as the two girls barreled through. A pile of crates crashed behind them as one of Jace’s men knocked over a fruit stand in pursuit.

  "Almost there!" Kannie gasped. "The docks!"

  Tara’s heart was pounding so hard she thought it might burst. She had never been chased like this before. Her mind was whirling, trying to calculate the fastest way through the city. But even as she thought, her legs burned, exhaustion creeping in.

  Jace’s gang was relentless.

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  "Turn left!" Kannie called suddenly, spotting a route that cut through an old storage area.

  Tara didn't hesitate, trusting her completely. They veered sharply, ducking through a torn canvas, then clambering over a low wooden fence. The shortcuts helped—but it still wasn’t enough. The gang was splitting up, moving to cut them off.

  Then, up ahead, Tara saw it.

  The docks.

  And standing near the edge, handling what looked like some business with merchants, was Orion, Ra, Tsuki, Gabriel, and Nerpheus.

  The docks stretched wide, the scent of salt and rotting wood lingering in the warm air. The faint creak of boats against the water was the only sound as Tara and Kannie burst from the alleys, panting, running for their lives.

  Behind them?

  Jace’s gang.

  Twelve boys, older, stronger, meaner. Jace led them, his face twisted in rage, his groin still sore from Kannie’s earlier attack.

  And waiting for them?

  Orion. Ra. Tsuki. Gabriel. Nerpheus.

  The five boys stood in formation at the edge of the dock, blocking the only way forward. They didn’t speak. They didn’t move.

  They didn’t need to.

  Orion stood at the center, his white dreadlocks shifting slightly in the breeze. His golden eyes gleamed under the sun, his gaze locked onto Jace with eerie stillness.

  Kannie and Tara stopped behind their brothers, breathless but safe.

  Gabriel grinned, hovering a few inches above the ground. “You two sure know how to make an entrance.”

  Jace slowed as he reached the dock, his gang skidding to a halt beside him. His lip curled in disgust as he took in the group before him.

  "You think this is over?" Jace sneered, his voice low, venomous. His eyes flickered to Tara and Kannie, then back to Orion. "I’m going to kill you. And when I’m done, I’ll take the girls with me."

  Kannie’s blood ran cold.

  Tara clenched her fists.

  Orion?

  Orion said nothing.

  But his golden eyes narrowed just slightly.

  And that was more terrifying than anything else.

  Jace took a step forward. “You don’t run this place, Orion. I do. You think you’re stronger? You think you’re untouchable?” He scoffed, then spat on the ground.

  "I'll show you how wrong you are."

  The fight began.

  Jace lunged first.

  His gang followed, their battle cries echoing over the water.

  But Orion’s group was ready

  Ra didn’t hesitate. He smashed into two boys like a battering ram, sending them flying into a stack of wooden crates.One scrambled to his feet, swinging a rusty pipe at Ra’s head.

  Ra caught it mid-air.

  Then he ripped it out of the boy’s hands and cracked it over his knee. The thug barely had time to react before Ra’s massive fist slammed into his stomach, making him crumple to the ground.

  The other attacker tried to run.

  Ra grabbed him by the collar and flung him into the harbor.

  Tsuki ducked, moving like a shadow. One of Jace’s men came at him with a knife, but Tsuki sidestepped at the last second, grabbing his attacker’s wrist and twisting.

  The knife clattered to the ground.

  Tsuki kicked the boy’s legs out from under him and drove his elbow into his gut, knocking the air from his lungs.

  Another thug came from behind.

  Tsuki flipped forward, landing behind him, and delivered a swift kick to the side of his head.

  The boy dropped instantly.

  A gang member charged at Nerpheus.

  Nerpheus simply lifted his hand.

  The harbor water surged forward.

  A twisting torrent lashed out, smashing into the thug’s chest, sending him crashing onto the dock, gasping for breath.

  Another boy tried to grab Nerpheus from behind.

  A water tendril coiled around his leg.

  And with a flick of Nerpheus’s fingers, he was yanked off his feet and sent skidding across the dock.

  Gabriel laughed as he dodged a punch.

  "You guys suck," he taunted, flipping mid-air.

  One of Jace’s boys swung at him with a plank of wood. Gabriel caught it effortlessly.

  Then he sent a jolt of electricity through his fingertips.

  The boy yelled as his hair stood on end, shaking violently. Gabriel grinned and gave him a playful tap on the forehead, making him topple over unconscious.

  Another thug tried throwing a rock at him.

  Gabriel snatched it from the air, then chucked it back twice as fast.

  Smack. Right in the forehead.

  Orion vs. Jace

  Jace rushed Orion, throwing a wild punch.

  Orion sidestepped easily, his expression unreadable.

  Jace swung again, again, again. Orion dodged every hit, his movements effortless, controlled.

  Jace was older. Bigger. Stronger.

  But Orion was better.

  Jace roared in frustration.

  Orion didn’t flinch. Then he moved.

  A brutal jab to Jace’s ribs.

  A sharp kick to his knee.

  Jace stumbled back, snarling. "FIGHT ME, YOU COWARD!"

  Orion’s golden eyes narrowed.

  Then, without warning, Orion struck.

  A swift punch to Jace’s jaw.

  Jace reeled back.

  Orion stepped in close, grabbed Jace’s collar, and with one powerful motion—

  —he slammed Jace onto the dock.

  The wood shuddered. Jace groaned in pain, coughing blood.

  He tried to sit up.

  Orion placed a foot on his chest, pinning him down.

  Jace looked up.

  And then he saw it.

  Orion’s eyes.

  Not just calm.

  Not just cold.

  But deadly serious.

  "If you ever come near the girls again," Orion said, voice low, controlled, lethal, "I will really kill you."

  Jace’s breath hitched.

  Because he knew.

  Orion wasn’t bluffing.

  Silence settled over the docks.

  Jace’s gang?

  Defeated.

  Some lay groaning on the ground. Others had already run.

  Jace clenched his teeth, fury burning in his chest.

  But he didn’t say anything.

  Because he knew he had lost.

  Orion stepped back, watching as Jace scrambled to his feet. Blood trickled down the older boy’s lip. He glared at Orion, at the whole group, then spat on the ground.

  "This isn’t over," he snarled.

  Orion didn’t even blink. "Yes, it is."

  Jace hesitated for only a second.

  Then?

  He ran.

  The fight was over.

  Ra dusted off his knuckles. "Pathetic."

  Tsuki cracked his neck. "They barely put up a fight."

  Gabriel yawned. "I’m disappointed. That was over too fast."

  Nerpheus was already turning toward the water, his gaze distant.

  Kannie let out a breath. "Holy crap. That was intense."

  Tara, catching her breath, looked at Orion. "You okay?"

  Orion glanced at her.

  Then he **smiled—**just a little.

  "Yeah," he said. "I am now."

  The hideout reeked of sweat, stale ale, and humiliation.

  Jace sat in a dark corner, his lip split, bruises forming along his ribs, a dull pain throbbing through his body. His men were scattered around the room, licking their wounds, their pride shattered. The fight at the docks had humiliated them beyond anything they had experienced before. Orion and his group had dismantled them like they were nothing. They had been kings of the slums, ruling through fear, but now, the fear belonged to them.

  The others whispered, muttering in hushed voices, their faith in Jace wavering. He could feel it. He clenched his fists. He had to do something—he had to get even.

  Then, the room grew colder.

  A slow, methodical set of footsteps echoed in the alley outside. The laughter and murmurs of the slums quieted, as if the entire district had felt the presence approaching.

  Lucian had arrived.

  The heavy wooden door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. The firelight cast long shadows against the walls as Lucian entered, his cloak billowing slightly. His presence was suffocating. He carried himself with a refined grace, but beneath the polished surface, there was a predator, one that never needed to raise its voice to command absolute fear.

  His eyes scanned the room, taking in the pitiful sight of Jace and his men. A flicker of amusement crossed his face, though his sharp features betrayed no true emotion.

  Jace straightened up, forcing confidence into his posture. "You're early. But I’ve got your payment."

  Lucian said nothing for a long moment. He simply studied Jace, the way a snake would watch a rat caught in a trap.

  "You're not late," Lucian finally said, his voice smooth, dangerous. "But I hear you've had… difficulties."

  Jace gritted his teeth. Of course, Lucian had already heard. Nothing in the slums happened without him knowing.

  "It was nothing," Jace said quickly. "A minor setback."

  Lucian tilted his head, feigning interest. "Oh? A minor setback? From what I hear, you and your boys were beaten. At the docks. In your district."

  Jace’s stomach twisted. He swallowed hard. "They just caught us off guard—"

  Lucian’s fingers tapped against the hilt of his blade, lazily, as if he were contemplating something. "Tell me," he murmured. "Who did this to you?"

  Jace hesitated.

  Then, anger burned away his hesitation. He had spent years climbing his way to the top of the slums, making himself untouchable. And in one day, Orion and his little group had torn it all down. If he wanted revenge, if he wanted to be somebody, he needed Lucian’s power. And Lucian could destroy them.

  Jace took a breath. "A group led by a kid named Orion. Him and his gang."

  Lucian’s expression didn’t change,

  "Orion?"

  Jace described him. "Dark brown skin. White dreadlocked hair gold eye colour Unbelievably strong. Almost unnatural." He spat to the side. "He fights like he's been doing it since birth. Like he's trained for it."

  Lucian’s hand stilled.

  For a moment, just a fraction of a second, something flickered in his gaze and there was a shift in the air..

  But then, as quickly as it came, it was gone.

  "Interesting," Lucian murmured. "And his group?"

  "Five others." Jace listed them off. "Ra, big guy, dragon-like eyes, strong as hell. Tsuki, fast, precise, quiet. Gabriel, some floating smartass, fights like a damn ghost. Nerpheus, controls water—some freak. And then there’s the two girls: Tara and Kannie."

  Lucian’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Tara?"

  Jace nodded. "Yeah. She was with them. She’s been running with Orion for over a year."

  Lucian exhaled slowly.

  And suddenly, it all made sense.

  That’s why he hadn’t been able to find her.

  Tara Evern. The daughter of Nobleman and archeologist professor Evern. The leverage he had been carefully cultivating to force her parents to find the Starbeam Necklace. She had ran away too the slums and changer her appearance—that’s why she had slipped through his fingers. She had been right under his nose, hiding among them.

  Lucian resisted the urge to smirk.

  This was better than he could have imagined.

  He turned slightly, letting the candlelight illuminate the edge of his sharp jawline. "Jace you should just kill him.”

  Jace straightened, his body tense. "What?"

  Lucian stepped forward, his voice lowering into something silkier, more insidious. "You will bring Tara to me. Alive. And you will wipe out Orion and his gang. All of them. No survivors."

  Jace's breath hitched. "You want Tara?"

  Lucian’s smile was cold. "She is more valuable than you realize."

  Jace hesitated. "And what do I get?"

  Lucian chuckled softly. "Oh, Jace. Do you think you have a choice?" His dark sunken eyes gleamed with something predatory. "You want revenge? Power? A place in my organization? Then you do this."

  Jace swallowed hard.

  Lucian leaned in, voice like venom in his ear. "You let a boy and his pathetic little family humiliate you. They made you weak. But I can make you strong. You do this, and you will never have to fear weakness again."

  Jace clenched his jaw.

  Lucian stepped back, his smirk widening. "Find them. Kill them. Bring me Tara."

  Then, as if satisfied, Lucian turned toward the door. "Don’t fail me, Jace."

  The door creaked shut, leaving Jace in the dim light of the hideout, his mind racing, his fists clenching.

  This wasn’t just revenge anymore.

  This was a hunt.