The grand ballroom was nearly empty now, the shimmering chandeliers casting long shadows over the polished floors. Kiernan's boots echoed with every step as he paced through the hallways, his frustration simmering just below the surface. Sawyer trailed behind him, his delicate features clouded with concern, while a handful of guards fanned out to search the estate.

"Where are they?" Kiernan muttered, his voice barely above a growl. His eyes darted to every corner, as if they might materialize out of the walls.

"We've checked every corridor, every room," A guard offered hesitantly. "They couldn't have gotten far."

Kiernan stopped abruptly, turning to them, his gaze sharp enough to make them flinch. "That's not good enough. Keep looking," he snapped.

The guard nodded quickly, signalling to the other guards to continue the search. Kiernan remained rooted, his thoughts a whirlwind of anger and disbelief. His mind replayed the moments at the ball, how Ondina had slipped away like smoke through his fingers.

Just then, a figure scurried into the hall—a hunched older maid, her face alight with smug satisfaction. She stopped a few paces from Kiernan and curtsied deeply, clutching her apron.

"Lord Kiernan," she said breathlessly, her voice quivering with anticipation. "I have news—important news."

Kiernan's piercing gaze locked onto her. "Speak."

The maid straightened, a sly smile creeping across her lips. "It's Caroline, my lord. She's the one who helped them escape. I overheard her leading them to the east gate, whispering about a hidden passage. She betrayed you, my lord. She turned against you!"

Sawyer's eyes widened, his lips parting in shock. The guards exchanged uneasy glances, bracing themselves for Kiernan's inevitable outburst.

But the eruption never came.

Kiernan's expression didn't twist with rage; his hands didn't ball into fists. Instead, his face grew eerily calm, his lips curling into a faint, unreadable smile. He let out a soft, humourless chuckle, startling everyone around him.

"Caroline," he said slowly, the name rolling off his tongue like a bitter wine. He tilted his head slightly, as though pondering a distant memory. "How... poetic."

The maid's smugness faltered, replaced by confusion. "M-my lord?"

Kiernan turned to her, his tone light but his eyes as cold as steel. "Tell me, what did you hear exactly?"

The maid straightened, eager to prove her worth. "She was saying they needed to leave quickly, my lord. That you would catch them if they lingered. She even gave the siren—Ondina, I believe—a hug. Like they were... close." She said the last word with disdain, as though it were an insult.

Kiernan nodded, his smile never wavering. "And you're certain of this?"

"Positive, my lord," she said proudly. "I thought you should know right away. I—I assumed you'd want to take action."

"Oh, I will," Kiernan said softly, his voice almost kind. He stepped closer to the maid, his height towering over her. "You've done well to bring this to me. Your loyalty will not be forgotten."

The maid's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, my lord! I only want to serve—"

"Leave," Kiernan interrupted, his tone still gentle but carrying an undeniable edge of finality. "And ensure you tell no one else what you've shared with me."

The maid faltered but curtsied deeply before hurrying away, her excitement barely concealed.

As her footsteps faded, the tension in the room remained thick. Sawyer looked to Kiernan, unsure of what to say.

"You're... taking this well," he ventured cautiously.

Kiernan's smile widened, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Am I?" he asked, his tone almost playful.

"She betrayed you," Sawyer pressed, watching him carefully. "She helped them escape—Prince Arto, Ondina, and the other. Shouldn't you—"

"—lose control?" Kiernan finished for him, his voice sharp. He turned toward him fully, his calm mask slipping for the briefest moment, revealing a flicker of something darker beneath. "Do you think I don't feel it? The rage, the betrayal, the humiliation? But fury is a tool, not a master. To wield it effectively, one must learn patience. You taught me that after all."

Sawyer's mouth snapped shut, his throat dry.

Kiernan's gaze drifted back to the empty hallway where the maid had disappeared. "Caroline," he repeated softly, his voice tinged with a mix of amusement and venom.

His fingers flexed at his sides before he turned on his heel, his cape sweeping behind him. "They won't get far," he said to the guards, his voice low but commanding. "Double the search efforts. Begin at the eastern gates and fan outward. Do not rest until you find them."

As the guards scrambled to obey, Sawyer lingered, watching him carefully.

"Kiernan," he began tentatively. "What will you do... when you find her?"

He paused mid-step, his back to him.

"Caroline?" His voice was soft, almost him wistful. Then he glanced over his shoulder, his smile returning—a blade cloaked in silk. "Oh, I'll thank her for teaching me this lesson again. That no one is beyond betrayal."

Without another word, he strode away, his measured steps echoing through the hall as Sawyer watched him disappear, a shiver running down his spine.

Caroline was pacing the confines of her room, her heart pounding like a war drum. She had heard the commotion from the ball, had seen Kiernan's sharp, predatory gaze flicker over the crowd before she'd slipped away to avoid suspicion.

It's only a matter of time before he finds out.

The door to her chambers swung open with a force that made her jump. Kiernan entered, his presence filling the space instantly. He closed the door behind him with deliberate slowness, the click of the lock sending a shiver down her spine.

"Lord Kiernan," she started, her voice steady but her hands trembling. "What are you doing here?"

He said nothing at first, simply studying her with that calm, unnerving expression. It was the same look he gave his enemies before he destroyed them, the same look that had unsettled her since the first day she had stepped foot in his estate.

"Caroline," he said finally, his voice soft. He moved toward her with the grace of a predator stalking its prey. "You've had a busy night, haven't you?"

She froze, her breath catching. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Kiernan smiled—a slow, deliberate curve of his lips that made her stomach twist. "Oh, but you do. You've been very resourceful. Helping Prince Arto and Ondina. Guiding them to safety. It's almost admirable."

Caroline took a step back, her instincts screaming at her to run, though she knew it was futile. "I did what I thought was right," she said, trying to summon her courage. "They're better off far away from you."

His expression didn't falter. If anything, his smile widened, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Better off? How noble of you, to decide their fate for them. And yet, here you are. Still standing in my home, under my roof. After all I've done for you."

Caroline's jaw tightened, her fists clenching as she stared at him with a mixture of rage and despair. "Lord Kiernan, she didn't deserve that. I've always listened to you, done everything you asked—"

Kiernan's eyes gleamed, a flicker of dark amusement dancing within their depths. "And yet," he interrupted smoothly, "you chose this. Chose defiance. How... disappointing." His voice lowered, turning sharp and dangerous. "After all, loyalty should be unwavering. You, of all people, should understand that."

Caroline felt the heat rise in her chest, anger momentarily overtaking the fear. "Loyalty?" she snapped, her voice trembling with raw emotion. "You twist that word into something ugly. Loyalty isn't about control or fear, Kiernan. It's about trust—and you don't understand the first thing about that."

"Oh, Caroline," he said, shaking his head. "You've always been so fiery, so quick to see the worst in me. And yet, you trusted me, didn't you? You trusted me when I told you your sister abandoned you." 

 Caroline froze, her breath catching in her throat. Kiernan's smile widened, a glint of triumph in his eyes. "Ah, there it is. The doubt. The question you've never dared ask me outright." 

"You're lying," she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction.

"Am I?" Kiernan walked slowly toward her, stopping just in front of her, his hands clasped behind his back. "Do you think I kept you here all these years out of charity? Out of the goodness of my heart? No, Caroline. I kept you here because I needed you close. Because if you knew the truth, you might have left me. And I couldn't allow that."

Caroline's knees threatened to buckle beneath her. "What truth?" she demanded, her voice trembling.

"The truth," Kiernan said softly, leaning closer, "is that your sister didn't abandon you. She didn't leave you to fend for yourself. She searched for you, fought for you—but I made sure she would never find you. And I told you exactly what you needed to hear to stay loyal to me." 

 Caroline's heart thundered in her chest, her world tilting on its axis. "You—you're lying now," she said desperately, her voice breaking. 

"Am I?" Kiernan's voice was gentle, almost soothing. "Think back, Caroline. Think of all the times you wondered why you never heard from her again, why she never tried to contact you. Deep down, you always knew something was wrong, didn't you?"

 Her vision blurred with unshed tears as the weight of his words crashed down on her. "Where is she?" she demanded. "If she's alive, where is she?"

 Kiernan's expression darkened, his smile fading. "Ah, there's the catch. I know where she is, Caroline. I've always known. But if you want to see her, to reunite with her... you'll have to earn that privilege." 

 Caroline's tears spilled over, her fists clenching. "You're disgusting," she spat. 

 Kiernan reached out, brushing a tear from her cheek with unsettling tenderness. "Perhaps," he said. "But I'm also your only hope. You see, I'm in need of something, Caroline. Or rather, someone." 

 Her blood ran cold. "Ondina," she said flatly. 

 "Clever girl," Kiernan said approvingly. "I can feel her, you know. Her magic is tethered to mine. I know she's not far, but I can't pinpoint her location alone. That's where you come in." 

 Caroline recoiled from him, shaking her head. "No. I won't do it. I won't betray her like that."

 Kiernan's expression turned steely, his calm façade cracking ever so slightly. "If you don't help me find her, Caroline, you will never see your sister again. I will make sure of it." 

 She stared at him, her chest heaving as she fought to breathe through the suffocating pressure of his ultimatum.

 "You're a monster," she whispered. 

 "And you," Kiernan replied, his voice cool, "are out of choices."

 For a long, agonizing moment, Caroline stood there, torn between the rage burning in her chest and the desperate hope of finding her sister. Finally, her shoulders sagged, and she looked away, her voice hollow. "What do you need me to do?" 

 Kiernan's smile returned, sharp and triumphant. "Now that's the loyalty I remember."

The study was silent except for the crackling of the fireplace, its light casting flickering shadows across the room. Caroline sat stiffly in the chair Kiernan gestured her to, her every muscle taut as though ready to spring, though she knew she had nowhere to go. Kiernan moved back behind his desk, his every movement measured, deliberate, as if savouring the victory already in his grasp. 

 "Now then," he said smoothly, pouring himself a glass of amber liquid. He took a slow sip, his eyes never leaving hers. "This is a delicate situation, Caroline. It requires... precision. Cooperation. I trust you understand the importance of what I'm asking." 

 Caroline crossed her arms over her chest, her face pale but defiant. "What exactly do you want me to do? Trick her? Lure her into some trap for you?" 

 Kiernan tilted his head, considering her with an expression almost bordering on amusement. "Nothing so brutish," he said lightly. "Ondina is clever. She'll see through any overt deception. But she trusts you. You were her closest ally here. If anyone can draw her out, it's you." 

 Caroline shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "She trusted me because I treated her like a person, not a pawn in some sick game. I won't destroy that." 

 Kiernan's smile didn't falter, but his eyes darkened. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "Then you destroy yourself instead. Is that what you want? To squander your one chance at a life with your sister, simply because you won't get your hands a little dirty?" 

 "You don't know the first thing about what I want," Caroline hissed. 

Kiernan's lips twitched, his patience wearing thin. "Oh, but I do," he said, his voice a low, dangerous murmur. "I know what drives you. I know what you've dreamed of every night since you were a child. You've longed for family, for a place to belong. I gave you that, didn't I?" 

 Her fists clenched. "You gave me a gilded cage." 

 "And it's still the only home you have," Kiernan snapped, his composure finally cracking. "I made you who you are, Caroline. Without me, you're nothing. Just a girl no one wanted. Not even her own family."

 The venom in his words struck her like a slap, and for a moment, she couldn't breathe. Then her rage surged, hot and blinding. "You're wrong," she spat, rising from her seat. "I was everything before you lied to me, before you stole my life."

 Kiernan rose as well, towering over her, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "Bold words for someone whose fate lies entirely in my hands. But don't let your anger cloud your judgment, Caroline. I'm offering you a deal, not a death sentence." 

 She met his gaze, defiance burning in her eyes despite the tears streaking her cheeks. "And what happens when I bring her to you? You use her, you hurt her—and then what?"

 Kiernan's jaw tightened, but his voice softened, almost coaxing. "Help me, and you'll never have to wonder what comes next. You'll have your sister, your freedom, your future. A life without this estate, without these walls." 

He leaned closer, his voice dropping lower. "A life without me." 

 The weight of his words pressed down on her, suffocating and inescapable.

"And if I refuse?" she asked, though she already knew the answer. Kiernan's smile returned, cold and sharp. 

Kiernan stood up and took a slow, deliberate step forward, his gaze unwavering. "Do you remember the day we met, Caroline? Truly met. Along the road, as you sat alone, looking so lost." 

 She blinked, taken aback by the sudden change in his tone. "Of course, I remember," she said hesitantly. "You told me you were offering a safe haven. A place to belong." 

He chuckled softly, the sound devoid of warmth. "Yes, that's what I told you, isn't it? How kind, how benevolent of me." His expression shifted, a glint of something darker flashing in his eyes. "But what if I told you that our meeting wasn't fate? That it wasn't chance at all." 

 Caroline's stomach twisted, an icy dread creeping up her spine. "What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

 Kiernan's gaze pierced through her, unrelenting. "That town you grew up in—it belonged to me. The land, the buildings, everything. Including the rent your family couldn't afford." 

 She froze, her breath caught in her throat. "No," she murmured, shaking her head. "You're lying." 

 "I'm not," Kiernan said simply. "When your family fell behind on their payments, they came to me, desperate. They had nothing to offer, no way to repay their debts. Except you." 

 Her legs nearly gave out beneath her. "No," she repeated, her voice trembling. "My family would never—" 

 "They didn't have a choice," Kiernan cut in, his voice cool and measured. "The alternative was being thrown out onto the streets. So, they offered you instead. A transaction, plain and simple. You were collateral." 

 Caroline's world spun, her chest tightening as the walls seemed to close in around her. "You're lying," she said again, but this time, it was a plea, not a declaration.

"I'm not," he said, his voice softening, almost gentle. "When I came to collect you, you'd already run off. Clever girl. But fate—or perhaps irony—brought us together anyway. I found you along that lonely road, looking for shelter. And I realized I didn't need to force you. I could simply... present myself as your saviour."

 Her mind reeled, memories flooding back—how he had appeared like a beacon of hope in her darkest moment, how she had trusted him, believed in his kindness. It had all been a lie. A carefully constructed illusion. 

 "You planned it," she said, her voice shaking with a mix of rage and despair. "You let me believe I had a choice, that you were helping me, when all along—" 

 "I was taking what was already mine," Kiernan finished, his tone unapologetic. "Yes." 

 Her heart pounded in her chest, her fists trembling as anger surged through her. "You're vile," she spat, tears burning in her eyes. "You've stolen everything from me—my family, my freedom, my life." 

 "And yet," Kiernan said calmly, "you're still here. Still standing in my home, under my protection. Because you know the alternative, Caroline. You know what life outside these walls would look like. You wouldn't survive it. Not without me." 

 She glared at him, her voice breaking with emotion. "You're awful. "Kiernan stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. 

"Perhaps. But I've kept you alive, haven't I? I've given you purpose, a place to belong. And now, I'm giving you the chance to reclaim what you've lost. Help me find Ondina, and I'll give you what you truly want. Freedom. Family." 

 Caroline stared at him, her chest heaving as tears streamed down her face. Every fibre of her being screamed at her to fight back, to resist, but she knew he had her cornered. He always had.

 Finally, she dropped her gaze, her voice hollow. "What do you need me to do?" 

 Kiernan smiled, triumphant. "That's my girl." He stepped back, gesturing to the door. "You may go. Prepare yourself. I'll call for you when the time comes."

 Caroline turned on her heel, not trusting herself to say another word. But as she reached the door, Kiernan's voice stopped her. 

 "Oh, and Caroline," he said, his tone as smooth as silk. "Remember: loyalty is rewarded. Betrayal... is not." 

She didn't look back, her tears blurring the path ahead as she stepped out of the study. But deep down, she vowed that if she ever found a way to turn the tables, Kiernan would pay for every single lie he had ever told her.