The air inside the Black Fang felt charged, a low hum of tension running through the walls as Kaelen sat at the bar, nursing a glass of whiskey. The day had already thrown enough surprises his way, and the last thing he expected was his phone to buzz with a call from Red Dot.

Kaelen stared at the screen for a moment before answering. “What’s up, Mason?”

Red Dot’s voice came through, calm but laced with urgency. “Kaelen, I’ve been digging into that Blaze girl. Turns out she’s deep CIA.”

Kaelen froze, his mind racing. Blaze? A CIA agent? He felt an immediate surge of anger and betrayal but quickly masked it, letting Red Dot continue.

“I know it’s not what you wanna hear, but I figured you needed to know. Just watch your back, kid. Don’t let your guard down, especially now.”

There was a pause, Kaelen’s grip tightening around the glass in his hand. “Thanks, Mason. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I’ll handle it.”

“I know you will,” Red Dot replied before the line clicked dead.

Kaelen pocketed his phone, leaning back against the bar. Blaze, a spy? It stung, but he wasn’t one to act rashly. I’ll deal with it my way.

Before he could fully process the call, his attention shifted to Loren, who was at the bar with his grandmother, Zelyndra, looming over her like a shadow. His grandmother had been demanding that Loren craft a special drink for her, one that was meant to symbolize her power and sophistication. It wasn’t just a request—it was an order.

Zelyndra’s gaze was cold and unyielding as she watched Loren work. “Make sure it’s perfect, girl. Nothing less than excellence will do.”

Loren, trying to keep her cool, meticulously worked on the drink. She was crafting a blend so unique and luxurious that only someone of Zelyndra’s status would dare to order it. The concoction was called Eclipse Elixir—a cocktail that was as visually stunning as it was complex.

The base was made of aged dragonfruit-infused vodka, distilled with rare herbs from the Underdark. She added an essence of moonflower, which glowed faintly under the low light of the bar, giving the drink an ethereal shimmer. Loren gently stirred in black orchid syrup, a rare ingredient harvested only during a lunar eclipse. Finally, she topped it off with a single drop of phoenix fire nectar, igniting a small, delicate flame atop the glass.

The drink was poured into a crystal goblet that gleamed with subtle enchantments, the flame dancing above the surface like a miniature aurora. Loren held her breath, offering the drink to Zelyndra, who took it with an air of superiority.

“Eclipse Elixir,” Zelyndra murmured, tasting the drink. Her cold eyes flashed approval, though her lips barely hinted at a smile. “Acceptable.”

Kaelen clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to confront his grandmother right then and there. Loren shot him a small, almost apologetic glance before stepping away from the bar. Just as the tension in the room seemed ready to settle, the doors to the club swung open, and in walked Nero—accompanied by Blaze.

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Seraphis, who had been peacefully sleeping on one of the couches, shifted slightly but didn’t stir. Kaelen's eyes narrowed as Nero approached, his movements unusually formal.

Nero stopped in front of Zelyndra, bowing low in an exaggerated gesture of submission. “My queen,” he said, his voice dripping with reverence. “I have dutifully followed your orders and brought the spy.”

Kaelen’s heart skipped a beat as his eyes darted toward Blaze. She was pretending to be drunk, her movements slightly exaggerated as if she was playing into the role of someone too intoxicated to notice what was happening. But when Nero mentioned "spy," Blaze’s eyes widened in genuine shock. She did a double take, trying to feign ignorance, but her survival instincts kicked in. She turned, making a desperate attempt to flee—but it was too late. Zelyndra’s royal security had already blocked off every exit.

Blaze put her hands up, her face pale as she slowly got on her knees, a nervous grin tugging at her lips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammered, trying to keep her voice steady. “I’m just a music producer. Nothing more.”

Zelyndra’s elegant heels clicked against the floor as she approached Blaze, her eyes filled with cold calculation. She knelt down, her hand gripping Blaze’s chin with surprising strength. “Then why,” Zelyndra hissed, her voice low and venomous, “were you spying on my grandson?”

Blaze’s eyes darted around the room, her mind racing as she tried to come up with an answer. “I—I wasn’t spying,” she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m just here to work on music…”

But before Zelyndra could continue her interrogation, the front doors of the Black Fang burst open again. Trap Icy and Kunai strode in, their presence immediately drawing attention. Trap Icy’s bold, flamboyant energy clashed with the tense atmosphere, and Kunai’s sharp eyes were already scanning the situation.

“Yo, what the hell’s going on?” Trap Icy asked, her voice cutting through the room. She looked around, bewildered by the sight of Blaze on her knees in front of Kaelen’s grandmother, who was clearly in the middle of something dark and twisted.

Kaelen seized the opportunity, stepping forward with a sharp tone. “Grandma, let me handle my own goddamn shit. I already knew about Blaze being a spy from Red Dot. So chill. Any information she was getting? I was feeding her bullshit to misdirect whoever she was reporting to. Now you’ve ruined it.”

Zelyndra froze, her expression turning sour like she had just been forced to eat a dozen lemons. Her grip on Blaze’s face slackened, and she stood up, signaling to her security to step aside and allow Trap Icy and Kunai to enter.

Trap Icy and Kunai exchanged confused looks but didn’t say anything. Blaze, still trembling slightly, looked up at Kaelen, her eyes full of doubt and guilt. “So, I can go now?” she asked cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll never show my face here again. I swear.”

Kaelen gave a small nod, and Blaze scrambled to her feet, hurrying toward the door. Trap Icy and Kunai watched her leave, their faces full of bewilderment. As Blaze disappeared into the night, the silence in the room lingered for a moment longer before Kaelen turned to Nero, who was still standing with an eerie calmness, a smirk playing on his lips.

“How long?” Kaelen demanded, his voice cold and cutting. “How long have you been spying for my grandmother?”

Nero chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “Since the beginning of my career as an agent,” he replied casually. “She owns my building, Kaelen. She’s basically my queen and my boss. I’ve always been loyal to her.”

Trap Icy crossed her arms, clearly frustrated with the whole situation. “Why’s Blaze leaving?” she asked, frowning. “Who’s gonna make the beats for our upcoming album now?”

Kunai, ever the calm one, put a hand on her shoulder. “You forgot I can make beats,” he said, his voice gentle but steady.

Trap Icy blushed, a sheepish smile creeping onto her face. “Oh, damn! That totally slipped my mind. Sorry, Kunai!”

As the room settled, Kaelen took a deep breath, his mind still spinning from the chaos of the night. His grandmother returned to the bar, sipping her Eclipse Elixir as if nothing had happened, but Kaelen knew better.