The night was thick with tension as Marie navigated the labyrinthine alleys of the city, her senses heightened by the cloak of darkness that shrouded her movements. She moved swiftly and silently, her steps a dance of stealth as she made her way toward the predetermined meeting point.
Nikolai, the enigmatic figure who had once been an enforcer of the High Court, awaited her in the shadowed alcove. His presence was a mixture of danger and intrigue, a constant reminder of the web of secrecy that enshrouded them both. Marie's heart raced, a blend of apprehension and hope coursing through her veins.
"Marie," Nikolai's voice carried a sotto voce greeting as she approached, his eyes gleaming like polished obsidian in the dim light.
"Nikolai," she acknowledged, her tone cautious yet resolute.
