The night was calm, yet Ruby Anne felt the storm brewing in her mind. Instead of heading straight to the Gate Association, she had her driver take her home. The moment she stepped inside her house, she let out a tired sigh and tossed her coat onto the nearest chair. The dim lighting of her living room cast soft shadows across the walls, making the space feel both vast and suffocating.
She sank into the sofa, resting her arm over her forehead as she stared up at the ceiling. The events of the day replayed in her mind—the exhilarating fight with Zenon, his undeniable strength, and the thrilling clash of blades. It had been a long time since she had fought someone like him, someone who made her blood race with excitement.
But then, her thoughts drifted to something else. Something far more
