Ashes of Devotion

The Game Begins

The next few days at the Winchester estate were a delicate balance of observation and deception. Daniel and his men executed their plan masterfully, playing their parts with meticulous precision. They were present, but never intrusive, engaged, but never eager. The Winchesters had spies everywhere, watching their every move, but Daniel took pleasure in turning the game back on them.

It became a dance, a silent battle of wits. Their hosts thought they were the ones gathering intelligence, but in reality, Daniel and his men were planting misdirections, leading the Winchesters to believe they had control when, in truth, they were the ones being studied. Every passing day, the picture became clearer, who held real power within the household, who was merely a pawn, and who could be turned.

Some servants whispered when they thought no one was listening. A few even let slip small details about the estate’s movements, deliveries coming in, letters being sent to important figures. Others, however, remained eerily silent, their eyes darting toward unseen shadows. The game was becoming dangerous, but that was precisely when Daniel thrived the most.

But the real challenge was patience. The plan demanded time, and time required restraint. They had to keep their excitement contained, their intentions masked beneath layers of charm and feigned innocence. No move could be rushed, and no mistake could be made.

Hale enjoyed his patrols around the perimeter. It gave him a sense of familiarity, of control, being out in the open with nothing but the crisp winter air and his own thoughts. The solitude was comforting, a sharp contrast to the elaborate mind games that filled the mansion’s walls. But tonight, he wasn’t alone.

A figure darted between the frozen hedges, moving quickly yet deliberately. Hale stopped, resting his hand on the hilt of his belt knife, waiting. The moment stretched, tension thick between the trees. Then, as if sensing she had been spotted, the figure stepped into the open.

It was a woman.

Not just any woman, Colette Winchester.

Hale relaxed, though he kept his expression neutral. "You should be careful sneaking about like that. Someone might mistake you for a trespasser."

Colette smirked, stepping forward, her rich auburn curls catching the silver moonlight. "Oh? And would you, a trespasser yourself, throw me out?"

Hale chuckled, folding his arms. "I prefer to consider myself an invited guest. A guest with boundaries, and a certain expectation of privacy."

She raised an elegant brow. "And yet, I hear you’ve spent the last few days sneaking about, whispering with the help, getting to know the estate in ways no guest should."

Hale tilted his head slightly, intrigued. "And where exactly did you hear that, Lady Winchester?"

She tapped a gloved finger to her lips. "A lady never reveals her sources. But let’s just say the servants are quite taken with the handsome new guests. They simply couldn’t help but whisper about you."

He smirked. "So, you came to see for yourself?"

"Perhaps," she admitted, moving closer. "I do like to know who I’m sharing my home with. And besides, it would be a shame to waste such an opportunity when so many have already provided such glowing reviews."

Hale laughed, a low and knowing sound. "And what do you think, now that you've had your sneak peek? Do I live up to expectations?"

Colette’s eyes gleamed with mischief as she leaned in just slightly, enough for him to catch the faint scent of lavender and something darker, more intoxicating. "I suppose that remains to be seen."

She circled him slowly, her gaze assessing, deliberate. "You don’t seem like the type of man who enjoys being watched. And yet, you make quite a spectacle of yourself."

Hale followed her movement with careful precision, amusement flickering in his gaze. "And you, Lady Winchester, don’t seem like the type to go sneaking around the estate late at night. Yet, here you are."

She smiled, tilting her head slightly. "Curiosity is an unfortunate affliction of mine. But then again, I do love a good mystery."

The air between them was thick, charged with something neither of them acknowledged aloud. This was a game, but it was one Hale enjoyed far more than he should have.

"Careful, Lady Winchester," he murmured. "You might find that I’m not the one who should be watched."

She let out a soft, amused laugh. "Oh, I have no doubt about that. But where’s the fun in watching if I don’t get a little closer?"

With a final teasing glance, she turned and disappeared into the darkness of the gardens, leaving Hale standing there, bemused and utterly intrigued.

He exhaled, shaking his head with a smirk. "This is going to be interesting."

He turned, making his way back to his quarters, but his mind was no longer on the mission. No, Lady Colette Winchester had just made the game far more entertaining.