Julian pulled his hand back from Liam's shoulder, the warmth of their shared moment a powerful counterpoint to the cold dread that still coiled in his gut. Liam’s unwavering loyalty was both a comfort and a crushing burden. I won't let you be a casualty in my war, Julian thought, the silent vow hardening his resolve as Liam poured another whisky. He stayed for a final, quiet drink, the easy hum of The Obsidian Gate feeling fragile, a sanctuary he might inadvertently shatter.
He was back in his penthouse office a day later, the city lights again twinkling indifferent to the burdens he carried. The promise to Liam echoed in his mind, intertwined with the pragmatic, unsettling agreement he had struck with Vivian Thorne. One offered pure, unselfish support; the other, a strategic, morally amb
