Chapter 3: The Offer
705 Words
The break-in took place in silence.
There was no sign of an entrance, such as broken windows, splintered wood, or loose pushed locks.
The door opened as effortlessly as it always did, and the sound of its well-known click could be
heard in the silence. However, something inside Elowen stopped as soon as she entered her flat.
It didn't feel right.
There was no sound or movement, so it wasn't immediately harmful, but it was unsettling. As
though the area itself had been touched, reorganized, and examined.
Her eyes scanned the room gently.
Everything was in its proper location.
Well, not quite.
The spine of a book that she clearly remembered leaving flat on the table was now slightly out of
alignment with the edge. If you were looking closely, you could see that one of the dining chairs had
been slightly moved out. The contents of a drawer close to the kitchen were obscured by shadows
and remained slightly open.
intentional.
A note.
Without making a sound, Elowen entered and shut the door. Instead of spiking, her pulse remained
steady. honed. All of the instincts she had developed over the years came together with ease. She
made her way through the apartment with soft footsteps and meticulous attention to every detail.
There was nothing lacking.
Above all, she was uneasy about that.
as theft wasn't involved.
It was an intrusion just for the purpose of intruding.
There had been a visitor. Someone who is competent enough to enter without using force, cautious
enough to exit without causing mayhem, and self-assured enough to make sure she would notice.
She had already made up her mind as she went for her phone.
The Thames was visible from Alaric Vaughn's apartment, and the city below it was revealed in a
wave of shimmering lights and subdued might. The cityscape was framed by floor-to-ceiling glass
walls, but just as much attention was paid to the interior, which was spotless and simple, with each
item thoughtfully placed.
After standing close to the glass for a while, Elowen turned, her former uneasiness giving way to
something colder and more concentrated.
Alaric wasted no time.
He said, "You can't stay there."
His voice was cool, collected, and decisive.
More out of habit than disobedience, Elowen crossed her arms. "I'll get by."
"No," he said equally calmly. "You won't."
He sounded so convinced that it was quite unnerving; it wasn't dismissive or haughty. Yes.
With a firm voice, she said, "Then say what you actually mean."
He grabbed a document off the table and moved it in her direction without saying anything else.
It was an easy motion.
under control.
Elowen scowled a little before picking it up and rapidly scanning the page till she stopped.
marriage.
The word echoed louder than it should have in the silence between them, seeming to hold
everything else in place.
She slowly raised her eyes. "Are you serious?"
"Yes."
There was no second thought. There was no sign that this was anything but a well-thought-out
choice.
"This is nonsensical."
"It's efficient."
Her face hardened a little. "Me, why?"
For the first time since her arrival, Alaric hesitated.
It was fleeting, but it was apparent.
He explained, "Because attaching yourself to me removes you as a target."
Elowen looked closely at him, trying to find something hidden. "And how do you benefit?"
His eyes met hers, inscrutable yet steadfast.
"Mastery."
She was taken aback by its candor—not because of what he said, but rather because he made no
effort to soften it.
"And protection," he continued after a little pause.
Once more, a deeper silence descended upon them.
Elowen glanced back down at the document, her mind racing as she considered the risks and
potential rewards. There was nothing secure about this. This was not an easy task.
However, the circumstances she was already in weren't either.
It had been easy to break into her flat.
It had been a silent warning.
The threat persisted even after I rejected him.
It may get worse.
She let out a steady breath after a long moment, the decision taking hold with a quiet finality.
"All right," she replied.
And all of a sudden, everything was different.
- Writer
