Sin in His Shadow” Book One

Chapter 20 – The Devil’s Cage

Lucien took three steps toward Zevian.

Then four.

Each one louder than a scream in Zarek’s ears.

> “Stop,” Zarek said again—but it was softer now, broken. “Don’t do this.”

Lucien didn’t look back. If he did, he wouldn’t survive the look on Zarek’s face.

Zevian grinned like the trap had already sprung.

He snapped his fingers. The masked men shoved Auren forward, letting him collapse at Zarek’s feet before vanishing into the shadows like ghosts. Auren groaned but was breathing.

> “You got what you wanted,” Lucien said to Zevian. “Now let’s go.”

Zevian reached for him, fingers curling possessively around Lucien’s jaw.

> “Oh, pretty thing. We’re not going yet. First, I want Zarek to watch.”

Zarek’s body moved before thought did—gun raised, safety off, aimed right at Zevian’s skull.

> “Touch him again and I will redecorate this place in your blood.”

Zevian just laughed.

> “You think I’m afraid of dying? I died the day our family chose you over me.”

Lucien flinched as Zevian pulled him close. Zarek’s finger twitched on the trigger.

Auren groaned behind him, weak but alive.

Lucien leaned in, whispering to Zevian:

> “If you want me, fine. But get me out of here before Zarek does something we’ll all regret.”

Zevian paused.

Then smiled.

And shoved Lucien toward the exit.

> “Let’s see how far your king will crawl for you.”

Before Zarek could reach them, smoke filled the room—thick, chemical, choking.

A flash grenade hit the floor.

Then silence.

When it cleared—

> Lucien was gone.

With Zevian.

Zarek stood in the middle of the warehouse, gun lowered, breathing like a war machine.

Renzo appeared at his side, dragging Auren to safety.

> “What do we do?” Renzo asked.

Zarek didn’t answer.

He walked over to the wall and punched it hard enough to split skin over his knuckles. Blood dripped to the floor like punctuation.

Then he turned.

His voice was low. Calm.

> “We burn the world.”

---

Elsewhere – Unknown Location

Lucien was thrown into a velvet-lined room, chains hanging from the ceiling like forgotten prayers. He landed hard on the floor, coughing, vision spinning.

Zevian crouched beside him.

> “You’re lucky I like you,” he said, stroking Lucien’s face with the back of a blade. “If it were anyone else, I’d already be peeling skin.”

Lucien spat blood.

> “You’ll regret taking me.”

Zevian’s smile was vicious. “I already don’t.”

He turned to leave but stopped at the door.

> “You gave yourself up to save someone else. How noble.”

He chuckled.

> “Let’s see how noble you are after three days without light, food… or him.”

The door slammed shut.

Lucien lay on the cold floor, heart thudding, fear clawing at his chest like a second heartbeat.

But his voice was steady when he whispered into the dark:

> “Zarek’s coming for me.”