BLOOD IN SILK

The drive was long, silent, tense.

Alina sat stiffly in the passenger seat, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the road ahead. The city lights had long since faded, replaced by industrial wastelands and empty streets. Cassian drove with the calm of a man who could kill without blinking. She hated how steady he looked — like nothing touched him.

The car rolled into a wide yard flanked by rusted fences and low floodlights. A single warehouse stood at the far end — no guards, no pretense. Just a black structure in the middle of nowhere. It didn't scream danger like the last place.

It whispered something worse.

Control.

Cassian parked and stepped out, rounding the car to open her door. She didn't move.

"You think I'm staying in another prison?" she asked, lifting her chin.

His voice was low. "It's not a prison."

"Sure. Just another glamorous kidnap suite."

"Alina."

She got out on her own, brushing past him, making a point to walk ahead as if she owned the place. Cassian let her, jaw tight.

Inside, the warehouse was… unexpected.

Clean. Stark. Walls of matte gray. A table with water and a med kit. A leather chair. A couch. Cameras, off. No chains. No weapons in sight.

Still, she turned slowly, lips curling. "So this is where you keep the pretty ones?"

Cassian said nothing, just closed the door behind him.

She wandered over to the table, poured herself a glass of water like she was in a hotel, not a hideout. "You know," she said, voice light and mocking, "if you're going to play bodyguard, maybe try not being the reason I need one."

Cassian unbuttoned his coat, calm. "You're safe here. That's all that matters."

"Oh, right," she said sweetly. "Safe with the man who tied me to a chair and threatened to kill me."

His jaw flexed, but he stayed quiet.

She stepped closer, deliberately invading his space. "Does this work for you, Cassian? Playing the dark savior? Is that your thing?"

"Alina," he warned, voice tightening.

"No, I'm serious," she went on. "Because from where I'm standing, you're not a savior. You're just a cage in a nicer suit."

Something shifted in his eyes.

"I'm not afraid of you," she said, softer now. Crueler. "I think you're the one afraid. Of me. Of whatever it is you remember."

The silence that followed was cold and sharp.

Then, slowly, dangerously, Cassian moved.

He closed the distance between them in a heartbeat and grabbed her by the wrist — not hard, but firm enough to pull her flush against his chest.

Her breath caught.

"Say that again," he said, voice deadly calm.

She smiled, breathless. "I said—"

Before she could finish, he shoved her back — not violently, but with force — pinning her between his body and the concrete wall.

His hand closed around her jaw, tilting her face up.

"You think you know what fear is?" he hissed. "You think you can play with fire and not burn?"

Alina didn't back down.

"Maybe I want to burn."

That broke something.

His mouth crashed onto hers — brutal, punishing. A kiss not born of romance, but rage. It was all teeth and heat and fury. She gasped against him, but he didn't let her go. His hand slid into her hair, twisting tight. His other hand gripped her hip, pulling her closer, like he wanted to consume her and damn them both for wanting it.

She fought it.

Then she didn't.

Because for one raw, shattering moment, there was nothing else. No betrayal. No past. No power. Just the fire between them — wild, wrong, addictive.

When he finally tore away, they were both breathless.

Her lips were swollen. His pupils blown wide.

Neither of them moved.

Silence returned like a slap. Harsh and real.

Cassian stared at her, chest heaving, regret already sharpening in his gaze — but too late.

Alina touched her mouth, dazed, voice low. "That was your version of staying cool?"

He didn't answer.

He stepped back, jaw tight, fists clenched.

"I told you," he said hoarsely. "You don't get to play with fire and walk away untouched."

Then he turned his back and walked away — leaving her against the wall, heart pounding, flames still licking at her skin.

And for the first time, Alina realized the truth:

Cassian Vale was more dangerous when he cared.