ADRIEN’S POV

My anxiety had started three hours before the engagement party, and it intensified during the drive.

By the time Orion’s car rolled through the wrought-iron gates of the estate hosting Louise’s engagement celebration, I was seriously considering faking my own death. Or running away again.

"You’re grinding your teeth."

I glance away from the window. Orion sits beside me in the driver’s seat looking offensively relaxed. One hand rests loosely against the steering wheel while the other taps an absent rhythm against his thigh.

He is dressed entirely in black. Naturally.

Apparently attending an engagement celebration while looking like Death’s favourite son is now considered acceptable in high society.

"Am not."

"You are."

"I’m not."

"You’ve been doing it for seventeen minutes."

I stop immediately, then the bastard smiles.

I hate him.

Outside, luxury vehicles lined the circular driveway in glittering rows. The garden venue beyond was illuminated by thousands of tiny lights suspended from ancient oak trees. White roses decorated nearly every available surface.

The entire place looked expensive enough to bankrupt a small nation— Which means Louise had probably helped organise it.

How unfortunate.

I stare at the sea of white flowers and feel something unpleasant twist inside my stomach.

Louise knows. Or at least she knows something.

The memory of our dinner conversation replays itself for the hundredth time in my mind.

’After Orion eventually sleeps with you, I’ll make sure he learns what you used to do after you ran away’

The words have lodged themselves inside my skull like shrapnel.

How much does she know? Does she know about the shelters? The fights? The stealing?

The nights spent sleeping in abandoned buildings because nowhere else was safe?

Or—

No.

I cut that thought off immediately. Nobody knew about that. Nobody is supposed to know. Except maybe the lunatic.

My hands clench in my lap.

"Adrien?"

Orion is watching me now, his expression unreadable. "We can leave," he says.

"What?"

"We don’t have to attend."

I snort. "And miss Louise publicly binding herself to another poor unsuspecting victim? Never."

His eyes linger on my face. "You’re scared."

"I am not scared."

"You haven’t glared at me in the last ten minutes."

I pause. "...That is concerning."

"It is."

I look away. Truthfully, I am not scared of Louise. I am scared of what she represents.

Exposure.

Exposure that will make Orion finally realize that I am just a little more than a starving, runaway stray surviving however I can.

A filthy thing.

My stomach twists again.

Alice Dubois will be here today. My stepmother. The Crow.

I haven’t seen her in months. Not since—

I stop that train of thought too. Apparently, tonight is going to be an evening of emotional repression. Wonderful.

The car slows to a stop near the entrance. Staff members hurry forward to receive us, but I make no move to leave, and neither does Orion.

We sit in silence for a while.

"Ah," Orion says thoughtfully. "I now see the problem."

"Oh, good for you. Please, do not enlighten me."

"You’re anxious," he says, ignoring my honest plea.

"I think you already knew that."

"No." He turns in his seat. "You’re anxious because you believe you’re entering enemy territory without any protection."

I stare. "What?"

"I have a solution." No, you fucking don’t.

"Somehow that terrifies me."

"It should."

I sigh heavily. "Fine. What’s your solution?"

Orion smiles. It’s as worrying as it is bright. "I can protect you."

"From yourself?" I ask dryly.

"No, duckling. I mean from others."

Every instinct I possess screams danger. "What does that mean?"

His smile widens, and I immediately regret asking.

"It means," he says pleasantly, "that if anyone attempts to harm you tonight, I will destroy them. Completely."

"Emotionally, financially, socially, or physically. Whichever proves most efficient."

I rub my forehead. "That’s concerning. Is it possible for you to also destroy yourself? Your existence is kind of hurting my mental health."

"Alternatively," he continues as though I didn’t speak, "I could simply kill Louise the moment she signs the engagement papers."

I slowly lower my hand. "...What?"

He shrugs. "I’ll do it publicly."

"Orion—"

"The resulting chaos would certainly calm your mind."

"Your solution to my anxiety is murder?" This fucker really has no sanity left.

"Calming murder, duckling. There’s a difference."

I stare at him. He stares back with complete sincerity. Or as sincere as a lunatic can get. The horrifying thing is that he absolutely meant it, and somehow...somehow...I feel myself relax.

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it.

Because honestly, when presented with the option of facing my trauma alone or watching Orion commit homicide for fun, my own problems suddenly seem significantly smaller.

Orion tilts his head. "You find my proposal amusing?"

"It’s either I laugh or cry."

"I see," he mutters.

"I don’t think you do."

"Probably not."

It’s silent for a while, then he speaks again.

"I can still protect you."

I look at him. There is no madness in his expression now, just certainty. Absolute, unwavering certainty.

No one has ever looked at me that way before, like protecting me isn’t a burden, but simply a fact. I least expected it from this madman.

Something inside my chest tightens.

"And what," I ask carefully, "would this protection cost me?"

His smile returns instantly. "A kiss."

I should have known. Fuck. "You’re insufferable."

"Yes."

"You’re so insane it’s ridiculous."

"Maybe I am," he nods.

I narrow my eyes. "And if I refuse? What happens then?"

"Then, I’ll kill Louise." Orion flashes me a serene smile.

I fight the urge to brain myself.

"You are out of your goddamn mind," I whisper, a genuine smile finally breaking through my dread.

"I would say that it’s only for you, but we both know that’s a lie," he counters smoothly.

"Fine," I say, reaching out to grab the lapel of his tailored jacket. "I’ll take the protection package. Consider this your down payment."

I pull him down across the console and press my lips to his.

It isn’t a tentative kiss. It’s sharp, demanding, and filled with all the residual adrenaline coursing through my veins. Orion let out a low, surprised growl into my mouth, his hand instantly flying to the back of my neck to hold me in place, deepening the kiss with a sudden, fierce hunger that threatens to bruise.

Does this bastard always go to bed hungry?

For a few seconds, the world outside the tinted windows completely vanishes. There is no Louise, no Alice, no past mistakes—just the intoxicating, dangerous heat of Orion.

I break the kiss abruptly, breathing a little heavily, and immediately smooth down my hair. Because I parted so fast, I completely miss whatever dazed or predatory expression crosses Orion’s face, because a loud, aggressive honk shatters the moment.

We both frown at the same time.

Then, headlights sweep across the driveway. A sleek silver vehicle pulls in beside us. The passenger door opens first, and a man steps out.

A bit taller than me, dark-haired, with steel in his eyes.

The driver’s door opens next, and Niko emerges.

Of course.

Because apparently one homicidal psychopath per evening isn’t sufficient.

"Wonderful," I mutter. "The horsemen of the apocalypse are assembling."

I fail to notice that Orion has gone oddly quiet.

Niko approaches our vehicle alongside the unfamiliar man. The stranger looks calm while Niko looks delighted— Which was infinitely worse.

"Orion," Niko greets cheerfully. "Adrien."

"Fucking rapist," I reply.

"Stray puppy."

I point at the stranger. "Who’s that?"

The man offers me a small smile.

"Niko’s boyfriend."

I choke on air. Boyfriend? I look at Niko, then look back at the stranger. Then back at Niko.

"...You have a boyfriend? Is this a joke?"

Niko looks offended. "Yes, me. And no, it’s not a joke, it’s a recent, lovely development."

I turn to Orion. "You allowed this? That man has clearly been forced into this."

"Alexis seemed reasonable, and sadly, Niko isn’t as much of a sexual degenerate as you think he is. It’s all consensual, I assure you."

"He knows the meaning of consent?"

"Of course I do!"

I look at Alexis again. Poor bastard. Alexis merely smiles. There is something deeply unsettling about him too.

Niko suddenly freezes. He lifts his face toward the brightly lit gardens, then smiles.

"Oh."

That single word filled me with dread.

"The crow arrives," he announces softly.

I stiffen. The Crow. My Stepmother.

Niko continues, voice taking on the cadence of someone delivering prophecy.

"And the old lady follows."

Alexis sighs. "Darling—"

Niko flashes him a positively radiant smile. "The joining of a crow and an old lady beneath white roses...how nostalgic."

Orion nods absentmindedly. "Mhm."

I look between them.

"What in God’s name are you both talking about?"

A knowing smirk plays on his face. He leans closer, lowering his voice as he spews some cryptic, profound bullshit.

"The stars are aligning in the worst possible way today, Orion. The crows are gathering, and the old bones are rattling. It is the ritualistic joining of a crow and an old lady. A truly cursed union."

What the fuck?