Arin didn't move.
He barely breathed.
The woman outside knocked again, slower this time.
Knock… knock…
"Arin Rao," she repeated, voice calm but firm. "Please open the door."
Kairon stood silently beside him, eyes glowing faint blue in the dim room. He didn't look scared. He looked ready to break through a wall if needed.
Arin whispered, voice cracking, "Who is she?"
Kairon shook his head once. "Not human."
Arin's stomach clenched. "What?! She sounds human!"
"Her aura is concealed," Kairon murmured. "But I can feel it. She is not normal."
Another knock.
"Arin. I know you're inside. We need to speak. Now."
Arin mouthed, What do we do?!
Kairon's voice stayed calm. Too calm.
"If she enters, she will see me. If she sees me, she will alert others. If she alerts others—"
"Yeah, I get it," Arin muttered. "Bad."
Arin tiptoed toward the door, trying not to make any sound. His hands were shaking so badly he had to clench his fists to stop them.
Kairon motioned for him to stay back.
"I will handle her."
"No, Kairon—" Arin hissed. "You can't just attack random people!"
Kairon's eyes narrowed. "I said she is not human."
"Still—!"
Too late.
Kairon stepped closer to the door, listening.
The woman outside spoke again.
"I'm from the Phenomenon Observation Bureau. We detected an energy spike at the construction site. You were seen near it. We only want to ask questions."
Arin winced. Government. Perfect.
Kairon whispered, "This 'Bureau' is not your government. I have never sensed such energy in your world before."
Arin frowned. "So… not official?"
"Not human," Kairon repeated.
Arin's anxiety shot up.
Arin took a deep breath.
He had two choices
1. Stay silent and hope she goes away.
2. Speak through the door and pray she believes he saw nothing.
3. Kairon fighting her—was not even something he wanted to consider.
Arin raised his voice, loud enough to be heard.
"Uh—sorry! I'm busy! Now's not really a good time!"
Silence followed.
Then the woman spoke with a voice that held no emotion.
"We know you came into physical contact with the energy source."
Arin's heart dropped.
She knows.
Kairon tensed.
The woman continued, "Please open the door. We can help you."
Arin whispered to Kairon, "If I don't open it, she'll force her way in."
Kairon nodded slowly. "Then step away."
Arin backed up.
Kairon raised his hand—and placed one glowing scale-covered finger on the door.
Arin whispered, frightened, "What are you doing?"
"Listening," Kairon said.
His eyes unfocused, like he was sensing something beyond the wood.
"She is alone. But masked. Her inner essence… is strange."
Arin exhaled shakily. "How strange?"
"Old," Kairon said.
Arin's shoulders slumped. "Great. An ancient not-human at my door."
Suddenly, the door handle shook.
Arin jumped.
The woman spoke through the door, voice unnervingly calm.
"Arin Rao, if you don't let me in, we will assume you are compromised by the entity."
Kairon's hand curled into a fist. The glow around his eyes brightened to a sharp neon blue.
Arin grabbed his arm. "Don't! We can't fight—"
Kairon placed a hand on Arin's shoulder.
His expression softened for a moment.
"No matter what happens, stay behind me."
Arin swallowed hard. "Kairon—"
CRACK.
The metal lock snapped.
The door didn't open, but the sound echoed through the apartment.
Kairon leaned close to Arin.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"She is forcing the lock. Prepare yourself."
Arin's chest tightened. He felt the bond pulse again—hotter, sharper, almost burning. His breath caught.
"What's happening to me?" he whispered.
Kairon didn't look away from the door.
"You are reacting to my instinct. I am preparing for battle. So your body is reacting too."
Arin's heart pounded harder than he could handle.
A primal fear—something not entirely human—spread through his chest.
"My… eyes," Arin whispered. "They burn."
"That is the aura trying to surface," Kairon said quietly. "Do not let her see it."
Arin covered his face, breathing hard.
The woman spoke again.
"Arin. Step back from the door."
This time, her voice wasn't polite.
It wasn't human either.
It layered—two tones overlapping. One normal, one deep and echoing.
Kairon straightened his posture.
"She reveals herself."
Arin backed away until he hit the wall.
Kairon's aura flared, light crawling over his arms.
"Arin," he said calmly, "if she opens this door, I will deal with her."
Arin clenched his teeth. "Please don't kill anyone."
Kairon's eyes sharpened. "If she attacks, I will have no choice."
Another crack.
The hinges strained.
Arin mouthed a single word:
"Please…"
Kairon nodded once, still facing the door.
"I will try to restrain her instead."
A brief second of relief washed through Arin—
until the door swung open on its broken lock.
A woman stepped inside.
Long black coat. Pale face. Silver eyes that didn't look human at all.
She stared directly at Arin.
Not at Kairon.
At Arin.
Those silver eyes glowed faintly.
"There," she whispered.
"He carries dragon aura. The bond is confirmed."
Arin froze.
Kairon moved.