The city never really slept.
Even at midnight, the streets of Ravenfall were filled with faint sounds—cars passing in the distance, the hum of streetlights, and the cold wind brushing through empty alleys.
Aria Knight pulled her jacket closer around herself as she walked quickly down the quiet road. She shouldn't have stayed this late at the library. The last bus had already left, and now the only way home was through the narrow streets she barely knew.
Her footsteps echoed softly against the pavement.
Just a little further, she told herself.
But then she heard something.
A voice.
Low. Cold. Dangerous.
Aria froze.
The sound was coming from the alley beside her.
She knew she should keep walking. She knew she should pretend she heard nothing.
But curiosity made her glance toward the dark alley.
That was her mistake.
Under the dim light of a flickering streetlamp, three men stood there.
Two of them looked terrified.
The third one…
He looked completely calm.
He was tall, dressed in black, his posture relaxed like he owned the entire world. His dark hair moved slightly with the wind, and his sharp eyes were fixed on the man standing in front of him.
Aria couldn't hear everything they were saying, but she heard enough.
"You betrayed me," the tall man said quietly.
His voice was smooth, but something about it made Aria's heart race with fear.
The other man shook his head desperately.
"N-no, Adrian, I swear—"
Adrian.
The name felt heavy in the air.
The tall man tilted his head slightly, almost amused.
"Lying will only make things worse."
Before Aria could react, one of the terrified men tried to run.
He didn't get far.
Adrian moved faster than she expected, grabbing the man and pushing him back against the wall. The sound of the impact echoed through the alley.
Aria's breath caught in her throat.
She shouldn't be watching this.
She turned to leave—
And accidentally stepped on a loose piece of metal.
CLANG.
The loud sound shattered the silence.
Aria's heart dropped.
Slowly… very slowly… Adrian turned his head.
His cold eyes locked directly onto her.
For a moment, the world felt frozen.
Aria's chest tightened as fear crawled up her spine.
Run.
Her mind screamed the word.
But her feet refused to move.
Adrian studied her carefully, like she was a puzzle he was trying to solve.
Then he started walking toward her.
Each step was slow and calm.
But somehow that made it even more terrifying.
When he finally stood in front of her, Aria realized just how tall he was.
Too close.
Way too close.
"You shouldn't be here," he said quietly.
Aria tried to speak, but her voice felt stuck.
"I—I didn't see anything."
Adrian's lips curved slightly.
Not a friendly smile.
Something darker.
"Oh?" he said.
His gaze dropped to her trembling hands, then returned to her face.
"You're a terrible liar."
Aria's pulse pounded in her ears.
Behind him, the other men stayed silent, clearly waiting for his decision.
Adrian stepped closer.
So close she could feel the cold air around him.
"You heard my name," he continued softly.
Aria didn't respond.
She was too scared to.
His eyes darkened slightly.
"That makes you a problem."
Her stomach dropped.
"Please," she whispered. "I won't tell anyone."
For a few seconds, Adrian said nothing.
He just stared at her.
Then suddenly—
He laughed.
A quiet, amused sound.
"That's what they all say."
Aria's heart felt like it might explode.
Adrian leaned closer, his voice dropping into a whisper near her ear.
"You saw something you shouldn't have tonight."
His words sent chills down her spine.
Then he straightened and looked down at her again.
"And now…"
His eyes darkened with something dangerous.
"…you belong to me."
Aria felt the world tilt beneath her feet.
She had just moved to this city to escape her past.
But somehow…
She had walked straight into something even worse.
Something far more dangerous.
The devil himself.
And Adrian Volkov had no intention of letting her go...