The party was over. The last guest had departed, and a peaceful silence had settled over the apartment, soothed by the distant city lights. Marcus and Shayera were putting away the final glasses, a pleasant, happy fatigue on their faces.
Suddenly, without a sound, without the building's sophisticated alarms triggering, a figure materialized on the balcony, silhouetted against the night sky. It was Jade Nguyen, Cheshire. She was still in civilian clothes, but her posture was that of a warrior, and her green eyes gleamed with a cold intensity.
Shayera froze, a plate in her hand, her own warrior instincts instantly snapping to high alert. Marcus slowly set down the glass he was drying.
"The invitation must have been lost," he said, his voice calm but tinged with weariness.
Cheshire ignored the remark. Her gaze swept over the elegant apartment, betraying a fleeting glimmer of approval before returning to fix on Marcus.
"The Queen does not appreciate being ignored," she declared, her voice a soft murmur that carried clearly to them. "She saw your little party. All your powerful... friends. She thinks you're growing too comfortable in your new life. That you're forgetting your debts."
Shayera took a step forward, but Marcus placed a hand on her arm.
"I owe Queen Bee nothing," he replied firmly. "Except perhaps thanks for showing me the extent of my own power. A power I choose to wield, not one that wields me."
A thin, dangerous smile stretched Cheshire's lips.
"That's what all tools say, right before their true owner tightens the screws." She crossed her arms. "This is the final warning, Marcus. Not a letter, not a call. The next message will be delivered with less... ceremony. The Queen is prepared to burn everything you've built to bring you back to her. Your reputation. Your manga." Her gaze slid to Shayera. "Your loved ones."
The air turned icy. Marcus felt anger rising within him, a pure, protective fury, but he contained it. Showing rage was giving her what she wanted.
"Tell your queen," he said, each word dropping like a steel bearing, "that her threats are empty. That she can try. That she will find the man she created has become something she can no longer control. And if she dares to come near anyone I love..."
He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to. The message was sent, clear and heavy with consequence.
Cheshire watched him for a long moment, as if assessing his sincerity. Then, she inclined her head slightly.
"Message received." Her eyes rested on Shayera one last time, a silent warning, before she took a step back and vanished into the balcony's shadows as silently as she had appeared.
The silence returned, but it was now heavy and threatening.
Shayera turned to Marcus, her face grave.
"Marcus..."
"I know," he interrupted softly, pulling her close. "She's not going to stop."
He looked out the window, at the city he had sworn to protect. Queen Bee had just declared war. Not on Utopian, but on Marcus Kane. And she had chosen to play the most dangerous game: threatening those he loved. The peace of this perfect evening had been an illusion. The real storm was coming.