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The neon sign above the safehouse cast a pulsating glow, illuminating Nico's tense expression as he anxiously ran his hands through his disheveled hair, each tremor betraying the turmoil beneath his stoic exterior.
Veyra couldn't resist the opportunity to tease him, her smile sharp like a blade. "You're falling apart at the seams, you know that? All this rage—what's it really for? Because Kael didn't give you the pat on the back you were hoping for?"
Nico shot her a glare that could melt iron. "You don't understand the situation. He was never meant to experience emotions. Kael doesn't love anyone; trust is a foreign concept for him. I dedicated years of my life to him, pouring every ounce of loyalty into his aspirations and painstakingly constructing his empire, piece by piece. And yet, he looked right past me as if I were nothing."
Veyra let out a low, dangerous laugh, her amusement laced with a hint of malice. "And yet, he seems to have no trouble looking directly at Kane."
The mention of that name stopped Nico in his tracks. Ezra Kane—a figure that stirred a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within him. The soft-eyed, hesitant newcomer who desperately sought approval had been chosen by Nico for one reason: he was expendable, a blank slate to be sharpened into a weapon to take down Kael. He was meant to be nothing more than a pawn in Nico's game.
But instead, Nico had witnessed the disconcerting sight of Kael drawing Ezra closer, trusting him, shielding him from harm, and even showing a flicker of genuine care.
"That little bastard was mine to command," Nico hissed, his voice laced with a tremor of barely-contained rage. "I handed him the responsibilities, entrusted him with the virus, and directed him on where and how to strike. He was supposed to return to me, to recognize the power I wielded. But Kael—of all people—dare to open up to him?" With a forceful slam, his hand struck the table, sending tools clattering to the floor. "This whole situation should have circled back to me. It was always meant to be my victory."
Veyra leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with a malevolent curiosity. "So, it's not just Kael that you want to see reduced to ashes, then."
Nico's lips curled into a smile that held no warmth, just bitterness. "No, I want to orchestrate a spectacle—one where they both witness each other's downfall while knowing deep down that I was the one who ignited this fire."