*Chapter 25: The Den of Lies*
The underground chambers of Prague pulsed with danger, every shadow watching, every whisper loaded with secrets. Elena, still cloaked under the identity of *Selene Vortini*, had walked straight into the serpent's den—and now, every move had to be calculated, precise, deadly.
She had just received an invitation:
*"Private meeting with Nikolai Trevisan. Midnight. Location undisclosed."*
It came in the form of a red wax-sealed card, handed to her by Arman Valic himself.
Her heart didn't skip. She didn't flinch.
Because *this*—this was what she had waited for.
***
Back at the Verona compound, Rafael monitored her every move through a custom GPS pin hidden in Elena's diamond earring. "She's walking into a trap," he muttered.
Marco leaned over. "She knows. That's why she's not walking in as Elena."
"She's walking in as death," Luca added, eyes narrowed.
***
Midnight. Outside an abandoned cathedral in the hills above Prague.
A black car arrived. Elena stepped out in stilettos, long black coat sweeping behind her. Her hair was tied back, her face unreadable. Arman was waiting.
"Come alone?" he asked.
She smirked. "I'm all the army I need."
He didn't argue.
They entered the cathedral. It smelled of damp stone and forgotten prayers.
Candles lit a path to the altar.
And there, seated like a king on a broken throne, was *Nikolai Trevisan*.
He rose.
"Elena DeLuca. Or should I say… Selene?"
She didn't respond. Just stepped forward until they were eye to eye.
"You've made quite a name as Selene. Ruthless. Fearless. Just like your mother."
"Mention her again," Elena said coldly, "and I'll carve your name into this floor with your own teeth."
Nikolai smiled. "There she is."
The silence was heavy. Then he said, "Join me."
Elena raised a brow. "Excuse me?"
"You've outgrown Verona. Outgrown petty vengeance. You and I—we could run this world. Not as enemies… but as gods."
She laughed. Low. Dangerous. "You killed my men. Tried to end my family. You want an alliance?"
"I want power," Nikolai said. "And you're the only one strong enough to share it with."
She stepped closer, leaned in, and whispered, "Power shared with a snake only ends one way. With venom in your back."
Then she stepped back and snapped her fingers.
Suddenly—*lights out*.
Smoke exploded across the cathedral. Hidden devices planted earlier triggered. Chaos.
From the shadows, *Rafael, Marco,* and *Isabelle* burst in, guns drawn.
Elena spun, grabbed Arman, and slammed him into the altar.
Screams. Gunfire. Trevisan's men caught off-guard.
But *Nikolai was gone*.
A trap—but *his* trap, not hers.
He'd lured her in not to kill—but to distract.
Because halfway across Europe, DeLuca warehouses were going up in flames.
He'd played her.
***
Later that night, Elena stared at the burning reports back at the compound.
"Nikolai wants war," she said, voice like ice.
"He just started one," Marco replied.
"No," she said, standing up. "I did."
She turned to the board and circled the name "Nikolai Trevisan" in red.
"Next time I face him, it won't be as Selene. It'll be as Queen. And I won't miss."
*To be continued...*
(Ready for Chapter 26?)