Just beyond the rusted iron gates of the police station, Divya stopped.
Her arms folded across her chest, knuckles pressing hard into her sleeves. The distant pulse of the festival still drifted through the streets—laughter, music, light—but it might as well have belonged to another city entirely.
"This is unbelievable," she snapped, turning on him. "They didn't believe a word I said. Not even a little."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "I told them the truth."
She let out a sharp laugh. "You told them about magic and kingdoms and war. What did you think would happen?"
"What was I supposed to say?" he shot back. "That I lied?"
"Yes," she said flatly. "That would've been a start."
He stared at her, stunned.
She stepped back, already done. "I brought you here. That's it. Whatever happens next is between you and them. I'm not getting dragged into this again."
She turned away.
"Wait," he said.
She didn't stop.
"You're just leaving?" His voice was quieter now. Uncertain. "I thought you were helping me."
Divya glanced over her shoulder, expression hard. "I did help you. You're an adult. Figure the rest out."
And then she walked away.
No hesitation. No second thoughts.
Adrian stayed where he was.
He didn't follow. Didn't call out. He watched her disappear into the crowd until the space she'd occupied felt… wrong. Empty in a way he hadn't prepared for.
He exhaled slowly, forcing the feeling down.
Attachment was a liability. He knew that.
The city pressed in around him—engines, voices, movement—but his attention sharpened when a familiar laugh cut through the noise.
"Looks like they're not together after all."
Adrian turned.
The man from earlier lounged against his bike, helmet dangling from one hand. Others flanked him—six, maybe seven. Their smiles were lazy. Assessing.
"Shame," another added. "Thought we'd have to deal with you too, big guy."
Engines revved. The group pulled away, heading in the same direction Divya had gone.
Something cold settled in Adrian's gut.
He didn't think.
He moved.
---
Divya took the alley out of habit.
It cut between apartment blocks and vacant plots, narrow but familiar. She'd walked it dozens of times. It was quicker. Quieter.
She didn't register the sound at first—the low growl beneath the city's hum.
Then engines roared.
Two bikes shot past her and skidded to a stop ahead, blocking the path. Before she could react, more came from behind, sealing the exit.
Divya froze.
Seven.
Masked. Casual. Too deliberate.
Her pulse spiked, but her hand was already in her bag. The taser slid into her grip, crackling faintly.
"Don't come any closer," she said, voice steady despite the heat rushing through her veins. "You really don't want to test this."
They laughed.
One rider dismounted and pulled off his mask.
Recognition hit like a slap.
"You," Divya breathed.
He grinned. "Miss me?"
Her fingers tightened around the taser. Seven of them. No space to run.
"Put it down," he said lightly. "And come with us. No need to make things messy."
She didn't move.
Fear curled tight in her chest—but beneath it, something sharper burned. Anger. Refusal.
She held her ground.
Cornered.
And very aware that help wasn't coming.
---
Adrian hit the mouth of the alley at a run.
He took in the scene in a single glance—positions, numbers, exits. The woman trapped at the center. The men circling her.
It wasn't unfamiliar.
His hand curled into a fist.
Power or no power, some instincts didn't vanish.
And neither did the cost of ignoring them.
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