Like he was returning home from work.
“Miss me?”
Isabelle’s chest tightened.
The sight of him felt wrong now.
Like looking at someone wearing a mask that had slipped.
“You’ve got nerve showing up here,” she said coldly.
Dylan glanced around the wrecked apartment.
Broken furniture.
Shattered glass.
The fallen piano.
He chuckled.
“Looks like I missed the redecorating.”
Adrian stepped forward.
The silver glow around him brightened slightly.
“You shouldn’t have come back.”
Dylan’s eyes gleamed.
“Oh, I absolutely should have.”
His gaze slid to the canvas.
The half-finished painting.
Interest flickered across his face.
“Well now.”
He stepped closer.
“That’s new.”
Isabelle moved in front of the painting instinctively.
“Don’t.”
Dylan raised an eyebrow.
“Protective?”
Adrian’s voice turned sharp.
“Stay away from it.”
Dylan studied the canvas again.
Then Adrian.
Understanding dawned slowly in his expression.
“Oh.”
His smile widened.
“You’re repairing your anchor.”
The words felt like ice sliding down Isabelle’s spine.
Adrian didn’t respond.
Dylan laughed softly.
“That’s clever.”
His eyes flicked toward Isabelle.
“Using the artist.”
“Stop talking about me like I’m not here,” she snapped.
Dylan’s gaze softened slightly.
“Belle.”
The familiar nickname twisted in her chest.
“You shouldn’t be involved in this.”
“Too late.”
She crossed her arms.
“You made sure of that.”
His smile faded a little.
“You were never supposed to get hurt.”
“Oh wow.”
Her laugh was sharp.
“That’s comforting.”
Dylan sighed.
“You’re angry.”
“No shit.”
Adrian stepped forward again.
“Leave.”
Dylan ignored him.
His attention remained fixed on Isabelle.
“You don’t understand what he is.”
“Pretty sure I do.”
She gestured toward Adrian.
“He’s the ghost who didn’t lie to me.”
Dylan’s jaw tightened slightly.
“That thing isn’t human.”
“Neither are you.”
Silence cracked through the room.
Dylan’s expression hardened.
“You should walk away.”
“Not happening.”
His eyes darkened.
“You’re choosing him?”
Isabelle’s voice turned icy.
“I’m choosing the truth.”
For a moment—
Something dangerous flashed across Dylan’s face.
Then it vanished.
He exhaled slowly.
“Fine.”
His gaze shifted back to Adrian.
“Then let’s finish what we started.”
The shadows around him thickened.
Dark energy coiled across the floor like living smoke.
Isabelle’s heart slammed against her ribs.
“Adrian—”
But Adrian had already moved.
Silver light exploded through the room.
The two forces collided again.
Darkness and light clashed violently, sending shockwaves through the apartment.
The windows rattled.
Paint cans toppled from the table.
Isabelle stumbled backward as wind whipped through the room.
Dylan moved faster this time.
The shadows wrapped around Adrian like chains.
Adrian’s glow flickered.
“Your anchor is weak,” Dylan murmured.
“Not weak enough.”
Silver light burst outward.
The shadows shattered.
Dylan slid back several feet across the floor.
For the first time—
He looked irritated.
Isabelle’s eyes darted to the painting.
The air above it glowed faintly.
Energy pulsed from the canvas toward Adrian.
Strengthening him.
Dylan noticed it too.
His expression darkened.
“That painting needs to go.”
Fear jolted through Isabelle.
“No!”
Dylan raised a hand.
Dark energy gathered at his fingertips.
Aimed directly at the canvas.
Adrian’s voice thundered.
“Don’t you dare.”
But Dylan released the attack.
A streak of black energy shot across the room.
Isabelle reacted without thinking.
She jumped in front of the painting.
“Isabelle!”
The impact never came.
A blinding flash of silver exploded between them.
Adrian intercepted the attack.
The force hurled him backward across the room.
His body slammed into the wall.
The glow around him flickered violently.
Then dimmed.
Isabelle’s heart stopped.
“Adrian!”
Dylan stared at the scene quietly.
Then he sighed.
“You’re making this more difficult than it needs to be.”
His gaze returned to Isabelle.
“You should move.”
She didn’t.
Her body stayed planted in front of the canvas.
“No.”
Dylan’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re protecting it.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Her voice trembled slightly.
“Because it’s saving him.”
Silence filled the room.
Dylan studied her.
Really studied her.
Then he spoke quietly.
“You care about him.”
The realization in his voice sounded almost… curious.
Isabelle didn’t answer.
Dylan’s expression slowly shifted.
Something colder.
Something darker.
“Well.”
He straightened his coat.
“That complicates things.”
Behind her, Adrian slowly pushed himself up from the floor.
His glow flickered weakly.
But his voice remained steady.
“You will not touch her.”
Dylan’s smile returned.
Sharp.
Predatory.
“Oh, Adrian.”
His eyes gleamed.
“I think she just made this hunt a lot more interesting.”