The steady beep of a heart monitor echoed through the dimly lit room, where a pale figure lay beneath linen sheets, wrapped in bandages from head to toe.
A hooded, masked figure in black stood silently at the bedside, fists clenched, watching the gentle rise and fall of the figure's chest.
The door creaked open.
Another hooded figure entered, masked and breathless, rushing to the bed. They gasped at the sight—bandages covering the bruised face, the stitched body hidden beneath the sheets. With trembling hands, they touched the gauze on the figure's head, then gently lifted the covers to glimpse the damage beneath.
They tucked the sheets back with care, then turned to the silent figure standing nearby.
"This is all my fault," the newcomer said, voice low and shaky through the mask.
"If I'd known that mission would put everyone in danger… I would've gone alone. Taken the fall myself."
The other figure didn't move. Didn't speak. Just kept their gaze fixed on the injured body.
Then, softly, the silence broke.
"It was a rainy day."
The voice was quiet, but steady.
"I'd just...finished my shift from work....when I came back home with a box of pizza. It was my Jamie's favorite. Her birthday was the next day. She was turning four. I'd planned everything for the entire day. I even asked for a day off at work. I was excited."
He paused. Swallowed hard.
"But that excitement was dragged into the mud when I...opened the door...to find my..my wife's lifeless body..on the floor...naked and bruised. She was violated. Gang raped. By those horrible..monsters."
His fists trembled.
"And Jamie… my Jamie… was lying in a pool of her own blood. A bullet hole through the side of her beautiful head."
Tears streamed silently into the mask.
"I swore that day I'd get revenge. I'd kill those bastards and make them wish the Heavens had never brought them into this world. I'd tear them limb from limb."
He turned to face the other figure.
"And you…you... Bailey… you helped me do exactly that. On that rainy day, when I thought I'd lost everything, you reached out. You gave me a reason to live again. A reason to fight. And that was to get my revenge and help you wipe out the bloody bastards that are ruining and destroying many people's lives. So that they won't have to experience the same pain and suffering that we endured."
His voice grew firmer.
"That day, Bailey, I swore to be your loyal companion. Your soldier. My story is the same as JR's. And so many others. You've done so much for us… death doesn't scare us anymore. We'll follow you to the end. This—" he gestured to the bed, "—this isn't your fault. We're with you. Always. Got that."
Bailey couldn't hold back. He leapt into the figure's arms.
"Oh… Ricky."
He hugged him tightly.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Ricky smiled beneath the mask and held him close.
"Jeez… get your own room. First I get my ass maimed, and now I have to watch two grown-ass dudes getting all cuddly and lovey -dubby. Give me a break… some of us are straight, you know."
The low, raspy voice cut through the room. Bailey pulled away from Ricky and turned to see JR, awake and smirking through a bruised lip.
"This'll be great gossip at the club. I can't wait to tell BK. Ricky's so fucking dead for getting jiggy with his crush."
Ricky snorted.
"Go ahead, jerkass. Next time we will rescue you 'balless,' and let's see if Nellie still wants to suck up a broken machine. You'll spend the rest of your life as a bald eunuch serving the monks of the Sexless Temple. But don't worry—I'll send you videos to help you remember what feelings used to be. Before the drill lost it's batteries."
"Oh shut the fuck up, Ricky. At least I'll be alive. Unlike you, who'll be dung after BK chews you up and eats you raw. My fate's way better." JR shot back.
"Better? Really?" Ricky leaned in.
"Who says I'm not the bigger monster than BK? Did Cody ever tell you what I did to the Bullet-Head Gang?"
He paused, voice dropping.
"Oh..it was messy. Even the shit wasn't found. So watch out, son. Your little-ass days might be numbered."
JR swallowed and flinched.
Bailey sighed.
"Okay, you two numskulls, that's enough. I'm already tired, and watching grown men bicker like toddlers isn't helping. Save it for later."
He stepped closer to the bed.
"Welcome back from the dragon's den JR. Seems like your hosts were pretty determined to mark their hospitality on you. Aren't you one lucky fella to still have your limbs attached to your body. Guess Motherluck hasn't ditched you yet."
JR snorted.
"Motherluck my ass. I stopped believing in those fairytales a long time ago. But thanks, Boss. Even if I was ready to be dragon chow for you, I'm grateful for the save. Just… next time, I'm not going back there. Their hospitality was too good—on the brutal side. I'll only return if I'm the one dishing it out."
Bailey nodded.
"Glad you're okay, squirt. Who else would be our eyes and ears in the clubs, hunting down those dirty scumbags? You're too valuable to lose. All of you are. Don't forget that. That's an order."
JR smiled.
"Yes, Boss."
Ricky leaned forward.
"Did you see him?"
Bailey blinked.
"See who?"
"The dragon. Was he there?"
JR hesitated.
"I… I'm not sure. I saw this blonde guy."
"The White Tiger," Ricky said.
"Yeah, I think so. But there was another guy with him… hidden in the shadows. I couldn't see him clearly, except…"
He paused, catching his breath, since his injuries made it a little bit difficult to speak.
"Except what?" Bailey asked.
"His eyes. They were… terrifying. Glowing red. Monstrous. Like a beast. I thought I was staring at the devil himself."
Ricky's voice dropped.
"The dragon. So he was there. Tsk… I thought he left the dirty work to the White Tiger. Why was he there? What do you think, Bailey?"
Bailey barely heard him.
His mind spun.
Glowing red eyes.
Only one man fit that description.
Him.
The man from her nightmares. The one Bailey had provoked—twice. The almighty dragon, feared across kingdoms. Ruthless. Unforgiving. And now… they'd crossed him.
Bailey's blood ran cold.
Memories surged—sitting on his lap, pushing against him, attacking him in the palace. The dragon was infamous for his brutal revenge. Could Bailey survive him?
Or was it already too late?
"Bailey!"
Ricky's voice jolted him.
"Huh?" Bailey blinked.
"You okay? You zoned out."
"What? Oh… right. Yeah. Just lost in thought." He cleared his throat and turned toward the door.
"Excuse me. I... need to go."
He turned to JR.
"Glad you're okay, JR. Lie low until we get a grip on this storm. I'll check in on you. Get well soon, mate. See you when you see me."
JR nodded.
"Thanks, Boss. See you when you see me."
Bailey walked out of the room.
....
Outside
The morning air was cool, still tinged with the remnants of last night's storm. Bailey walked slowly toward a black car parked near the building, hidden deep within a thick forest. It looked abandoned from the outside—but inside, it was far more advanced than it let on.
Bailey paused a few steps from the car, eyes drifting to the horizon. The sun was rising, its golden glow cascading over the treetops. Raindrops clung to leaves and branches, shimmering like fallen stars. The forest glowed. It was beautiful.
"It was him, wasn't it?"
Bailey turned to the voice. Ricky stood beside him.
"Huh?"
"The guy you encountered at the palace. The one you framed with your bra to make it look like he had a wild night." Ricky snorted.
"Hope the drug worked. Otherwise, he will be needing something more than a bra the next time you meet him." He chuckled.
"Ha. Ha. Ha." Bailey replied dryly, turning back to the horizon.
Ricky's laughter faded. He joined Bailey in silence.
Bailey sighed.
"I'm so… fucking dead. Do you think he's going to find me?"
Ricky shrugged.
"I don't know. But my advice? Stay away from the palace for now. It's clear he's their hound dog. If the royal family has the dragon under their control, getting what you want won't be easy."
Bailey nodded slowly.
"I know. But I have to, Ricky. I need to get that box before those snakes do. With the bridal selection season coming up, things could get complicated. I'm participating—and I heard they're placing one of their own in the selection. That gives them an edge. I can't take that chance. I won't."
Ricky sighed.
"What about your caretaker? If you ask him, I'm sure he'd help. Why not tell him?"
Bailey's voice hardened.
"No. I don't want him involved. He's already grooming me to be the perfect 'queen'—clearly for his own revenge plan. I don't trust that he'll help me with mine. He asked me to set my revenge aside and focus on his. Which is something that I am not very fond of because I think he wants to use me as his puppet not a partner."
She paused.
"He seems sincere. Maybe he really wants to help me—because I remind him of his daughter. But I can't take that chance. My own family betrayed me. What more an outsider?"
Ricky nodded slowly.
"Okay. I get it. So what now? The Dragonflies must be hunting for us. What's the plan?"
Bailey's gaze sharpened.
"Be ready for anything. Truce or war. We're just as powerful as they are—and last night proved it. They won't take us lightly. Either they work with us… or they try to destroy us. And that won't be easy."
She turned to him.
"Make sure JR is moved to the safe house once he's stable enough. Keep a close eye on Cody. And tell the Sparrows to stay alert—report every move the Dragonflies make. We need to know what's coming."
Ricky nodded.
"Understood."
Bailey nodded back.
"Good. See you when you see me."
With that, Bailey walked to the car, climbed in, and drove off.
Ricky watched the vehicle disappear into the trees before turning back toward the building.
.....
The sound of the shower echoed through the lavish bedroom, adorned in silver and blue. Steam curled through the air, clinging to the walls like whispers.
The water stopped.
Moments later, a striking figure with fiery red hair stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a bath towel that clung to her delicate frame.
The figure moved to the dressing table, plugged in the hair dryer, and began blowing out her damp curls. Afterward, she gently applied lotion to her creamy skin, her movements slow and thoughtful. She reached into the drawer for her underwear and bra.
Her fingers brushed the bra—and a memory tugged at her mind.
"Don't… worry… I will… catch…you.. just… you… wait… I… will get you."
She snorted, remembering his words before he lost consciousness. She'd leaned in to study him, his face half-hidden by tousled hair. Damn, he was handsome. Even more than that scheming, bloodthirsty snake, Aaron.
She'd dared to trace her fingers along his sculpted torso, just to feel it. However the corner of her left eye dropped a little lower to the sight she mistakenly saw ealier. She froze,averting her gaze, quickly pulling her hand back, swallowing hard and clearing her throat.
Though she'd been alive for over three years since the incident and seen plenty of men, she was still an untouched flower. She'd tried once—thinking it pathetic for a twenty-three-year-old woman to still be untouched in this generation.
She'd snuck out to a club, once, wearing a black mini tight dress that hugged her beautiful luscious figure perfectly. An alluring trap for the other sex. But the moment she stepped inside and saw the dirty, lustful gazes, she bailed. Never went back.
Realizing she had zoned out too long and was running out of time, she'd scrambled for a way out of the lion's den. She'd grabbed his dirty clothes from the bathroom and tossed them near the bed. She then approached the bed, her gaze to the side and gently pulled one of the sheets beneath him and covering his body.
She'd tiptoed to the balcony, turned to inspect her handiwork. To make the scene look like the guy had a wild night. But something didn't seem quite right. All wild night should leave a souvenir as a momento, right?
She was about to search for something, to make the scene look more juicy. But then she'd heard guards approaching in the hallway. No time to think. She'd took out her bra from the uniform's pocket—the one she'd removed earlier to wear the male servant uniform in order for her bossom not to sell her out—and tossed it onto the table near the toppled chair. Then she'd bolted to the balcony, hoisted herself onto the roof, slipped back into the restroom, changed into her glittery outfit, and exited.
Guards flooded the floor. Luckily, there was another exit. She used it and returned to the party.
Now, sitting at her vanity, she smiled faintly at the memory.
"Aaa… Anna, you're so stupid when it comes to men, aren't you? Do you think he still remembers?"
Her blood ran cold.
Ricky's warning echoed in her mind:
"The dragon. That man is ruthless when he gets revenge.
Ruthless.
Heartless.
You're done for.
Done for…"
She swallowed.
"I hope he doesn't remember…"
Knock. Knock.
The knock jolted her. She shifted on her seat, trying to compose herself.
"Wh-who is it?" she stammered.
"It's me, my Lady—Cleo. I'm here to assist you in dressing for the day."
"Come in."
A young woman with ginger hair, round eyes, a flat nose, and pink lips entered, dressed in a grey and white maid's uniform. She carried a yellow formal dress, heels, and a box of pearl jewelry. She placed them on the bed and bowed.
"Good morning, Lady Ariel."
"Good morning, Cleo. What's with the fancy getup? Are we expecting someone important today?"
"No, my Lady. It's for your visit today with Lord Fortmore. Have you forgotten?"
"Forgotten what? Where are we going?"
"You're having brunch with the Queen Dowager at the Royal Palace. Didn't his Lordship inform you?"
Ariel's eyes widened.
"We're going where?"
"The Queen Dowager wants to see you. We'll be returning to the palace in a few days. That'll be the perfect time to execute our plan—leave the footage of the illicit relationship in the palace. It'll help you enter the selection."
The words echoed in her mind as the memory flashed. Raymond had said them—but she'd been too anxious to leave thr palace before the beast woke up to hear them clearly.
Ariel slumped onto the bed, her strength draining.
"My Lady?"
Cleo rushed to her side.
"Are you alright?"
Ariel stared at the outfit on the bed and snorted.
"I'm fucked."