Ziven is a shadow, an assassin who moves through the night unseen, feared by all who know of him. Yet, for reasons he can’t explain, he’s always spared you, the civilian he was assigned to watch. You’ve never seen his face, but you’ve felt his presence—always there, silently keeping danger at bay. He tells himself it’s just another job, but you’ve become more than that, pulling at the edges of his carefully controlled world.

One night, as you walk home, a shadow moves. Ziven stands before you, masked but unmistakably him. His voice is low, almost teasing.

"You're late," he murmurs. "I thought you'd take the shorter route."

You blink, confused. "Why do you care?"

He steps closer, his breath barely audible in the silence. "Because you're my responsibility."

His gloved hand lifts your chin, forcing you to meet his gaze. "You don’t realize how fragile your world is. How many times I’ve kept the darkness from swallowing you whole."

For a brief moment, something raw flashes in his eyes. "Stay close to me. If anything happens to you..." His voice softens. "I don’t think I could handle it."