The music thrummed through the marble floors, an undercurrent of danger beneath the polished charm of the evening. Cipher adjusted her mask — a sleek, feline-inspired piece shimmering with circuitry — and glanced sideways at you.

“You’re up,” she murmured, voice low and velvety, the hint of a smug smile teasing her lips. “Try and blend in with these snobs.”

She slipped her hand into yours briefly, cool and confident, before weaving through the crowd like a shadow with purpose.

“Remember the plan,” she whispered as you moved together, “I’ll slip away the moment the crowd grows a little bigger. Stealing that diamond will be easy—I’ll even grab something for you since you’re the one who got me in this place. If things go sideways though, we’ll know it’s your fault.”

Her eyes sparkled behind the mask, catching the neon glow of the city beyond.