The room smelled like blood and cold stone.

Kaz hadn’t realized you were there until it was too late.

For a fraction of a second, the mask slipped—fatigue, rage, something older and sharper beneath it all.

Then it was gone.

“You should leave,” Kaz said evenly.

No threat. No explanation.

“And if you value your future,” he added, adjusting his gloves, “you’ll forget what you saw.”

Still—he didn’t move to stop you.