Aria's POV
The knock emerged again-slow, deliberate.
Not rushed. Not afraid.
Dante didn't move. His body was a wall in front of me, firm and uncompromising. I could feel the tension in him, the barely contained violence waiting to be unleashed.
"Stay here," he muttered without turning back.
My heart hammered so loudly I was convinced whoever stood on the other side could hear it. "Dante... who is it?"
He didn't answer.
The door clicked open just enough to reveal a man standing in the corridor. Tall. Well-dressed. Calm in a way that made my skin crawl. His gaze slid passed Dante-straight to me.
A smile curved his lips.
"Aria Moretti," he said smoothly. "You're harder to find than I expected."
My breath fled. "You... know me?"
Dante stepped forward, rifle raised. "You shouldn't be here, Bellini."
Bellini chuckled, unaffected by the weapon pointed at his chest. "Still so dramatic, Dante. Relax. If I wanted her dead, she wouldn't be standing."
That didn't help. My knees felt weak.
Bellini's eyes softened-too contrived to be real. "You look just like her mother," he added. "Same eyes. Same stubborn fire."
My chest clenched uncomfortably.
"You knew my mother?"
His smile vanished.
"Very well."
Dante's voice fell, murderous. "Say what you came to say and leave."
Bellini sighed, as if bored. "Fine. I came to warn her." His attention returned to me. "You don't belong to yourself, Aria. You never have."
My stomach twisted. "What does that mean?"
He tilted his head. "It indicates your life was guaranteed long before you were born. And now that you've been seen with him..." He glanced at Dante. "...every powerful family will come knocking."
"Liar," I murmured, but terror gripped tightly around my chest.
Bellini leaned closer. "Check the mark on your wrist. Ask him what it genuinely means."
Dante stiffened.
That silence-sharp and telling-terrified me more than Bellini's remarks.
Bellini straightened, satisfied. "Enjoy your night, Aria. Choose carefully who you trust." He halted at the door. "Because love is the fastest way to die in our world."
The door closed behind him.
I turned slowly to Dante, my heart breaking and rushing all at once. "You knew," I said. "Didn't you?"
His jaw stiffened. His eyes clouded.
"Yes," he admitted gently. "And if you stay with me..."
He went closer, lifting my wrist carefully, his thumb stroking the mark like it scorched him.
"...they'll never stop coming."
My voice shook. "Then why save me?"
His answer was quick. Honest. Terrifying.
"Because I already selected you."
