FROST AND FLAME

Tears blurred Levi's vision as he raced to the clinic, cradling his unconscious grandmother in his arms. The thought of losing her gnawed at his spirit, stripping away the layers of toughness he had meticulously built. The doctor informed him she was in a coma, Levi's heart was splintered.

He drove back to the palace in silence, his mind a whirlwind of grief, rage, and confusion. As he got out of his car and headed for the palace's door, someone stopped him in his tracks.

Sabi was walking towards the gate with her luggage, her face a mixture of resolve and heartbreak. She looked up, her eyes locking with his. She paused.

For a moment, neither spoke. The air between them was heavy with unspoken words.

Sabi clenched her fists, fighting back the tears threatening to spill. She couldn't afford to break, not now. After what she had witnessed and the threats from Paris and Mateo, staying felt like walking into a lion's den.

Levi's jaw tightened, his pain morphing into quiet anger. Without a word, he walked past her, heading straight to his chambers.

The click of his boots faded into the night as Sabi stood there, trembling. She braced herself up and forged on.

***

In his room, Levi's hands trembled as he turned on his laptop. His only solace lay in the security cameras. If he could see what happened, he might piece together the events leading up to his grandmother's collapse.

His fingers flew across the keyboard, navigating through the footage. But when he reached the timestamp for that night, the screen showed only darkness.

"No… no!" he shouted, slamming his fists against the desk. He buried his face in his hands, the frustration boiling over. The one moment that could provide clarity was lost to the storm.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door creaking open. He didn't need to look up to know who it was.

"Levi…" Paris's voice was soft, laced with faux concern. She stepped inside, her face carefully crafted into an expression of sorrow. "How's grandma?"

He didn't answer, his shoulders rigid as he stared at the blank screen.

"Levi, I'm just as devastated as you are," she continued, inching closer. "We'll get through this together."

Her hand reached out to touch his shoulder, but he shrugged it off, standing abruptly.

"Leave," he muttered.

Paris's mask of sadness faltered, replaced by a flicker of irritation. "I'm trying to help—"

"I said leave!" he barked, his voice cutting through the air like a whip.

Startled, Paris took a step back. Levi didn't wait for her to argue. He stormed past her, out of the room, and down the hall.

He ran. His feet pounded against the stone floor as he raced through the palace, past the gates, and into the courtyard. He had to stop her. He couldn't let her leave like this.

But when he reached the gate, the night greeted him with nothing but the hum of the rain-soaked silence. The taxi was gone.

His chest heaved as he stood there, drenched in despair. His fists clenched at his sides, his thoughts a chaotic mess. Why did she have to leave now, of all times? Why did everyone around him seem determined to abandon him?

Just as he turned to retreat back into the palace, a loud honk pierced the night. He froze, spinning around.

There she was. Sabi, sitting in the backseat of a taxi, her face illuminated by the dim glow of the streetlights. Her gaze was steady, her jaw set with determination.

The driver lowered the window. "She said she changed her mind," the man said gruffly, jerking his head toward her.

Sabi stepped out of the taxi and closed the gap between them. Her hands trembled as she reached for him, pulling him into an embrace.

"I changed my mind," she whispered against his chest, her voice barely audible over the sound of his racing heart.

Levi stiffened for a moment, he pulled back slightly, his hands cupping her face as he searched her eyes.

"I'll stay," she murmured, her lips curving into a small, bittersweet smile. "I want to be your mistress."

Levi's lips parted to respond, but nothing came out. Instead, he leaned down, resting his forehead against hers.

This is just the beginning.