As I slipped into my favorite red dress—the one that made me feel like a million bucks—I couldn't help but admire the way the fabric hugged my curves in all the right places. The bold color contrasted beautifully against my warm golden skin, making me glow under the soft light of my bedroom. It had been a birthday gift from Sophia, my best friend, who had practically forced it into my hands with a teasing comment about my "tragic" wardrobe.

"You have got to stop dressing like you're running errands at all times, Kaira."

At first, I almost refused the dress. The open back plunged dangerously to my waistline, leaving me feeling too exposed, too vulnerable. But standing in front of my mirror now, I was grateful I'd kept it. I didn't have anything else that felt remotely appropriate for tonight, and I was determined to enjoy myself.

I paired the dress with my tallest heels and a statement necklace, smoothing my curls over one shoulder as I gave myself a final once-over. For the first time in weeks, I felt excited. Sophia, Julian, and I had been planning this night for ages, and nothing—not my usual worries, not my home situation—was going to ruin it.

Just as I reached for my perfume, a sharp honk echoed from outside. My heart skipped. That had to be them.

I hurriedly spritzed vanilla-scented perfume onto my neck before grabbing my purse and rushing to the door. As I stepped outside, the cool night air wrapped around me, sending a slight shiver down my spine. Sophia's car idled by the curb, its headlights casting long shadows across the pavement.

Julian was in the driver's seat, drumming his fingers against the wheel impatiently. "Hey, girl! Let's go! We're running late!" he called, waving at me.

Sophia leaned out from the passenger side, beaming. "Hurry up, Kaira! The night isn't gonna wait for us!"

I locked the door behind me and made my way to the car, but as I slid into the backseat, a sudden pang of unease settled in my stomach.

Would my aunt notice I was gone? Would there be consequences when I got back?

I pushed the thought aside. Tonight was about freedom. Tonight was mine.

Sophia turned in her seat, eyes glinting mischievously. "Alright, what's the plan for tonight?"

Julian grinned at me through the rearview mirror. "Change of plans. We're going to the mansion."

My stomach flipped. "Wait—what? I thought we were going downtown to Bairly's Club."

Sophia waved a dismissive hand. "Yeah, we were, but then Julian heard about this party at the mansion." She raised an eyebrow, clearly expecting me to be impressed.

I wasn't.

My fingers curled against my dress as a familiar chill crept along my spine. I'd heard rumors about the mansion. Everyone had.

It was a place of mystery, whispered about in hushed tones at school. Stories circulated about strange disappearances, shadowy figures lurking in the halls, and an owner no one seemed to truly know. Some said it was cursed. Others claimed supernatural beings roamed its corridors.

It was all ridiculous, of course. Just urban legends. But still…

I forced a smile. "And you two thought, 'Why not walk straight into a haunted house?'"

"Oh, come on," Julian scoffed, steering the car onto the main road. "It's not haunted. It's just exclusive. Rich people parties, you know? It's supposed to be epic."

Sophia turned to me with a playful smirk. "Besides, Kaira, you need to let loose. Think of it as an adventure."

An adventure.

Maybe that was exactly what I needed.

I sighed, glancing out the window as the city lights blurred past. Whatever the truth about the mansion was, I'd find out soon enough.

The moment we pulled up to the estate, my breath caught.

The mansion loomed before us, massive and imposing, with gleaming white stone walls and towering spires that seemed to pierce the night sky. Rows of windows sparkled like diamonds, and soft golden light spilled from the grand entrance, illuminating the well-manicured courtyard.

"Holy shit," Sophia whispered.

"Right?" Julian grinned. "Told you it'd be insane."

I swallowed hard, my earlier unease returning. The place was beautiful—too beautiful, like something out of a dream. Or a nightmare.

As we stepped out of the car, the low, pulsing beat of music wrapped around us, vibrating through my skin. People moved in and out of the grand doors, dressed in elegant gowns and sharp suits, laughing as if they belonged to another world entirely.

I squared my shoulders. Tonight, I belonged too.

Sophia linked her arm through mine, practically bouncing with excitement. "Come on! Let's go in"

The moment we stepped inside, I felt the air shift. The foyer was enormous, its marble floors gleaming under the light of extravagant chandeliers. A grand staircase curved elegantly to the left and right, leading to balconies that overlooked the space below. The scent of expensive perfume and faint cigar smoke clung to the air, mixing with the rhythmic pulse of the music.

"Wow, this place is insane," Sophia breathed, her eyes wide with wonder.

"You've said that already," Julian teased, grinning as he dodged the playful smack Sophia sent his way. He pretended to wince, though his broad, muscular frame made the reaction almost comical.

The grand foyer was even more breathtaking up close—larger than I'd imagined, almost too large, like the architecture had been built for something other than humans. A marble staircase curved elegantly to the left and right, its golden railing catching the chandelier's glow. The ceilings stretched impossibly high, where intricate paintings of gods and monsters loomed above us, their eyes following the guests below.

Laughter and conversation floated through the air, mingling with the scent of expensive perfume, aged whiskey, and something richer… darker. The room buzzed with an energy I couldn't name—like a living thing moving just beneath the surface.

I swallowed hard, my earlier excitement flickering under the weight of something unfamiliar. Something watching.

"This place is unreal," Sophia whispered, eyes wide as she took it all in.

Julian let out a low whistle. "Now this is luxury. Makes Bairly's look like a roadside bar."

I nodded, but my skin prickled, a subtle chill brushing over my arms despite the warmth of the crowded room.

Sophia turned to me with a grin. "Okay, first stop—the dance floor."

I exhaled, forcing myself to shake off the strange feeling. I was here to have fun.

"Let's do it," I said, letting her pull me forward.

We wove through the crowd, past elegantly dressed guests whose faces seemed too perfect, their smiles lingering just a second too long. A few of them glanced at us—at me—with an intensity that sent an uneasy tingle down my spine.

I told myself I was imagining it.

The dance floor stretched across the far end of the mansion, a massive space filled with shifting bodies, glittering gowns, and the deep, pulsing rhythm of the music. A throbbing bass vibrated through the floor, syncing with my heartbeat.

Sophia immediately started swaying to the beat, her hands in the air, already lost in the moment. Julian, ever the entertainer, spun in place dramatically before grabbing my hands.

"Come on, Kaira, lighten up!" he teased, twirling me playfully.

I laughed, letting myself get swept up in the music. For the first time in weeks, I felt light, the weight of my usual worries lifting as we moved together in the sea of strangers.

As I spun, the golden light above us shimmered, and the chandeliers flickered—just for a second—as if something unseen had passed through the room.

A shiver ran down my spine.

I turned instinctively, scanning the crowd, searching.

And that's when I felt it.

A gaze. Heavy. Unyielding. Like a whisper against my skin.

My breath hitched.

I didn't see him at first. Just a sea of dancers, moving shadows, faces blurred by flashing lights. But the sensation only grew stronger, wrapping around me like an invisible thread pulling me closer to something… to someone.

Then, through the shifting crowd, I saw him.

Him.

He stood near the bar, detached from the party, watching.

Dressed in a flawless white tuxedo, he looked like he belonged to another era. The black bow tie at his throat only heightened the elegance, an old-world touch that made him feel… timeless. His jet-black hair was styled perfectly, not a strand out of place, as if even time itself wouldn't dare disturb him.

But it was his eyes that stole my breath.

A piercing, unnatural blue. Glowing, almost. Like frozen fire. Like they could strip me bare with a single glance.

My stomach twisted in something too sharp to be attraction and too intoxicating to be fear.

The air between us crackled, as if charged with something unseen, something ancient.

I couldn't look away.

I didn't want to.

And then, he smiled.

Not the kind of smile men gave when they were interested. Not flirtatious, not amused.

Knowing.

Like he had been waiting for this moment. Waiting for me.

"Kaira!"

Sophia's voice shattered the spell.

I gasped, blinking rapidly as she grabbed my wrist, spinning me toward her. She was still laughing, completely unaware that my heart was hammering like I had just been yanked from the edge of a cliff.

"I love this song!" she squealed, twirling me. "Don't zone out on me now."

I forced a laugh, shaking my head. "Sorry! Got distracted."

I glanced back toward the bar.

He was gone.

My stomach dropped.

Had I imagined him?

No. No, I knew what I saw. I knew what I felt.

Julian appeared between us, grinning. "Let's grab drinks."

I nodded, my mind still spinning as I followed them toward the bar.

The closer we got to the bar, the heavier the air felt. Like walking through invisible silk.

Julian leaned against the counter, ordering a cosmopolitan while Sophia and I settled on white wine. As the bartender prepared our drinks, I rubbed my arms, still unable to shake the lingering chill.

Then, suddenly, I felt him before I saw him.

The energy around me shifted, and an almost electric pulse traveled up my spine.

I turned.

He was there.

Standing just inches away, closer than he should have been able to get without me noticing.

He moved with a quiet, effortless grace, his presence commanding yet silent, like a shadow that had stepped into the light. Up close, he was even more striking—his features impossibly sharp, like he had been sculpted rather than born.

A predator wearing elegance like a disguise.

"Enjoying the party?"

His voice was smooth, low, the kind that could slip through the cracks of a locked door and whisper directly into your bones.

I swallowed, forcing my voice to stay even. "Yeah. It's… impressive."

His lips twitched slightly. "You don't seem convinced."

I frowned. "Why would you say that?"

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze locking onto mine. Unwavering. Calculating.

"You're different from the others," he mused. "You don't quite belong here."

I bristled. "And you do?"

A low chuckle escaped him. "Oh, Kaira."

The sound of my name on his lips sent a jolt through me. How did he know my name?

Before I could ask, he extended a hand, slow and deliberate.

"Dance with me."

I hesitated. Every instinct screamed that this man was not normal. That he was dangerous.

But my fingers were already moving before my mind could make sense of what was happening.