The vulture symbol scrawled in blood burned in Cassian's mind as he moved through the twisting streets of Belovar. The Circle of the Vultures had struck, and their warning was clear—anyone who helped him was a target. They had taken the first step in what would undoubtedly become a brutal game of cat and mouse, but Cassian knew this was just the beginning.

Kara’s death was more than a message; it was a calculated strike meant to cut off his information. If he was to continue his quest for revenge, he would need to act quickly before the Circle tightened its noose around him. He had no choice now but to go deeper into the shadows, where even the most powerful feared to tread.

Later that night, Cassian found himself moving through the city's underbelly, his body concealed by a dark cloak, his mind racing with calculations. He needed new information—about the Circle, their structure, their next move. If they were coming after him, it was only a matter of time before they unleashed their more dangerous assets. He needed to get ahead of them.

His destination was the Velaris Auction House, a gathering place for the empire's elite and a hub for illicit deals, rare artifacts, and forbidden information. The auction house was known for its discretion, but more importantly, it was where some of the empire's most powerful players came to trade secrets. If anyone had information on the Circle's next move, it would be the people inside those walls.

But the auction house wasn’t just a place for the rich. It was a den of power and deception, a place where trust was the most dangerous commodity, and betrayal was the currency that fueled its dark engine.

Cassian approached the grand building, slipping into a side entrance used by the servants. His face was hidden beneath his hood, but his sharp eyes took in every detail—the guards stationed at the doors, the servants moving discreetly between the rooms, and the patrons lounging in the dimly lit corridors. The auction was in full swing tonight.

A man of importance, Lord Karel, sat at the center of the auction's high table—a rotund figure adorned with gold and silks, his fingers heavy with jeweled rings. He was a powerful noble, and one whose reach extended beyond simple politics. Karel wasn’t part of the Circle, but his connections ran deep, and he had a reputation for knowing things that others didn’t.

Cassian had crossed paths with him in the past. Karel had his own ambitions, and in the murky waters of the empire’s power struggles, he often played both sides. He was exactly the kind of person Cassian needed—someone with valuable information who could be bought, coerced, or threatened.

Cassian weaved through the crowd, his movements practiced and fluid, his presence unnoticed by the nobles laughing and toasting their riches. His eyes stayed locked on Karel as the man barked orders to the auctioneer, waving his hand dismissively at a rare artifact on display.

When the bidding for the next item began, Cassian slipped into the shadows behind the high table, waiting for the right moment to strike. The guards stationed around Karel were attentive, but they hadn’t noticed him. He was a wolf among sheep, moving through the herd with precision.

As Karel leaned back, satisfied with the bids flowing in, Cassian made his move.

In an instant, he was behind the noble, his dagger pressed lightly against Karel’s throat. The man froze, his eyes wide with panic as he felt the cold steel at his neck.

“Don’t scream,” Cassian whispered, his voice low and calm. “You wouldn’t want to cause a scene.”

Karel’s breath hitched, but he didn’t move, his body trembling under the pressure of the blade. “W-what do you want?” he stammered, his voice barely audible over the din of the auction.

“Information,” Cassian replied, tightening his grip slightly. “About the Circle of the Vultures. You have connections. You know things. Tell me everything you know, and I’ll let you walk out of here.”

Karel’s eyes darted around the room, panic settling in as he realized how vulnerable he was. “I—I don’t—”

The blade pressed harder, drawing a thin line of blood.

“Lie to me again,” Cassian hissed, “and your life ends here.”

The noble swallowed hard, his face pale with fear. “Alright, alright!” he whispered harshly. “I know things. I’ve done business with them, but I’m not one of them. They’re… they’re everywhere. Nobles, senators, even military commanders. They control more than just politics—they have their hands in the black market, assassinations, everything.”

Cassian’s eyes narrowed. “Who’s their next target?”

Karel hesitated, his gaze shifting nervously.

“The Circle is moving against House Valen,” he whispered. “They’re planning to destroy the last remnants of your family. Anyone with connections to the Valen name is being hunted. They’ve already eliminated several of your father’s old allies. There’s a price on your head, Cassian.”

Cassian’s blood ran cold, but his expression remained impassive.

“And who’s leading the hunt?” he pressed, his voice growing darker.

Karel shook his head. “I don’t know. They don’t reveal their leaders to people like me. But… I heard whispers. They’ve brought in someone special—an assassin. One of their finest. She’s a ghost, a legend in the underground.”

Cassian felt the chill in the air deepen. “Who?”

Karel’s eyes flickered with recognition. “They call her Lira, the White Viper. If she’s coming after you… you won’t see her until it’s too late.”

Cassian’s mind raced. Lira. He had heard the name before—a figure of myth among assassins, known for her lethal precision and unmatched skill. No one had ever survived a contract marked by the White Viper.

“Where can I find her?” Cassian demanded.

Karel shook his head. “You don’t find her. She’ll find you.”

Cassian considered his options. If the Circle had sent their best after him, he couldn’t afford to be reactive. He needed to be two steps ahead of Lira—track her before she had the chance to hunt him down. The assassin’s game was a deadly one, and one misstep could be his last.

But he wasn’t the boy who had been overlooked by his family anymore. He was a weapon, forged in the fire of betrayal, sharpened by the darkness. He wouldn’t run from the Circle, and he wouldn’t run from Lira.

He would strike first.

Cassian withdrew the blade from Karel’s throat and stepped back into the shadows, his presence vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. The noble slumped in his seat, his hand shaking as he wiped the thin line of blood from his neck.

Later that night, Cassian made his way back to the edges of Belovar, the streets growing quieter as the city settled into darkness. His mind was focused, his next moves already forming in his mind. If Lira was hunting him, he needed to gather as much information about her methods as possible. The White Viper wasn’t an ordinary assassin—she was a master of poisons, stealth, and misdirection. Her kills were artful, leaving no trace behind.

Cassian had no choice but to step deeper into the assassin’s world, a place where trust was a rare commodity and betrayal was inevitable. The Circle of the Vultures had thrown down the gauntlet, but they didn’t yet understand who they were dealing with.

His hand moved to the hidden blade beneath his cloak, the cool steel a reminder of the path he had chosen. He had already killed one of their key players in Voss, and now the Circle was tightening its grip.

But Cassian had never been afraid of shadows. He had learned to live within them, to become one with the darkness. And if Lira was coming for him, he would be ready.

The hunt had begun, but this time, the wolf was not the prey.

He was the predator.