The Blackthorne mansion was the kind of estate that made the weather look tame.
Even the thunder seemed to hesitate before rolling over its rooftop.
Inside, however, thunder already lived there.
"Where is he?" Magnus Blackthorne demanded, gripping his cane like it had personally offended him.
Caleb stood near the fireplace, calm but visibly tense. Lena leaned against the piano, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Theo paced in circles, holding a towel to his shirt where he'd spilled coffee out of pure stress.
"He should've informed us," Caleb muttered. "At least sent a message."
"Or a pigeon," Theo offered. "A smoke signal. Something. Anything."
Magnus glared at him. "You think this is funny?"
"No," Theo said quickly. "This is horrifying. Terrifying. My lunch died for this."
Lena let out a slow breath. "Theo, please stop talking."
"I can't," he whined. "I'm in shock."
Before Magnus could snap again, footsteps echoed from the entrance.
Aiden walked into the room.
Rain still clung to his coat, and his expression was unreadable—calm, sharp, dangerous. Everyone froze for a heartbeat, as if they'd forgotten how to breathe.
Magnus broke first.
"You foolish boy," he barked. "You walk in during a storm like you're the hero of a tragic play!"
Aiden's mouth twitched. "Hello to you too, Grandfather."
"You don't call, you don't warn, you just appear."
Magnus jabbed his cane toward him. "I should hit you."
Theo whispered, "He will hit you."
Caleb stepped forward, tone serious. "Aiden… you should've told us."
"I didn't come here for a welcoming committee," Aiden replied.
Lena narrowed her eyes. "You came back for war."
He met her gaze. "Yes."
A heavy silence settled.
Caleb exchanged a quick glance with Lena. Theo took a nervous step back.
Magnus leaned forward in his chair. "Tell us everything."
Aiden removed his coat, eyes darkening. "Zoren Drakov."
The name alone made the room shift.
Caleb's jaw clenched.
Lena's fingers tightened.
Theo actually gasped.
Magnus's cane hit the marble floor with a sharp crack.
"That snake," Magnus growled. "I knew he'd crawl out again."
Aiden continued, "He orchestrated everything. The fake statements. The evidence. The false witnesses. My exile."
Lena's eyes sharpened. "He won't stop."
"He already started again," Aiden said. "He sent Siena a message today."
Caleb blinked. "Siena Ardent? She's involved?"
Aiden didn't answer.
Theo's eyes went wide. "You saw her? Today? Already?"
He stumbled back. "Oh wow. This is… this is big. This is 'grab popcorn and hide behind a couch' big."
Magnus glared at Aiden. "How did she react?"
Aiden's jaw tightened. "She told me I was trespassing."
Lena actually smiled. "Good for her."
Caleb sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Aiden, she was hurt when you disappeared. Everyone assumed—"
"I know what they assumed," Aiden cut in. His voice dropped, quiet but heavy. "And I know what she believed."
Magnus tapped his cane, eyes gleaming.
"You care."
Aiden looked away. "This isn't about feelings."
All three cousins stared at him.
Theo pointed. "Lie."
Lena nodded. "Obvious lie."
Caleb gave an exasperated sigh. "Painfully obvious."
Aiden shot them a cold look. "My focus is Zoren Drakov."
"And the girl," Magnus added flatly.
Aiden didn't respond.
He didn't have to.
Even silence confessed.
Magnus leaned back. "If Drakov is circling Siena… you don't have time to pretend."
Theo gasped dramatically. "Is this a love triangle with a deadly villain? Oh my god, Aiden, you're living a drama."
Lena smacked Theo's arm. "Stop talking."
Theo rubbed it. "I'm coping."
Aiden ignored them and sat down, leaning forward.
"This time," he said, "I'm ending it."
Caleb crossed his arms. "Do you have a plan?"
"For now," Aiden said, "I need to protect what matters."
The cousins exchanged a glance.
"What matters?" Lena pressed.
Aiden didn't answer immediately.
Then he stood.
"Siena."
Magnus smirked, satisfied.
Theo nearly fainted.
Caleb closed his eyes in resignation.
Lena gave a small, almost approving nod.
"About time," Magnus muttered.
Aiden ignored all of them and headed for the door.
Caleb called out, "Where are you going now?"
Aiden didn't turn around. "To make sure Zoren doesn't reach her first."
The door shut behind him.
The storm outside cracked open with thunder.
Inside, Theo whispered, "We're going to die from the drama in this family."
Magnus raised a brow.
"Drama?" he said.
"No. This is war."