Rain continued falling over Nocturne long after Luna left the alley.
The city looked different at night.
Darker.
More honest.
Streetlights cast weak circles of light on wet pavement while distant music leaked from underground clubs.
Luna walked calmly along the sidewalk, her coat pulled tighter around her shoulders.
But her mind wasn't calm.
Brevis Draven.
She hadn't expected to meet him this quickly.
Men like him usually stayed hidden behind walls, bodyguards, and layers of power.
Yet he had sat across from her in a café like it was the most normal thing in the world.
And worse…
He had already figured out too much.
"You're hiding something."
His words echoed in her head.
Luna exhaled slowly.
Of course he suspected something.
Men who ruled cities didn't survive by being blind.
Still, she had dealt with dangerous men before.
Brevis Draven was just another storm she needed to navigate.
Or so she told herself.
She turned down a quieter street.
The buildings here were older, the lights dimmer.
Her instincts immediately sharpened.
Too quiet.
The sound of footsteps appeared behind her.
Soft.
Careful.
Someone trying not to be noticed.
Luna didn't stop walking.
Instead, she slid her hand into her coat pocket.
Three footsteps behind.
Two men.
Maybe three.
A shadow moved across the wall beside her.
Yes.
Three.
Finally, a voice called out.
"Well, well… look what we found."
Luna stopped walking.
Slowly, she turned around.
Three men stood a few meters away.
Drunk.
Or pretending to be.
Their smiles were ugly.
"City's dangerous at night," one of them said.
"Pretty girls shouldn't walk alone."
Luna tilted her head slightly.
"Then it's lucky I'm not alone."
The men exchanged confused looks.
"Funny girl," another one said.
"Hand over your purse."
Luna sighed softly.
"I don't have one."
"Then your phone."
"No."
Their smiles disappeared.
"Wrong answer."
One of them stepped closer.
Luna remained perfectly still.
Then he reached for her arm.
Big mistake.
In one smooth motion, Luna twisted his wrist and slammed her elbow into his throat.
The man collapsed instantly.
The other two froze.
"What the—"
The second man lunged forward angrily.
Luna moved fast.
Too fast.
Her kick struck his knee with brutal precision.
A crack echoed through the alley.
He screamed and dropped to the ground.
The last man stared at her in shock.
"You—"
Luna grabbed his collar and slammed him against the wall.
Her silver eyes looked almost cold now.
"Next time," she said quietly, "choose easier prey."
She released him.
The man stumbled backward and ran.
Within seconds, the alley was silent again.
Luna adjusted her coat calmly.
Then she heard slow clapping.
She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
Brevis Draven stood near the alley entrance.
Watching.
His dark eyes were filled with amusement.
"Well," he said slowly, "that was entertaining."
Luna turned toward him.
"You were following me."
Brevis shrugged.
"Observing."
"You mean stalking."
"Semantics."
His gaze moved toward the two men still groaning on the ground.
"I was about to intervene."
"I noticed."
"You're good," he added.
"Self-defense classes?"
Luna smiled faintly.
"Life experience."
Brevis stepped closer.
The rain had soaked his hair slightly, making it fall across his forehead.
"You broke his knee."
"He'll live."
"That wasn't concern."
Their eyes met again.
This time the tension felt heavier.
Brevis studied her carefully.
"You're not normal."
"Neither are you."
"Fair point."
He glanced back at the men.
"They shouldn't have touched you."
"Clearly."
Brevis looked back at her.
"You enjoy danger."
"No," Luna replied calmly.
"I just know how to survive it."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Rain dripped from the fire escapes above them.
Finally Brevis said quietly,
"You lied earlier."
"About what?"
"You said you might be prey."
His gaze darkened slightly.
"You're not prey."
Luna raised an eyebrow.
"And what am I?"
Brevis stepped closer.
Close enough that she could see the faint scar near his jaw.
"Something far more interesting."
Luna crossed her arms.
"You should stop analyzing me."
"And why is that?"
"Because you might not like what you find."
Brevis smiled.
"That's exactly why I want to."
A car suddenly pulled up near the alley entrance.
Two men stepped out quickly.
Brevis's bodyguards.
They froze when they saw the injured men on the ground.
"Sir… are you alright?"
Brevis nodded slightly.
"Clean this up."
"Yes, sir."
The guards immediately grabbed the two attackers.
One of them looked terrified.
"We didn't know she was with you!"
Brevis's expression turned colder.
"She isn't."
"Then why—"
"Because," Brevis interrupted softly,
"they touched something I was watching."
The guards nodded nervously.
Within seconds they dragged the men away.
The alley became quiet again.
Luna looked at Brevis.
"You didn't have to do that."
"I know."
"Then why did you?"
Brevis studied her face.
His answer came slowly.
"Because I don't like people interfering with my entertainment."
Luna laughed quietly.
"You're honest at least."
Brevis stepped slightly closer again.
"So are you going to tell me the truth now?"
"About what?"
"Who you really are."
Luna looked at him calmly.
Rain ran down the edge of her coat.
"You already know my name."
"That's not what I asked."
Silence filled the alley.
Then Luna leaned slightly toward him.
Her voice dropped softer.
"If you dig too deep, Mr. Draven…"
Her silver eyes locked with his.
"You might regret what you uncover."
Instead of looking worried…
Brevis looked fascinated.
"Good."
"Why good?"
"Because boring people never come with warnings."
Luna shook her head slightly.
"You're impossible."
"And you're leaving."
She turned and began walking away again.
After a few steps she called over her shoulder,
"Stop following me."
Brevis watched her disappear into the rain.
His lips slowly curved into a dark smile.
"She's definitely not prey."
One of his guards approached carefully.
"Sir… should we keep watching her?"
Brevis's eyes remained on the empty street.
"Yes."
Then he added quietly,
"But don't touch her."
The guard nodded.
Brevis slipped his hands into his coat pockets.
For years, nothing in Nocturne had surprised him.
Until tonight.
Until Luna Vale.
And the more he watched her…
The more dangerous his curiosity became.