Inside the estate, a sudden wave of unease washed over Layla. Her instincts prickled, honed by years of surviving treachery and war.

Something was wrong.

Without a word, she spun on her heel and strode toward the manor's entrance hall.

"Raziel!"

she barked.

He appeared within moments, already armed, his sharp gaze scanning her face.

"We have an intruder."

Raziel's expression hardened.

"Where?"

"Close. They took down the messenger bird before it could leave."

Raziel drew his blade with lethal grace.

"We need to lock down the estate."

Layla nodded.

"Don't sound the alarm. No one comes in or out until we find them."

As Raziel moved swiftly to carry out her orders, Layla allowed herself a fleeting moment of anger. This was no random attack—it was deliberate, calculated.

And whoever dared trespass on her domain would regret it.

Layla's sharp gaze followed the path where the enchanted hawk had fallen. Someone had dared infiltrate her estate, and they had the audacity to strike so openly.

"Raziel. Find whoever did this. No mercy. I will give you that intruder to play with if you find him first."

Layla promised and Raziel's eyes shined in agreement.

Raziel nodded, already striding toward the darkened hallways. His blade gleamed faintly under the flickering wall sconces as he vanished into the shadows.

Layla clenched her fists, mind racing through possible motives. The estate was supposed to be impenetrable. Whoever had breached it either possessed incredible skill—or was reckless beyond belief.

She adjusted the clasp of her cloak, settling the weighted fabric over her shoulders. A calculated plan formed in her mind.

"Time to lure out the hunter."

Mary had already left moments before, her usual confident smirk replaced by a fierce determination. Layla knew she could count on her, but she needed to play her own part.

With practiced ease, Layla wandered deeper into the estate, keeping her steps light but unhurried. Her boots tapped softly against the polished stone floors as she navigated the labyrinthine halls.

The moonlight filtering through tall windows cast long, shifting shadows, making the ancient estate feel like a living thing. Statues of long-forgotten heroes lined the corridors, their marble faces frozen in eternal vigil.

Layla's sharp ears caught the faintest rustling sound behind her. A slight scrape against stone.

'There you are,' she thought.

She maintained her pace, giving no indication that she was aware of the presence stalking her from the shadows. Her fingers brushed against the enchanted dagger hidden beneath her cloak.

A chill wind swept through the open windows, causing the tapestries to shiver. Her senses heightened as she reached the central atrium—a vast, echoing chamber framed by tall columns and lit by a single, dim chandelier.

The perfect place for an ambush.

Her breath remained steady as she took measured steps toward the room's center, pausing near the ancient stone fountain carved with mythical beasts.

The silence deepened.

Then—

A whisper of movement behind her, swift and deadly. Steel flashed in the faint moonlight, aimed directly at her exposed back.

Before Layla could even draw her blade, a thunderous snarl erupted from above.

Crash!

A scaled blur smashed into the attacker with bone-crushing force. The man's dagger flew from his grip as he was hurled across the chamber, crashing into a stone pillar with a sickening thud.

"Luna!"

Layla gasped, spinning around.

Her small dragon familiar, Luna, stood protectively in front of her, wings partially spread in a defensive stance. Smoke curled from her nostrils as she growled lowly, her molten-gold eyes locked on the fallen intruder.

The man groaned, struggling to push himself upright, but Luna's tail whipped out, pinning him firmly to the floor.

"You thought you could ambush me? That is a bold choice. But your eyes tell me that you know who I am. "

Layla's voice dripped with icy disdain as she stepped closer.

The intruder, clad in dark, tattered garb, glared up at her with wild, defiant eyes. His face was partially obscured by a cloth mask, but his labored breathing betrayed his injuries.

"Who sent you?"

she demanded, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

He spat on the ground defiantly, grimacing in pain. His left arm hung limp at his side—likely broken from Luna's initial strike.

Before she could press further, hurried footsteps echoed from the adjacent hall.

"Layla!"

Raziel appeared, his sword already drawn, eyes narrowing at the sight before him.

"Alive, but uncooperative,"

Layla remarked coolly, her gaze never leaving the would-be assassin.

Raziel stepped forward, blade resting menacingly near the man's throat.

"You're surrounded. Speak—or this ends here."

The intruder clenched his jaw, eyes darting toward the nearest exit. Desperation flickered across his battered face.

"You'll get... nothing..."

he hissed, voice raspy with defiance.

Luna growled, pressing him harder against the cold stone. A sharp yelp escaped his lips.

Raziel's expression darkened.

"You clearly don't understand how hopeless this is."

Layla's gaze remained unwavering.

"We'll see how long your loyalty lasts."

With a sharp nod, Raziel hauled the man roughly to his feet, forcing his injured arm behind his back. Luna hissed one final warning before retreating to Layla's side, her tail flicking irritably.

Layla was not expecting much from the intruder. Even if he the sharpest and most intricate magic protecting him, it was only a matter of time before all the information would be extracted from his mind anyway.

"We'll question him properly,"

Raziel promised, dragging the man toward the holding chambers deep within the estate.

As silence settled once more, Layla rested a steadying hand on Luna's warm scales, feeling the rapid thrum of the dragon's heartbeat.

"Good girl. You saved me."

Layla's voice was filled with relief, but she was had not scared for a second. She knew that she would be saved by Luna anyway.

Luna nuzzled her hand gently, her fierce exterior softening in that brief, tender moment.

But even as they stood there, the weight of unanswered questions lingered heavily in the air.

Whoever sent this man had vastly underestimated her—and they would come to regret it.