At that moment, a sharp, icy wind cut right past Cassius, chilling him to the bone.


    The night was silent, the cold slicing through the darkness.


    Hex.


    The name-one he hadn''t heard in forever-drifted out of the gloom, as if carried on a bitter wind from some distant, blood-soaked battlefield. But hearing it now, it crashed through Cassius''s chest like a tidal wave, shaking him to his core.


    The voice was familiar, but for the life of him, he couldn''t ce it.


    "Who are you? One of CLOUDTOP''s old crew?" Cassius spun around, instantly on guard, his voice barely above a whisper.


    "Bro..." Evadne''s heart leapt into her throat the second she saw his face go pale.


    "Well, Hex, you sure are good at forgetting people."


    Cassius staggered back, realization dawning. "Wait.....n?!”


    Panic wed at him from the inside out. The darkness seemed to close in, the walls of the night pressing tighter and tighter, threatening to crush him.


    Aubrey was the love he''d tried to bury-a wound across his heart he never dared touch. But right now, fear was winning out over heartbreak, because-


    The sudden call from an old lieutenant. Chasel noting home on time...


    A surge of dread jolted through Cassius''s veins.


    "You''re with Chasel? What the hell do you want?!" Cassius''s fist clenched so hard his knuckles went white.


    "I want Dr. Bright to see you for who you really are."


    Every time I see Dr. Bright''s face, I think of my brother''s corpse. I can''t help it—I just want to drag him out of the fire you put him in."


    Cassius''s vision went red. He was hanging by a thread. n! I know you''ve hated me all these years, but if you want revenge,e for me! Leave Chasel out of this!"


    Ian scoffed. "To you, he''s just a stand-in. Don''t act like you actually care. Isn''t it funny? ying the devoted lover in front of me?"


    Cassius couldn''t take the cruelty. He roared, voice raw:


    "No-he''s not a stand-in! He''s not!"


    Evadne and Jason stood just outside the door, hearing every word. Jason was confused, but Evadne, who knew her brother''s


    past, felt a chill run down her spine.


    the hell was Ethan, huh?


    You swore you''d die with him! But now you''ve got a new lover and Ethan''s


    nothing but a memory? Your ''true love'' is just trash!


    The biggest mistake Ethan ever made was falling for you!"


    "Enough!"


    Cassius was shaking, barely able to contain the rage boiling inside him.


    He felt like a caged berate


    to break free, all his years of


    restraint snapping one by one. "Say ''stand-in'' one more time-I swear to God, I''ll kill you!"  s?novel


    "Go ahead and try. After Ethan died, I''ve had nothing left anyway."


    the old Elmsworth Lake House-the one you and Ethan used to share."


    "Hurry up, Hex. I''m sure your thirty-second birthday will be one you''ll never forget."


    The call ended.


    Outside, snow was falling, the temperature plunging. Cassius didn''t even bother with a coat-he bolted out the front door, jumped into his ck Mustang, and tore out of the driveway, tires screaming.


    "Cassius!" Jason yelled after him, panic in his voice.


    Evadne''s heart sank. “Chasel''s in trouble. We have to go, now!"


    Cassius''s Mustang roared through the empty streets, running every red light. The


    engine howled, shattering the quiet of the night.


    His left hand gripped the wheel, knuckles bone white. With his right, he kept


    calling Chasel-over and over.


    At first, the call rang through.


    By the third try, Chasel''s phone was off.


    "Chasel, don''t do this to me. Please-don''t-" Cassius''s forehead was slick with sweat, his breathing in ragged gasps, like he was drowning.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!